Road Trip #3: Go State!!

It used to be 6 or 7 times each fall, Mommy and Daddy would load up the car and head south to Ames, Iowa to watch the Cyclones play football.  Now, they are down to once or twice a year -- a beautiful November weekend to watch the Cyclones and KU Jayhawks on the field.

Some of our "new" neighbors are also ISU alums, so we loaded up two cars, 6 kids and 4 adults for the road trip.  We also threw in 2 nights at a hotel, some swimming, some Hickory Park and some Great Plains pizza - just for fun!

Saturday morning, we headed to the stadium - all decked out in Cardinal and Gold.  Mommy got us all tattoos - and we looked like one big Cyclone family walking out of the hotel!

Mommy & Brooke

At the tailgate, we met up with the Simodynes and Grimes clans... Mommy & Daddy's tailgating buddies for over a decade... it felt like old times, and was so great to see them!

Becky made "kid-friendly" cardinal and gold jello - and Brooke was in heaven!  She also brought Grape Juicy Juice - and Kylie and Neela couldn't get enough of it!

After a short morning tailgate, we headed to the stadium for the 11:30 kick-off.  Here we are waiting for Daddy to find all of our tickets:

During the game, we made it to the top of section N - all 30 rows of stairs and seats - to have an amazing view of the game.  Mommy did decide carrying Brooke up the stairs twice, and Neela once, was more than enough of a workout in one day!  And then... Brooke decided to fall asleep at the end of the game - at the top of the stairs.  Daddy was already outside, so Mommy got the job of carrying her all the way out!

Daddy & Kylie

Neela had a lot of fun with Angie Grimes - and was all smiles, all day!

Angie, Neela, Kylie & Scott

The Moss family had some popcorn, and the bucket turned into quite the entertainment hit!

(The picture has been rotated a zillion times, but won't show up on the blog that way...)

Brooke informed everyone "I in Marching Band!"

Our Cheerleaders

Inch Worms playing during the game

 After a Cyclone victory, we headed back for chili and visiting in the RV.

Kylie, Neela & Adam in the RV

 When they built the new alumni center on campus, they also installed a giant statue of Cy.  Mommy is making a point of taking our picture with Cy every time we are in Ames -- this is the newest photo.

(Thanks, Tim!)

We headed out of the parking lot, and learned Brandon was going to see "Iowa State"... Neela really wanted to see "Iowa State", so we did a little campus tour past "Daddy's Building" (Town Engineering), "Mommy's Building" (Carver), the library, Morrill Hall, LeBaron, "The Clock" (what kid can say 'Campanile'?!?!?!), and Beardshear...  of course, Daddy decided taking pictures on the steps would be fun.

As we left on Sunday, the girls wanted to know when they could go to another game... Daddy's training them right!  Go State!!