Your visits to the state of Iowa

You've been to Iowa couple of times in September and October 2008.

The first time, you entered on I-35 from the Minnesota border then took I-80 to the Nebraska border! All of us stayed overnight in Des Moines. I recall that we stopped at a travel center or wayside there, and you played on rocks they had in a landscaped area.

The second time, we did the same route in reverse but didn't stay overnight. I think we ate at the Cracker Barrel in Des Moines, but I could be wrong on that. Uusally when traveling through IOwa, that's my restaurant stop!

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from our quick trips through the state - sorry!

My email sent to you Aug. 3, 2013

Here’s my email to you sent Aug. 3, just in case you do not receive it.

Hi Kieran,

How are you doing? I’m doing fine, though I miss you like crazy! Hope you’re enjoying your summer. Unfortunately, your email is not working again, because I haven’t received any emails/letters from you during the last three weeks. Hopefully your mother can fix that for you.

The last month of summer, August, has arrived! That means school starts very soon. Are you excited about entering first grade? What day does school begin? Do you know who your teacher will be this autumn? Have you gotten your school supplies yet? Picking out school supplies and getting new school clothes always was one of my favorite parts of going back to school in autumn. Well, that and seeing my friends again after missing them all summer long! Living in town (I lived in the country) and going to summer school, I bet you got to see lots of your friends over the summer.

Next weekend is the Irish Festival in St. Paul. Hopefully you’ll get to go, especially since your name is Celtic! We went to an Irish festival together four years ago in California. You had a great time on the playground as we listened to an Irish band perform. Then ee walked through a medieval Irish village that had knights, and later you got to pet sheep and a border collie. We had fish and chips for lunch! Here’s a whole bunch of pictures from our adventure.

The following weekend, the Renaissance Festival begins. The festival is a huge medieval village, sort of like the castle area at Legoland. The festival lasts for several weeks, and has a couple of special weekends dedicated to the Scottish Highlands and to Ireland. We’ve gone to lots of Renaissance festivals in California; at one of them you got a Robin Hood cap and foam swords that you later pretended were “light sabers.” Here are some photos from one Renaissance festival we went to in 2009. Hopefully you’ll get to go to the festival in the Twin Cities during one of the weekends ahead.

Have you read any good books lately? I have. It was called “The Night Before First Grade” by Natasha Wing. It’s all about this girl named Penny on the night before she goes to first grade for the very first time. Why kind of things do you think she does that night to get ready for school the next morning? You will have to read the book and find out! I bet you can find it at your city or school library.

I am very excited. Do you know why? I am excited because I get to see you again next week! We get together again the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 9. Of course, I will bring a tote of fun things for us to do. Is there anything specific that you’d like me to bring? Just let me know in the email that you write during the next week (and be sure to send it from a new address as the old email apparently isn’t working). I miss and love you very much – see you on the 9^th!

Love,

Dad

 

 

 

Remember having an Elmo cell phone?

Here's a toy you may vaguely remember: an Elmo cell phone. You got it when you were about a year old and always liked to press the buttons, which made beeping sounds like some cell phones do.

I don't recall if it actually answered with a voice, though you had a different telephone that did so. You no dount liked it because Elmo was on it, and he by far was your favorite fictional character when you were 1-2 years old.

Still, by the time you were two, you no longer played with the cell phone, having outgrown it. You found my real cell phone much more fun to play with!

Your trips through the state of Nebraska

Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney, Neb.

You have been to Nebraska at least twice in your life, specifically September and October 2008 with me. The first time, we took I-80 across the state from the Iowa border to I-76 crossing into Colorado. The second time, we did the trip in reverse!

The September trip included a stop at the Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney. It was a historical museum full of displays about pioneers and modern travelers following the Platte River west, and it stretches over the freeway. You loved all the cool exhibits! Later, we stopped in Gothenburg, Nebraska, and briefly went into a small historical museum there.

During the October trip, we drove through snow as crossing the Colorado border. Then we later stopped in Grand Island, where you got a toy Sesame Street telephone in which Elmo and Cookie Monster would talk to you when you picked up the phone!

Remember your room's Star Wars poster?

When we lived at the green house in Lancaster, Calif. your room was decorated with Star Wars stuff, such as the bedspread and posters. One poster that hung over your bed was a collage of famous characters and scenes from the fourth through the sixth Star Wars movies.

Sometimes I'd tease you about the characters saying "Oh look, you have a Sesame Street poster!" Then pointing to Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, I'd say "There's Ernie and Bert!" Then pointing at another character, I'd go "And there's Cookie Monster!"

At first you'd take me seriously and go, "No, no, that's not Sesame Street, it's Star Wars." Eventually you caught on that I was just foolingwith  you and would get exasperated. So then I'd stop.

At upper right is a picture of the poster. I may still have it, actually, in a tote of your stuff.

Your visit to the state of Colorado

Ridgeline, east of Vail Pass, Colorado.

Another state that you've been to is Colorado!

You were there at least two times, in September and October 2008. The first time we drove I-76 from Nebraska to I-70 into Utah. The second time we did it in reverse but at night!

Mountains cover much of Colorado, and the September trip was the first time you had have seen any so tall. When we passed by them, you'd stare out the window and point at them for me to see!

One place we stopped both times was a wayside on I-70 near Vail. The first time, you got to ramble around it, but the second time there was snow on the ground, and the temp was only a degree above zero, so you stayed in the SUV while I quick got snacks for us!

Our visit on July 26, 2013

I just wanted to let you know, Kieran, that I had a great time with you on Friday!

I am so glad that you enjoyed making cookies! Did you know that you left on Friday with flour on your cheek and frosting on your mouth? I shall have to find something new for us to bake together in a future get-together. Maybe I will bring chocolate chip cookies next time!

The light saber battle was great, too, just like old times except you are an even better fighter! Next time Darth Malevolent will defeat Jedi Zac!

I also had a great time playing with the Army men. I was sorry to hear that some of your older ones were stepped on and broken. I shall have to bring some more Army men from another set in an upcoming get-together.

Here are some pictures from our visit!