Four Days in Des Moines

Day 20 –

Wednesday, Sept 11 – first day in Des Moines with Dad and stepmom, Kathy

We had a very relaxing day while staying at home most of the time. They have a beautiful house with amazing yard. 

Dad and Kathy

We did take a ride around the area on the way to Mills Fleet Farm, a very large store that sells farm, hunting, and kitchen supplies, as well as clothing. My dad bought me a shirt that says Iowa!! I am proud to be from Iowa!

Shopping at Fleet Farm

Kathy prepared great Iowa chops (aka pork chop) dinner. We ate dinner outside again and enjoyed the beautiful weather and visited way into the evening. We FaceTimed with Corinna and Madalyn!

Iowa Pork chops dinner before

after

Day 21 –

Thursday, Sept 12 – second day with dad

We slept in a bit, than Joe sat outside and read while I worked on writing and pictures. We walked around my dad's beautiful property. 

Then I went to pilates with my dad. It was a good workout. Then we went to Costco with Kathy; ate a polish dog and shopped. Then Joe and I drove to a camera store to see if we could get my camera fixed. It stopped working way back in Oklahoma. I have been using my iphone camera. I am so thankful that I have that. It is working again, but the man who helped us isn't sure what it was.

We all went out for pizza and salad to Chuck’s. It has been there since 1956. My dad used to eat there then.

Day 22 –

Friday, Sept 13 – In Des Moines and sight seeing

We had a beautiful drive in the Iowa back roads, but did run into a little "traffic". 

Iowa traffic

Joe and I drove to Knoxville to see the Sprint Car Hall of Fame Museum. Walt James, the deceased husband of Dottie, a friend ours, is a Hall of Fame inductee. It was fun to see his photo, the Sprint cars, film, stadium suite, and learn more about Sprint car racing.

Walt James

From there, we drove to Hartford, a town where my grandma Barnhart had a restaurant and variety store. She and my grandpa had a farm just outside of Hartford. I was pretty young and I only remember that the store was next to the Post Office. So, we found the Post Office, but the building where my grandma had her businesses had been torn down. So sad.

Hartford Post Office

Then we drove to Carlisle. I spend every summer in Iowa for as long as I can remember until my Junior year in High School there. My grandma moved to Carlisle when I was about 11. She owed a fabric and craft store for years. I did find that building and it is now a restaurant. I got a postal cancellation stamp and we had some great barbecue at Back Alley Smokehouse.

Back Alley Smokehouse

The location of my grandma's old fabric store

As soon as we got home, my dad took us out in his 1948 military Willy (jeep) to see all his childhood homes, neighborhoods, and schools in Des Moines and the first home that I lived in. I had a very fun time on our 2 hour adventure.

My Love!

The first house I lived in.

My great great grandfather built this house in 1900.

Shortly after we got home, my Uncle Craig and Aunt Martha arrived from St. Paul, MN. The last time I saw them was at Corinna’s wedding. Two of Kathy’s children also came over for dinner; Tom and his wife Amy and Trish and her boyfriend Jerry. My cousin Peter, his wife, Amy, and their kids also came for a visit. We had a wonderful New York Steak dinner and stayed up late with lots of conversation and laughing.

A kitchen full of family!

Day 23 –

Saturday, Sept 14 – Enjoying time with more family in Des Moines

It was fun to wake up to a house full of people and little ones around. Most of us were hanging around the kitchen eating breakfast, talking and playing with the kids. We even had a game of hide-n-seek in the basement. I picked up my sister, Mary, at the airport with my dad. We all just continued to visit and Joe and I got packed up to leave the next day.

My Aunt Martha and Molly

My second cousins, Benson, Erin and Molly

   Then it was time to leave for the football game; Iowa (Hawkeyes) vs. Iowa State (Cyclones). They play each other in Ames every other year. Craig, Martha and Peter are Iowa fans. They drive down to watch the game with my dad and Kathy. They are Iowa State fans.  Kathy has a box at the Iowa State Stadium, which made watching the game very fun! There were over 15 seats in the box and room to stand and walk around. I was rooting for Iowa and they Won! The score was 27 to 21.

Uncle Craig, Aunt Martha, and cousin Peter

My dad and sister Mary

We were way up there in a box on the left side. 

I actually watched most of the game. It was fun to be there with my family. It was a great experience. We said our good-byes to everyone at night because we were leaving early the next morning.