Date day adult Spring Break

Aunt April and Uncle mark offered us up 24 hours of kid free time. 

We had no agenda but to watch the Iowa State basketball game later in the day.

We dropped the kids off in Ankeny around 11:00.  I had been wanting to try the Cheese Shop for quite a while, so that is where I suggested we start.  It was very yummy, everything I had hoped.  I could eat this for every meal, maybe throw some veggies on the board now and then.  The soft cheese on the far left on the board was my favorite.  The shop guy said the owner bought it out of the back of the van somewhere in Wisconsin.  It is the first time it has left the state.  I loved all the meats, and wish I could remember what everything was. I will be back.  Perfect spot to chill and talk with Robert.

Next we hit up the mall/Nordstroms Rack. Not exciting.  We were both looking for new jeans and possibly some new Cyclone gear.  Then I made a mad dash into Trader Joes to stock up on plantain chips and coconut cream. Sadly they were out of coconut cream and I am on my last can, so I am hoping Aunt Lynne can procour some for me this week, or I will be back to DSM.


After our boring errands we headed to the Iowa Tap room to catch the Cyclone game.  The Iowa Tap room is in the East Village, and very near all the basketball action that was happening as DSM was hosting the NCAA's as well.  I guess they rushed to open, so they could get in on the action, SMART!  We got there about 4:15 pm, an hour before the game, and there was a 2 hour and 30 minute wait for a table.  The place was full, I bet there were 100 people without a table just milling.  We tried several beers and scored one bar seat at about halftime, which was perfect because we were starving and debating ordering food and somehow standing and eating it.  They had tons of tvs, and the whole place was based on this Sukup grain bin filled with 120 Iowa beers.  The building was restored from -something-, I am not sure what the building previous housed, but it had original floors, exposed beams and a very barn like vibe.  For dinner I ordered the tenderloin and Robert had ham balls, so -very Iowan!

Iowa Spring Breakness

Last week was Spring break around these parts. We are usually not mindful of Spring break as we are not on break from public school or Iowa State, so it really doesn't affect us much.  

 Saturday we set out for a little adventure, we tried to show the kids how giant these windmills really are. It was a good perspective lesson.

 We stopped off at the Hotel Pattee. They had a pretty cool ally with steel art next to the hotel and bike shop.  We did not eat at the hotel since we had just come from Jefferson and the doughut shop, but the restaurant looked good and had a moving miniature train cruising around on tracks near the ceiling.  Pretty neat.  

 They also had a little bike repair station, six or so tools and a bike pump on the sidewalk for anyone to use.

 We continued on and ended up at the theater in West Des Moines, and it just so happened that Zootopia was playing.  It was a fun movie, my favorite part was the scenes that featured the sloths.

 Everyone knows about our donut-donut Saturday morning tradition.  After 5 years, it's fun to try new spots.  We don't like Casey's, Dunkin Donuts or HyVee donuts as well as Dutch Oven so we headed out of town and hit up Bunkers Dunkers in Jefferson.  Robert loved the apple fritter.  I think we all thought the blueberry and strawberry donut holes were stellar.

Monday :  Look, two pies cooling on a window sill on Pi day.  Bacon pie or quiche Lorianne and crumb topped apple pie. 

We also did school on Monday, it was our last day of Classical Conversations for the year.  24 weeks in the books!

 Tuesday: It was free cone day at Dairy Queen, ice cream for dessert.  I prepped all the kids before hand that we were getting cones, but they could choose vanilla, chocolate or swirl, and of course Dallas got up to order and asked for a chocolate shake.  We got our free cones and donated to the Make a wish foundation.  Thanks Dairy Queen. We did home school at home.

 Wednesday:  We didn't have church or Awana since it was Spring break, so the evening seems pretty empty.  Solution was going out to dinner.  Played a couple rounds of bananagrams waiting for our pizza. By the way, Emily dislikes Great Plains pizza so much she did not eat (I think she would like it, but she threw up there once and remembers). We picked her up some tuna salad from Wheatsfield on the way home.  She is so much like me, this is something I would do as well.
We did home school at home, but it didn't go great and I could tell we needed a break the rest of the week.

 Thursday: St. Patricks day, or the only day my kids get fun cereal with marshmallows.  I guess some leprechaun let himself in our house over night, decorated the table and left some Lucky Charms.  I had the kids eat the entire box because I figured it there was only one or two servings left over the next day fights would ensue.  I like this tradition, we are not Irish, and so much of the holiday is really centered around beer that this is a nice thing to do with kids.  They would probably not like corned beef and cabbage anyway. I like easy and simple, bonus points that it was fun.

 After breakfast. (and no school!) We headed down the block to hang out with some friends.  I was proofing one of the young gals in this family for Memory Master in our Classical Conversations curriculum.  That means she has 24 weeks of science, history, math, timeline, Latin, geography, and English grammar memorized.  I was the tutor proof, which means she had already said the material to her mother and one other adult before me.  I took her 1 hour to say it to me and she did an excellent job.  She will still proof with the Director, but that is a "spot" proof and she will only be asked to recite 25% of the material. My kids played with the other siblings while we worked.
We celebrated afterward with fresh homemade green bread.

Friday: We cleaned in the morning, each kid had a list of stuff to accomplish. We hit up Panara for lunch, and then a couple of stores and the library before heading home.  Robert took them to the park.
No school

We also took the Spring break school free days to work on some sewing skills.  This is Noelle and Dallas first time working on stitching.

This lovely dutch braid model is not Noelle or Emily.  I will let you guess who the blondie is. 

 We have been having this sweet homeschooled neighbor kid over most afternoons. His mom is working on healing from Lymes disease so it is good for her to get some rest, and it is good for Dallas to have a boy to play.

 We made it to our second ISU gymnastics game this year.  We didn't buy Jr. Clone Club passes this year (they get the kids free into every event but MBB), We felt we were not really utilizing them in previous years to the tune of $55/each.  Also taking your kids to a "free" event (you already paid $55/each for) they still want popcorn and ice cream.  I love watching gymnastics, I had taken Emily in previous years. but took all the kids twice this year.  They loved it.  So I think we might need the passes for next year. I'll have to float this idea by the Grandparents.  We love event type gifts!

 Noelle wanted me to take some pictures of her posing with her dog.

I love this Easter basket display at our Fareway. Nothing says Jesus died for your sins like a giant basket filled with mini bottles of wine.

Father -Daughter Dance 2016

I'll start with my date with Dallas.  We ordered in Jimmy John's and shared a  fancy slice of chocolate insanity cake from my favorite restaurant The Cafe.  He really, really wanted to watch Lava Girl and Shark Boy, so we did.  It is a really awful movie.  I believe the whole thing was shot in front of a green screen but years ago before they really tried hard with graphics.  The storyline was not great either, but Dallas was thrilled and loved it.

 They have a professional photographer at the dance.  Robert is strategically holding Noelle.  I guess she had already had a run in with the chocolate fountain and the dress lost, but you can't tell here!

 Walking down the stairs to see Robert for the first time, they kept their dresses secret so he would be surprised.

 Striking a pose with some friends

 This is how serious the guys take this dance.  Robert said this guy executed 'the worm" perfectly.

I am so glad our church puts the time, money and effort into this event.  The whole community comes out for it and it is one of the girls favorite nights of the year.