Slowing down after screaming for his supper

Levi and Noah take centerstage in the new Ankeny High School Auditorium.

Some nights, you just have to take it easy. That is easier said than done.
Our first night brought Aunt Kris over for a visit after the leaky sippy cup incident.

Night two included a trip to the ballpark with stickers, peanuts and as Aunt Kris reminded me, Levi coloring his hands all black with a marker.

So, we needed some time at home to get the boys rested and relaxed.

As you can see, they seem to appreciate the couch time. I believe they were watching Wild Kratts. Both have learned from their father how to properly sit on the couch. I am so proud.

More TV time

I suppose TV has something to do with their contentment.

Regardless of a YBHA or not, we try to limit the TV time for Levi and Noah. We don’t want them turning into a squid as our friend Dan Wardellwarned about.

But sometimes you have to just the boys be boys. At least they’re not sitting on each other.

Or screaming.

Before Amy left for Europe, she admitted we may have a little bit of a spoiled little boy on our hands. His name is Levi.

He likes certain things and occasionally, we give in. One thing Levi likes to do is be held before dinner. I know that sounds strange, but when Amy gets home from work, she can’t set the little guy down, she has him on her hip for 20 minutes, preparing a meal one-handed.

I said I would try to break this habit.

I tried.

But, man, Levi is a Yeager, he’s got the pipes. He screamed for 20 minutes while I made supper for Noah and I. Not even some food for Levi would calm him down.

Finally, I relented and got the boy a pacifier, but I’m sure the neighbors were wondering what type of CIA/Donald Rumsfeld/Dick Cheney torture tactics were happening in our house. It got so bad, Noah started to cry because Levi was crying.

Someone has a penchant for no clothes after bath.

Dinner was peaceful and in stereo. Two crying boys on either side. They just needed food. After some tomato soup, calm was restored.

They both calmed down and we went outside to ride scooters and have some fresh air.

Then this happened.

Levi likes to shed his towel after bath and run to his room. I’d show you some more pictures, but I don’t need the police knocking on the door. You can see his little toe in this picture and that is it.

Game night adventures in YBHA VIII

A boy and his stickers are deeply connected.

Going to an Iowa Cubs is an adventure for our family. And that’s with two parents, not just one. Why I thought taking the boys would be a good idea, I’m still not sure. But that’s what you do when you’re in the middle of YBHA VIII.

Thank goodness the game started at 635p, so I had a chance to get the boys into the stadium and see a little bit of baseball before they melted.

Levi was content removing stickers from a book, lifting his shirt and applying them to his belly.

Then the national anthem arrived and Levi remembered he was as the ballgame. From that point on, he was up and down for rest of the night.

Noah questions Gordon how Iowa Corn could go so long without answering questions about that statue. Bill and Ron were pleased to not be in the middle of the exchange.

Noah wanted his own seat next to Bill. They were talking when Uncle Gordon arrived.

Noah wasted no time in asking the Iowa Corn member about the organization’s Iowa/Iowa State trophy. Noah just couldn’t believe Iowa Corn waited so long to call a press conference to remove the pewter family. He said it was a good idea they finally talked about it, but understands they may have been the ones left holding the bag.

Noah said his talking points and went on to bothering cousin Maddox and his brother. Just like old times sake.

We created a little attention, mostly when the boys were dropping items off our ledge to the ground below. Just normal little boy stuff.

The boys wanted peanuts. I obliged. Levi would keep putting in peanuts in his mouth, chew them, but I had a feeling he wasn’t swallowing them. Eventually they came out of his mouth and it was time to go.

Just another fun night at the ole ball game in the Yeager Boys Home Alone.

Genetics are hard to overcome, YBHA returns

Noah, Amy and Levi following a morning reading session.

The picture of a smiling Amy and her two boys can mean only one thing, the “Yeager Boys are Home Alone” or YBHA for the newbies to the blog. If you’re looking for football posts, check back Thursday and Sunday night. That is when I will post the preview and the review of the next game.

Now, back to the family fun. This is the 8th installment of this series. What did we do in YBHAVII?

Momma is in Europe this week.

This time, she was able to delay her departure until Sunday, so that helped make the weekend go a bit smoother for all involved. As I loaded the boys for church, she loaded her vehicle for the airport.

