Hunter, Blake, and Grandpa Al at the Science Center of Iowa

Grandpa Al here.

Hunter and Blake took me to the Scence Center of Iowa in Des Moines and 

I'd like to share the experience with you.

  First, they made paper rockets which flew up to sixty feet.

They also studied hydro engineering by controlling the flow of water that flowed

over a hydro-electric generator making a measurable current.

They helped to build an arch,

experienced weather broadcasting on a stage used by the local NBC station,

walked through a bat cave,

and made rubbings of leaves.

But, in the end, it was Blake that made a real impression

 by pushing his body on the back of a panel of needles.

They did much more not shown here.

We had a wonderful day and, as always, I enjoyed being with them.

Thank you Ron and Linda!

Great Uncle Ron and Great Aunt Linda are awesome! They remembered me when they were on their trip to Croatia and sent me some Croatian coins for my coin collection. Nana and I just finished making a money bag for them. See below. They came just in time for sharing day at Kids West. On sharing day we all brought something from another country to share. Hunter

Filling Big Shoes

Grandpa Al has big shoes.

 He alo has a big hat, thanks to his XL-size head.

Hunter isn't far behind his big buddy.

This is Hunter wearing Grandpa Al's hat.

Wild Wild West - 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

Today Blake and three of his buddies got together to play in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament. They are on the left in the photo below and their two coaches are on the right.








They played hard, but their 10 year old opponents were too much for there team of 8 year olds to overcome.

So they tried the 3 point contest, but their 11 year old opponents were even more for them to handle. Blake did make 3 shot out of 6.

Even Hunter gave the 3 pt contest a shot with no success.

But the day was not lost. Hunter got bored and entered himself into a fishing derby that was also being held at the event. Here he is with his prize winning 8" Hybrid fish.

Here he is receiving his 1st Place Trophy. It didn't have a basketball on it, but it was still a trophy. The only one we took home.

It is fun to win no matter what the game.

More Wind Damage at the Jerdee Home

About three years ago, Stan had posted a blog entry about some wind damage at our home (Kim and Adam): And now, the rest of the story. . . . Well, you think we would have learned something and cut down all the trees, but the shade is just too nice in the Summer. Here's round two...
We believe the damage happened about 4 a.m. Sunday morning. When the storm sirens woke us up we chose to sleep in the basement. In order to assess the damage and maybe get a car out of the garage Adam started cleaning up at 8 a.m. Before we knew it several neighbors, Al and Becky were on the scene and we were actually done by 10:30 in the morning! Much thanks to everyone for their help! The only damage was a slightly bent (brand new) gutter and we lost a basketball backboard. Not to mention the poor tree.
Before	After
Not shown is the tree damage in the backyard. Later in the day the Underwoods; Blake, Hunter and Amy, showed up with a chainsaw and some moxie to clear up damage from the big old Elm and the split Pear tree. Again thanks to everyone for their help clearing up all the wind damage. Unfortunately the city has not stated that they will clean up the mess for free as they have in the past, so we may have a lot more work to go.

ADVENTURELAND: Part II

See that?

It's Landon waving from the ferris wheel!

He's in training for the big park--DisneyWorld.

He'll be there in January when his dad runs the 2011 Full Marathon.

And he's up, up, and away...what a daredevil!!!

Here comes the choo, choo!!!

The lap of luxury...not bad!

Ah, the carousel...

...so easy, he can do it in his sleep.

Nice carriage for rest stops.

Landon will return to Adventureland next year, for sure.

He gets in free for three years.

ADVENTURELAND: Part I

Adventureland 2010 began with rain but we bucked up and made the best of it. Eventually, the sun came out so we could experience the rides more freely.

This post is for Hunter and Blake who believe that babies get more attention than anyone.

It was Hunter's idea to pose for this picture.

Blake's leg injury (4 stitches on the back his knee that the doctor said NOT to get wet) altered the mood of the day. On an ordinary day at Adventureland, all rides are up for sampling. But on this day, Hunter had to take anything involving water by himself or with an adult. That meant no swimming at Kokomo Cove or trying out the newest water park. However, we did venture over to Adventure Bay to check out the new digs and make plans for returning next year--injury free.

This ride looks sad, Uncle Adam said (busy feeding the baby)...Hunter alone in a giant inner tube...

G-Force is an annual favorite...

Getting ready for the Space Shot...these guys are old hands at this by now...

Riding with Aunt Kim and Uncle Adam.

The Galleon is worth a repeat, especially after a long wait while the deck hands swabbed up the puke

 left by a previous sailor.

I didn't get any shots of the Tornado or the Outlaw, the Silly Silo or the Bumper Cars.

Grandpa Al has a lot of pictures too...maybe he'll post them later.

Hunter and Blake are old hands at the Adventureland adventure. They're now grown-up enough to get on the rides alone or together...no need for adult supervision.

And they don't whine for toys or ask to play the target games

 (those are games you play to impress girls and win them stuffed animals...ugh).

We're very proud to take them to the park.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kim and Allen

It was a lovely July 8 and the perfect day to celebrate a couple of our July birthdays...Kimberly's birthday is July 7 and Allen has his on the 8th. We took it easy around the coffee table. If anyone needed a drink, the bar was out on the deck where rootbeer, saft lingon (lingonberry juice), summer ale, or chardonnay were the choices. Hunter and Blake took a break before cake to get in a swim at the condo pool.

Grandpa Al is very much loved.Hunter and Blake loved the lingonberry juice, one of Aunt Kim's favorite things to drink. Luckily, we'd picked up a bottle of concentrate on our last IKEA visit. In spite of the fact that it was Kim and Allen's special day, Landon was the party star, drinking the night away! We all had a chance to pass him around. So adorable and such a wonderful addition to our family.

We didn't burn any candles---there were too many. So we kept it simple and safe with accent lights, a mini-German Chocolate cake, and a Cookies-N-Cream ice cream cake.

Landon gets the last of his bottle from super-relaxed Hunter who seems to love feeding him.

Rattlers State Tournament Announcement

Rattlers highlighted on the Des Moines Register website.

Happy Birthday, Tic-Tac Man!!!

Amy and Adam's Uncle Stan is having his 63rd birthday today and we're wishing him all the best his day has to offer. I (Becky, Stan's big sister) used to call him a "late firecracker" (born a day late for the 4th of July).

Now he has a different moniker--Hunter was four when Stan stepped up to greet him at a family wedding. Reaching into his pocket, Stan offered Hunter a tic-tac or two. It was a memorable move--since then, Hunter refers to Stan, his great-uncle pal, as the "tic-tac man."

Parade and a Party

The 4th was a total washout: cancelled baseball games, no fireworks, soggy bar-b-cues and discontented kids....but the 3rd proved to be a great time this year.

Cubscouts getting their float ready for the parade. Blake and his first every buddy since he was 2 Little Adam.
Hunter decided to try some shades this year.

Landon is not so sure about riding on daddy's shoulders just yet.

Blake managed to pitch a piece of candy at each one of us as he rode by. He seems to have a pretty comfy spot on the float.

Landon decided to cool off!

After the parade we had great food, company and a little firework show pre-4th.

Happy 4th everyone!!