iowa day 2: instagrammed

the weather was perfect the whole weekend.  considering there are approximately 2.5 weeks during any given year in iowa where the weather is tolerable, we felt pretty lucky.  and better yet - it was beautiful.  i love the mountains, i really do, but i also love horizon lines that seem to extend as far as the eye can see lined with silos, trees of changing colors, and rows of harvested corn.

the first thing my students said when i told them i was going to be gone in iowa during friday's class (besides - "so that means we don't have to come to class??") was a big confused "why?" iowa is a pretty random place to visit to most people i'll admit, and while i wouldn't recommend it for your next vacation, if you ever find yourself there during one of the 2.5 weeks of tolerable weather, don't despair.

friday we:

went to the annual friday bruegger's bagels lunch bunch with my mom, aunts, and grandma (and even an uncle)

went to the ames high football game to watch my brother and cousins march in the marching band {ames high! aims high! - best high school slogan ever?}

and went "late night" shopping at hyvee for things like vegan ice cream and regular ice cream, chocolate, frozen cheese balls, buttermilk ranch dressing for the frozen cheese balls, sports drinks, flea medicine, and etc.  (thanks again dad, aka "the bank," for funding that little trip!)

and that's it and that's all and it was great.

p.s. you might have noticed that my dad has a black eye.  i forgot to mention that on day 1, he got in a little bike accident that required an ER visit and a few stitches, which left his eye black and blue for the whole weekend, which is why he will be getting a really nice and stylish helmet for christmas.