we love the crazy weather

I've always loved Iowa weather from April-October (basically when its not cold and snowy). And lately we've had a good stretch of great weather days. Here are some shots of cool weather I've seen lately.


what a great sunset!

rainbow after a storm last week


I was driving somewhere when i spotted this cloud :) that is why I always carry my camera with me!

Drag show!

I have this list that is mostly in my head of things I want to do in my lifetime there are big things such as skydiving and visiting every Continent. There are also little things like try a specific new restaurant or try a new drink. Last night/this morning I accomplished a medium sized thing on this list: going to a drag show.

Yup that is me with a drag queen!!

I went to the show with my coworker Anna who had also always wanted to go to a show. The show was at Vitos in Downtown Iowa City. Backstory of how we go to this point...We had both learned about it one day at work when I was talking about being in flagline at ISU and how one of the members was a male who was gay and did drag. I said I always wanted to go see him do it but never did for some reason or another. So Anna and I decided we find a show and go to it. Well that night John and I happened to be doing another I've always wanted to do this by eating at Vitos downtown. When we stepped in the door I saw it, I saw the sign for the drag show. Embrace doing and trying new things and you'll be rewared with new and fun things to try!

Anna and me before the show

Drag show review:I was amazed and dazzled by the show and given the opportunity would go again in heart beat! There was great music, fun people, great drag queens, and cheap drinks. If you ever get the opportunity I'd recommend taking it! Make sure to take some dollar bills so you can get to kiss the queen on the cheek :) (they have really soft skin!!) (This would be a great bachlorette party idea and if you do one please invite me :) )

Getting drinks at the show- which one is water... can you tell?

Anna with a drag queen
Marilyn Monore does drag queen.Choco-tini

And since you can't do justice to a drag show with pictures check out some viedo I took at the event! Love it!

More videos to come ;)

Echo Valley Camping trip

This weekend we went on a camping trip with John's friends from CCA high school. We camped from Friday Night-Sunday morning. We where camped at Echo valley which is just outside of West Union. It was a fun trip down memory lane for Kristel as this is where my grandma use to live.
We had a fun time meeting new people (this was mostly Kristel), fishing, girl talken on the river rocks, telling stories, singing Disney show tunes, going to the barrel and relaxing. Here are some pictures from our trip:John and Jeanna's dog Evie :)





paws and feet

Jeanna making breakfast

John and Jeanna's dog Wyat


Watch out for Lillian she has a knife (to cut zuchini bread that is!)

Lillian and Kari working on breakfast



oh Evie, I'm in love with your cute doggieness

Evie is just adorable


John and Jeanna lead the pack to fishing hole

Fisherman John

Natalie relaxing on the rocks and taking in the sunshine


chilling out on the rocks

John fishing

Jeanna's fish


cribbage, ice tea, crackers, and cheese... ah realxing!

our campsite along a beautiful trout stream

Trout stream

Relaxing around the campfire


Lillian and Jeanna roasting their marshmellows


Jeanna trys the choclate-vanilla marshmellow

getting ice cream at the barrel (Charlie, Michael, Kari, Kassie, Paul)

getting ice cream at the barrel (Kristel, Jeanna, Natalie, Kevin)

Roadside odditys are really my thing

On the way home from camping we stopped at Brandon, IA to visit Iowa's largest frying pan!
Not a far drive from Iowa City as its between Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls (just off the interstate). If you are looking for a short day trip go visit this fun roadside oddity.

NLUMC Decorah trip: last picture roundup

Its last call for Decorah camping pictures!
(note still to come later this summer are posts about vegetarian camping food)
The great Iowa roadways and storm clouds


Charlie is ready for a sunny day (chair, hat and sunglasses and he's ready to relax)

Paul giving me his best camping look


Rain on camping day no problem eat under an umbrella

Making ballons fly (isn't as easy as it may seem)

Making garbage bags full (turns out is a lot of fun)

Hi :)

Out to eat at T bock's sports bar
Debbie's salad arrived with a ranch packet :)

PB cheese burger

the spillway at night

It 'rained' cotton down so much all weekend that it left an outline of our tent
Love going to the whippy dip for some great ice cream (only a mile walk from our campground)

NLUMC Decorah trip: Geocaching and scenic vistas

We did a bunch of geocaching with different members of our group while camping. A nice chance to get out and view nature. If you don't know what geocaching is you can learn about it here. It basically is looking for little 'treaures' in hidden by other cachers. Why we like it: shows us new areas we haven't been to (even in our backyard), its fun to have the thrill of a find, its good to do when you go hiking, its a good excuse to just get outside, and finally its a bit of an unsual hobby and we like the unusall around this house! Thanks to Sean and Colleen for introducing us to it.