My first adventure involved the diaper bag. Now that Levi is almost 2, the sudden need for diapers isn’t as great as much as the bag is required to carry snacks, drinks and distractions.

I checked the stock before launch and added a sippy cup of juice. I should have checked the lid a little closer. It was screwed on properly, but the removable insert was not flush with the lid and provided a great escape for the contents of the juice. I discovered my situation in the middle of the opening hymn that the cup did not runneth over, but out and into the contents of the bag. A spare t-shirt did most of the work of sopping up the mess, but the diapers remained dry. I’m not sure if they did their job or were just not in the path of the apple drip.

It didn’t matter, Levi wandered the church for most of the service.

We came home, had our naps. Ok, scratch that, Levi had a super nap while Noah played with Lego’s.

Levi and Noah take centerstage in the new Ankeny High School Auditorium.

After having to wake the sleeping wonder named Levi, the boys and I loaded up to go to school. Actually, we toured the new Ankeny High School.

It is quite the spectacle. We’ve watched the school go from dirt to opening as the site is on our way to Noah’s daycare. Now, it is open to the public and incredible. The gym will be a big upgrade over the old one and the auditorium is gorgeous.

Maybe someday I’ll see these two on this stage in front of a few folks.

They had fun touring the school, seeing the big kids’ lockers, classrooms (he recognized the Elmo in one of the room’s as the same from his classroom) and Mr. Poppen’s band room.

Levi, Noah and Maddox playing ball.

As per tradition, we usually invite a cousin over when Mom is away. Cousin Maddox came over for the evening. He’s between Noah and Levi in age. Mad Dog wanted to play some baseball, so we tried to get some tee-ball innings in before supper.

It was an adventure. Just getting a picture of the three ball players was challenging.

Levi is learning to swing, but Maddox is ready for play. He really can hit it. Noah is working on his patience in playing with his cousins. He is getting better at playing with the younger kids. You know, he’s so old now that he’s a kindergartener.

Brian, Mark, Barb, Lynda and Kent provide leadership in photo taking.

But back to the group picture. These three may not have any choice in how they can’t seem to pose together. They all come from the family tree that provides this photo as inspiration.

This picture was taken back in June as my cousin Erik’s wedding to Dana. I asked my father and his siblings to leave the reception hall for an unofficial family photo. Erik’s father, Mark is my dad’s brother. Brian, Barb and Lynda completed the picture.

In their defense, they did pose for a nice photo a few seconds later.

Maroon Machine Fires Up a 44-7 Win

Amarah Darboh scored 3 TDs Friday against CB TJ. (Des Moines Register photo)

The Maroon Machine ist still a work in progress, but they upgraded their ride Friday night in a 44-7 victory of visiting Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson at Valley Stadium.

Last year, the Maroons rode like a Cadillac most of the season, many nights, cruising to victory. This year, the vehicle is different. Some parts of the car returning are the envy, even the target, of many. Defenses know where Amara Darboh is at all times. He scored 3 touchdowns in the second game of his senior season to bring his season total to four. But they weren’t big play catches from QB Dan Hartlieb, but running ones. Darboh is playing the flanker position in Coach Tom Wilson’s offense. (Here’s a link to a great story on Darboh by Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register)

Number 15′s first score was the game’s first. The offense looked impressive in the Maroon’s first drive moving 56 yards in two plays following Ben Goaley’s 39-yard run and Brandon Ogden’s 17-yard catch. 3 plays later, Darboh was in the end zone on a 2-yard run.

The defense turned in a stingy 1st quarter performance, forcing the Yellow Jackets 3 and out the first three series of the game. Quarterback Dominic Wilson looked to run the ball many times, but instead turned to the air, to look for positive yardage. But Wilson didn’t get much help in the field position game, starting drives on his own 16, 24 and 10 in this same three series stretch. The Maroons would only allow -6 yards in total offense in the first half.

Meanwhile, the Maroons couldn’t take advantage of the short fields after the first score, managing only a 34-yard field goal by Avery Mason with 3:25 remaining in the first quarter to increase the lead to 10-0. The much-improved Coach Mark Puev squad played good defense on Darboh and others, making one-on-one open field tackles in most cases, especially on Darboh.

Dowling Catholic opened the door on a T-J punt that the return man never seemed to have a handle on from the beginning. TJ took over on the Dowling 28. The drive got as close as the 8 when the snap from center went over Wilson’s head. The Maroons picked up the loose ball.

