Thursday - October 7

 Hello from Iowa City...

Started raining as we woke up....and by 6 AM, really coming down!    We had breakfast, a little lull from the rain to load up the car and we were off at 7:55 for Iowa City.    The radar looked nasty in the direction we were going (northwest) with the storms moving from the southeast.    And we did drive in very heavy rain for an hour.   Fortunately, it stopped in Bloomington and the boys got in their practice day preparing for tomorrow's tournament.

We checked into the hotel, connected with Philip and Annette who arrived about 1/2 hour before us.   We all met Drew at The Hamburg Inn (a favorite of Michael's from many years ago when he was a student here - serving thee best tenderloins.)   That's what we ordered and they were really good.  

After the tenderloins at the Hamburg Inn
Mark, Pat, Drew, Philip, Annette

  Annette drove her car, Philip drove Drew's and Mark drove ours to Cedar Rapids airport.    These cars will bring back Michael and family + Ryan around 4 and Davis, later tonight.

Enjoyed some "down" time in our rooms before the kiddos arrived.     So good to see everyone and shortly after they settled in, we walked to "Spare Me" for some bowling....this is a new really neat bowling alley - very high tech, modern, good music, etc. 

The "B's" - Brady and Blair at "Spare Me"!

   Ryan won the 1st game and Philip, the 2nd.   Then off to eat again...."The Wig and Pen" pizza place was very good - we enjoyed both thick and thin crust, plus our wine and beer.

Red lights...
Drew, Ryan, Brady, Blair, Brooke
Pat, Annette, Philip, Mark, Michael

Back to the hotel and went to the rooftop restaurant (The VUE) - we had drinks outside around the fire.   Wow....super neat 

At the VUE with the ever-changing lights
Philip, Mark, Ryan, Brady
Annette, Tessa, Drew, Brooke
And Michael discussing the stand-out Penn State player (LaVar Arrington in 1997-99) who he chatted with - he's now working for Fox and in town for the big Penn State/Iowa game Saturday!

We all wish Liam and Connor the best of luck tomorrow!!!!
GO SAINTS!!!








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