Iowa Trip Day 3: Des Moines

We started early from Terry's house after an interesting conversation about kids.  We stopped briefly for pictures in Elk Horn where they have a Danish windmill.  The also have an old viking house, circa 900 a.d. replica.

Danish Windmill

Viking House

Adair Iowa

We then hit the road, and were in Adair for breakfast where Jesse James and his gang carried out a train robbery.  The park was very nice, with a small playground and picnic tables.  We were off to Des Moines for our next stop.  

In Des Moines it was the first day of the State Fair, and we thought long about attending.  However, the crowds, my need for a haircut, and the need to pick up Ty at the airport put us short on time so we did not get there.  We drove through down town, no one wanted to get out, but have a couple pictures from the car.

801 Grand, tallest building in Des Moines

church through the bugged windshield

Des Moines Arboretum part of botanical garden

Cow and calf outside dairy

We picked up Ty, and then headed for something to eat.  We chose Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, which was a good choice.  They had breakfast as well as dinner.  I had the chicken fried steak with banana cream pie.  Very good.  

We then checked in to the hotel, and I was able to get in a swim.  Not the largest of pools, but I could get a bit of a swim in swimming diagonally.  The highlight of the day was picking up our Caleb.   This was Thursday August 13.

Caleb's Views of Des Moines

Caleb forwarded some pictures, and these are his views of Des Moines.

Crazy clouds in Des Moines

The state capitol building

Downtown Des Moines

Cool bridge looking over Des Moines

A lake by our house

Our favorite picture spot

Caleb's Mission Call

Caleb had planned a thing Thursday but his call did not come until Friday.  Sheri came to town to do Stars On Stage, and I stayed with her.  So Caleb is opened his call Saturday night.  I We had a crowd here, I would say pushing 50 with Caleb's friends, Mark and Dianna and friends from the ward, and our sister missionaries. 

 https://www.youtube.com/edit?ns=1&video_id=hlgy8colfEM

Cousin Natalie

Annie Larsen chose Iowa.  I of course was hoping for Argentina.  Caleb was been in Music Man twice, once as Winthrop, so it serves him right.  The most popular choice was Boise, Id.
Us, Mom Dad, Miranda, Caleb Tony 5
Charity and Anthony 2
Kade and April Peterson Haleigh, Caleb Elise, Maryn, Joshua, Levi 8
Clayton Williams, Phillip Herrera 2
Mark and Dianna, Natalie, Heather, Anna 5
Natalie's friend Audrey Schneider  1
Brother Rick Hammerstrom, Joseph 2
Hot Spud, Alex, Joshua, Matt, Simon  4
Jim and Debra Carr  2
Bishop Eckland 1
Craig and Daniel Bingham  2
Sister Dees, Sister Smith  2
Paul and Jamyn Banks, Maddie, Annie, Claire, Kyle, Quinn  7
AJ Shipler, Scott Fisher, Sam Shepard, Emily McClair  4
Emily and Emma Hunter 2
Skype Mark, phone Natalia, Ty, Jeremy  4  =53