Then the engine started to purr.

Alex Heckman was slated to play more wide receiver and defense this season. Now he will now see more time at tailback following the first play of the season that injured Michael Palme. Heckman spelled Goaley for a play and he made the most of his opportunity. Alex took the ball 46 yards to the TJ 9. Two plays later, Darboh was in the end zone again for 17-0 lead.

Clemon would get his second turnover, picking off a Wilson pass and return it to the TJ 15. Then Jon Wisnieski would get the call on a pass from Hartlieb to make it 24-0.

Ben Goaley added a score from one yard out before Darboh caught a nice page as Dowling Catholic would practice the 2-minute drill before half to go into the locker room up 38-0. Coach Wilson told our Brian Morris at halftime he was pleased with the effort, but execution could have been better. Goaley ran the ball 14 times for 112 yards.

The second half brought a continuous clock and mostly the second, third and fourth teamers. The Maroons finished with 284 yards rushing and 425 yards of total offense. The Yellow Jackets had 74 total yards, 32 rushing, 59 yards passing.

Back up QB Anthony Denkinger (yes, nephew of that Denkinger Cardinal and Royals fans) through a nice pass to Matthew Haack from 7-yards out to make 44-7.

Thomas Jefferson would score late in the 4th quarter on a pass from Wilson to former QB Michael Wallace.

One interesting side story that developed late in the game was the debut of freshman QB Ryan Boyle for Dowling Catholic. This is noteworthy as freshman traditionally don’t play for DCHS in football. According to unofficial DC historian Mark Amadeo, he goes all the way back to the early 1960s when Tommy Formaro came in to a game. He would be the a 3-year starter after that.

Andrew Clemon and TJ Palme appeared in our KWKY post-game show saying Monday’s practice certainly helped set a tone for the team’s preparations this week. Palme added that a few guys had not realized the speed of the game is much different at the varsity level than in sophomore or JV games.

“We’re not settled yet in our 11 guys,” Coach Tom Wilson told Brian Morris in our post-game show meaning the second and third string guys who saw the field Friday night are still playing for a spot in the starting line-up.

The Maroons improve to 1-1 while the Yellow Jackets fall to 0-2. Dowling hosts DM East at East on Friday night. Our webcast on DowlingWebcasting.com begins at 6p. As always, join us on AM1150 KWKY or KWKY.com. Be sure to submit your question for the “Ask The Announcer” segment around 645p in our pre-game show. Just send an @Reply to our @KWKYSports Twitter feed and we’ll read it on the air.

Uphill Climb Ahead (TJ at Dowling WK1)

The two football coaches involved in Friday’s Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson and West Des Moines Dowling Catholic will tell you they are making an uphill climb.

Dowling Catholic is just trying to get back to the top and continue the defense of the 2010 Class 4A football crown, after dropping their season opener to cross-town rival WDM Valley, 28-21.

The other, is just trying to get out of the bottom and get headed uphill, or at least run on flat ground.

Mark Puev enters his second season as the head coach of the TJ Yellow Jackets. He inherited a team that made the playoffs one year, then turned in a 1-8 performance. Puev’s first season saw the Jackets claim one victory. TJ plays 7 games in Council Bluffs this season, with Friday’s 7:30p kick-off at Valley Stadium as the first road trip.

The eventual state champion Maroons handled the Jackets with ease last season in a lopsided 69-0 finish. Dowling scored 42 points in the first quarter.

This year, 16 starters return for TJ, a sign of improvement in Coach Puev’s eyes. But many of those starters play on both sides of the ball, a necessity when only so many players come out for football.

Numbers are improving and so is confidence. Despite a 28-21 loss to their cross-town rival CB Abraham Lincoln, feel some confidence about the 2011 campaign. After all, the battle for Council Bluffs was tied in the 4th quarter.

Thomas Jefferson’s Dominic Wilson gets taken down by West Des Moines Dowling’s Matt Merfeld, left, and Max Pyle as he runs the ball during Friday night’s game at C.B. Stadium. The Maroons, rated No. 1 in Class 4-A, defeated the Yellow Jackets 69-0. (Image by Daily Nonpareil's/Cindy Christensen)

The Jackets were forced to make a change at quarterback last season when starter Michael Wallace broke his ribs in a game in Sioux City. Dominic Wilson, who’d never played QB before, was thrown into the mix and finished the season under center. He assumes the position this year as Wallace will line up in Wilson’s spot, wide receiver.

