People and other stories from Iowa

This was a bar that Sara worked at in college when it was called Side Pocket. It is now called Shooters and owned by one of her classmates Aaron Holtz. When Sara, her brother Scot and I walked in, I heard Aaron say, "Sara Bailey? Oh my God what are you doing here? That is it you are drinking on the house!" We were there for the rest of the night til the bar closed down. I felt like I walked into the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Aaron wants me to come back in November to go hunting.
On the last day we went to visit Sara's Grandpa Lyle to say goodbye. He is 93 years old. And he told us about this great party he went to with these young kids. When we asked if some school kids came to visit, he replied no. Our kids. "And we had so much fun." It was so great to meet Grandpa Lyle and see him smile and happy. And hear his stories.

On Sunday after Grandpa Lyle's party, we went to the Redwood Steakhouse for dinner.

Turbines were being planted all over the Anita area that generate energy. This is one that we drove by and pulled over to see it up close even though the road sign said "Authorized Personnel Only." This is a picture of Michael next to it to show you how big the propeller is.

Grandpa Lyle's Party

We had a party to visit Grandpa Lyle at Heritage House. Grandpa Lyle is 92 years old and still full of life!

Here is Alison introducing Grandpa Lyle to his new great grandson Taylor who is 2 months old. Here I am reading to Tessa The Three Little Pigs.

Here is Sue and Michael talking to Alison and Taylor.

We had corn and tomatoes from the Bailey Farm. They also cooked over 4 pounds of bacon for the BLT's. And then homemade cole slaw that Michael made and potato salad that Sara's Mom Jackie made.

Here is Joel who is a helicopter pilot for the Air Force. They currently live in London, England. He flies HH-60's. And that is his wife Alison.
Here is Alison, Grandpa Lyle, Taylor, Cheryl, and in the bottom Tessa and Sara's Mom Jackie. This is a 4 generation picture.
Here is Jackie and Cheryl with Grandpa Lyle.
Here is Sara holding her new nephew Taylor.

Omaha Zoo

On our last day, we drove to meet Alison, Joel, Tessa and Taylor to go to the Omaha Zoo. Here is Tessa sitting on a Monkey statue.

Here is Alison, Taylor, Sara and Jackie on the Steam Train.
Group shot on the Steam Train.
Here is Taylor sleeping at the end of a busy day. I think we were all jealous.

Self portrait with me and Tessa with everyone else in the background.

This Gorilla came by the window we were at. When I put my hand on the window he came and pounded on my hand through the window and ran away. Alison and Sara got scared. Joel and I thought it was crazy! So we went to the other window and the gorilla made eye contact with Joel where he said, "He is making eye contact with me and it is kinda freaking me out." He came by and hit the window and ran again.
The Aquarium had SHARKS!!!
They had a swamp exhibit where these two alligators were 5 - 10 feet away from the wooden bridge I was crossing with a net separating us.
The PENGUIN Exhibit! Happy Feet shaking it off!

Bailey Farm House and Pablo on Tractors

Here is Sara's parents' house built by her cousin in 1938. Here is a picture of the Bailey Farmland...
American Gothic Pose...
This was Sara's house that she grew up in. Her brother Scot lives there now. This house was built in 1910.
Here is Sara's Dad Varel feeding the sheep.

Here I am driving the Bobcat
Here I am driving the tractor with 18 gears.
Here is Varel and myself dragging dirt in the big tractor.

Wedding Tour 2008

We had a total of 5 Weddings to go to between April thru June of 2008.
The first one began with my buddy Andy and Meltem's wedding. I was in the wedding party and we had a blast. Below are a couple of pictures from that wedding in Mesa, AZ.

Then we were off to Emily and Jeff's wedding in Denver, CO Memorial Weekend 2008.

Pictures from First Date and First Anniversary

Below are pictures from our first ate back in July 2007 at 98 South in Chandler.




Below are pictures from our one year anniversary dinner at Melting Pot in July 2008.