Mormon Handcart Park

It took several drives around the same parking lot, one stop to ask the parking lot security directions (he had no clue but was kind enough to suggest that if we are looking for something to do that we stop at the mall since he knows "girls like to shop"...this made Emily and I both laugh) and a lucky turn left to finally find the Mormon Handcart Park.  History is that Iowa City was the farthest train point west at the time and this park was established in memorial of the many mormons that made the trek from Iowa to Utah using handcarts.  It is a beautiful nature trail walk with markers to designate burial sites and campsites tucked behind the Hawkeye Rec Fields and according to Trip Advisory a must see in Iowa City.  Emily and I would agree. 
 

Johnson County Fair

Emily and I went to the Johnson County Fair today to watch Karli and Kaylin Burr show their goats.  It seems like only in Iowa would you hear kids talking about their goats, cows, chickens, pigs and rabbits like most everyone else would talk about their cats and dogs.  The Johnson County Fair might be the only fair left in our area that has stayed true to the tradition of a 4H/FFA Fair.  The only admission fee is the cost of the shoes you wear (because if you are not watching your every step you might be throwing them away when you get home!), the largest grandstand event you will find is the Queen Contest and  the biggest question is what the Regina stand is serving today.

We love to walk through the barns - although we cannot tell a champion pig from your every day pig and the same with the cows - but we do enjoy looking to see the names of the kids that are familiar to us -then oohing and awwing over how nice that rabbit or chicken looks. 

We did stop to take a picture next to the memorial stone that sits next to the flag pole that was placed at the fairgrounds in honor of Gary's mom and dad, Janet and Stanley Feldman.  Stanley was very active with the 4H Board and the Johnson County Sheep Board.  It is always a nice way for us to start and end our day at the fair.

Last year for Emily's birthday she and her Grandmother Brenda went shopping for a comforter for her bed.  We FINALLY got motivated to move her room from the main level to the basement with her sister Ella so that she would have a room that matched the present from Grandma.  It was a great three days with the girls painting, shopping and decorating the room.  Hope you enjoy it as much as Emily does.  Take special note of the flower pictures....these are Emily's very own photographs!  By the way....I think Emily might have a shot at the That's So Random show on TV.  That girl cracks me up!!!

Harry Potter at the Grandview Drive-In Theater

We did it!  If you know me well you know that I LOVE the Harry Potter movie series.  My family will acknowledge that I live for Harry Potter weekends on the Family Channel and if there are too many weeks between these marathons that there is no need to worry because between my sister Christine and myself we own the first 6 so I can get a fix whenever I feel the need.  It might be a surprise for you to find out that I have never been "one of those people" that just had to see the 12:01 showing of the newest film.  No longer!  Ella, my niece Brynne, and my sister Christine packed the car full of chairs, blankets, pillows (just in case), water, camera, and sticky popcorn (thanks to my sister's husband Todd) and headed south to the Grandview Drive-in Theater to catch the 12:01 AM showing of Harry Potter (thanks goes out to my good friend Shelia Burr for the heads up on the Drive-in Theater showing).  

Ella and I have been to the drive-in once before but this was a first for my sister and my niece Brynne.  The outdoor atmosphere was a wonderful addition to this adventure.  To wrap up the evening...the movie was great, we are still a bit confused about the HP/Severus connect, we agreed that we felt a bit sad that it was finally over, and....I can say I am "one of those people"!

Things we know now that we have experienced a 12:01 AM showing at a drive-in:

1. Who has to move if you have claimed your territory and a pickup decides to park in the slot in front of your already established camp?  Answer - You do.
2. Things that we do not like to hear when attending the drive-in.  Answer - Car alarms.
3. FYI, not all cars can get station 96.4 and mine is one of them.
4. FYI, it doesn't matter that your car cannot get station 96.4 because all of the other car radios provide a nice surround sound system.
5. Even if you fall asleep you still get to say "you did it!"  (I did not sleep but I cannot say the same for the rest of my party)