Coach Puev installed a variation of the spread offense. They will line up with 4 receivers and let it fly. One thing Coach said this week is he reduced the scope of the playbook and tried to simplify things. He calls it “addition by subtraction.” That made players feel more comfortable in the scheme by taking out the clutter of his playbook.

Running back Michael White returns and offers a ground threat. His speed is used on kickoff returns to give the team a boost. Former tight end Justin Leftridge is now lining up at tackle and according to his coach, embracing and succeeding in the change.

Also up front, the Yellow Jackets bring back some experience, including Nolan Neaman. The junior had a good camp season at Northwest Missouri State, impressing the coaches in his willingness to take on tougher competition in drills. Coach Puev has seen a change in his approach to the game that he hopes is contagious to younger players.

Coach Puev’s defense is more of a 3-5 look this season. He says that allows his smaller, faster linebackers to be more effective and in better positions to make plays. Dewey Sullivan is the anchor of the defense. Sullivan was getting anxious to play after transferring from Council Bluffs St. Albert and having to sit out last season.

The Maroons will be making some changes of their own this week in replacing the injured Michael Palme and Jacob Stacy. Both will likely miss the rest of the season. The injuries move Nick Navin over a spot and more playing time for Andrew Clemen.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @KWKYSports. We’ll be taking your questions all day for our ask the announcers segment of our pregame show which begins on 1150 KWKY at 6p from Valley Stadium. This game will also be webcast at http://dowlingwebcasting.com/ You can also listen to us on KWKY.com as well.

Just a tip, part of this article may get some discussion in our pregame discussion.

Stunning flood damage along the Missouri River begins to surface

I-29 north of Council Bluffs. (Photo from Iowa DOT)

Remember the floods of 2011? The ones that still have traffic re-routed on Interstate 29 for hundreds of miles?

If these pictures posted by the Iowa Department of Transportation are the tip of the iceberg, it will be long after the snow and cold are gone before you’re driving from Sioux City to Kansas City through Omaha/Council Bluffs on I-29.

I don’t have official information, but I do know you can’t work on a construction project of rebuilding a road when it is still under water.

Sandbags around the Blue Moon in Hamburg.

I went for Market To Market to the Missouri back in June. Then several roads were still passable.

My previous post is here which includes the trip from Sioux City to Hamburg.

That’s not the case anymore. Check out the dramatic images showing the power of water. Especially water that lasts for months like it is now.

I-29 north of Council Bluffs on 8/16/11 (Photo by Iowa DOT)

The gallery from the Iowa DOT is here.

It includes images from around the Council Bluffs area, even showing Highway 2 from Hamburg to Nebraska City. We were on that road in June when all the businesses just west of the interstate were surrounded by sandbags.

Tigers turn the tables and tame the Maroons, 28-21

BILL NEIBERGALL/THE REGISTER West Des Moines Valley's #2 Trey Lewis, right, bounced off Dowling Catholic defenders, kept his balance and stayed in bounds as Lewis scored the winning touchdown on a long run.

Every football coach tells his players turnovers are one major difference maker in a football game. Tom Wilson is in that camp.

For a team that committed only single digit turnovers over 14 games, West Des Moines Dowling Catholic almost committed their season’s allotment in one night at Drake Stadium. An interception, a fumble and a turnover on downs contributed to the 28-21 loss to West Des Moines Valley in the 2011 season opener for both teams.

Just ask Tiger head coach Gary Swenson about turnovers. Fumbles and interceptions lead to losses to the rival Maroons the previous 3 meetings. This time the turnovers helped propel the West Des Moines Valley Tigers to victory in Week Zero.

The Maroon miscues in the 4th quarter resulted in the game-winning touchdown run by Valley’s Trey Lewis. The second turnover ended the chances of Dowling Catholic keeping their 14-game winning streak alive.

But the Maroons from West Des Moines kept even with the Tigers, even after losing a key player on the first play of the game. Michael Palme was injured on the opening kick-off. Palme was listed as the Rover linebacker and backup tailback and didn’t get to see more action in front of the 9,000+ fans.

That injury shuffled Coach Tom Wilson’s strategy in a hurry. The Maroon’s first offensive series featured two quarterbacks and several formations. The drive was briefly kept alive by a fake punt by Matthew Haack but would eventually stall on the Valley 18.

Valley has a tradition of a big offensive line, strong running backs and excellent linebackers. All of those are visible in this 2011 Valley team. Trey Lewis ran all over the field behind the offensive line for 24 carries and 198 yards. He started to find his groove midway through the first quarter and scored the game’s first points on the third play of the second quarter from 2 yards out.

BILL NEIBERGALL/THE REGISTER Dowling Catholic's #20 Ben Goaley goes to the outside on a run against West Des Moines Valley.

Dowling Catholic would deploy Ben Goaley left and right for a good series that included a nice catch by super prospect Amarah Darboh for 25 yards. Dan Hartlieb would follow a great seal block by Goaley to get his first varsity touchdown from 20 yards out to even the score with 7:53 to play in the 2nd.

The Dowling D responded with a sack and a couple of back of forth series before TJ Palme fell on a fumble. 2 plays later, Hartlieb would hit Darboh from 42 yards out for the score and the Maroon’s first lead of the game.

The Tigers would strike before halftime on the legs of Trey Lewis for a score to tie it at 14.

Alex Heckman, seeing more defensive playing time because of an injury to starting safety Jacob Stacy, would be in on special teams and block a Valley punt. The Maroons would cash that chip in for 6 points on a 7 yard TD run by Ben Goaley.

Later in the quarter, Hartlieb would have to leave the field on an injury, forcing tight end Jon Wisnieski under center. He would throw the interception which the Tigers would later score the touchdown to tie the game at 21. But that Valley drive featured back up tail back Tyus Mason. The sophomore’s fresh legs helped beat back a weakening Maroon defense before QB Jeff Pullen snuck behind his huge offensive line for the score.

Then things got interesting. Dowling was moving the ball behind Goaley’s legs before a blitz by the Valley linebackers disrupted the timing in the backfield and forcing a fumble.

Valley would turn to Mason for a 13 yards, Lewis for 12 before calling on the senior on 4th and 2. He would convert and extend the drive. Then Lewis put on the real show on the next snap, darting left, great cut back right into the endzone with 2:23 remaining in the game. Lewis’ third touchdown of the game came from 24 yards out.

A great kick-off return by Brandon Ogden set Dowling Catholic up for a shorter field. But, a quarterback sneak by Hartlieb was stuff and for the first time in 645 days, the Dowling Catholic Maroons were on the losing end of the scoreboard.

The Maroons ran the ball 31 times for 130 yards, passing was 11-21 for 143 yards for 273 yards of total offense.
The Tigers had 41 carries for 304 yards, 9-13 passing for 65 yards and 369 yards of total offense.

Valley travels to Ottumwa and the Maroons host Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson. Last season, Dowling Catholic crushed the Yellow Jackets 69-0. TJ dropped their opener to cross-town rival Abraham Lincoln by a similar 28-21 score.

Thanks to those of you who watched the webcast on DowlingWebcasting.com You can see 4 more Maroon home games, including this week’s game. We’ll also be on the radio on the official home of Dowling Catholic Sports, 1150 KWKY. We also stream the audio at kwky.com

No Weak Zeroes for 2 greats; Valley at Dowling

Justin Hayworth/The Register Dowling head coach Tom Wilson accepts the championship trophy as his team starts to celebrate their 38-31 victory over Iowa City City High during the Class 4A Championship football game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls Friday night. (Justin Hayworth/The Des Moines Register)

If Tom Wilson felt his team had a target on their back last season, he ain’t seen nothing yet.

When you’re the defending 4A football champion, everyone wants a piece of you. Including the team that you beat twice last season, which is also your biggest rival.

Last season the West Des Moines Dowling Catholic Maroons took out the West Des Moines Valley Tigers not once, but two times. The first meeting was in Week 0 while the second battle was in a playoff game in which Dowling trailed at halftime and won in dramatic fashion in overtime. It brought out the Wahoo Marcoulier.

Friday will mark the 62nd time these two powerhouses in Iowa High School Football have clashed on the gridiron. The Iowa Sports Connection ranks Dowling Catholic #1 in 4A with Valley at #5. So, another great match-up on paper. The Maroons have won 14 straight games, tied for second best in the state, and 21 straight regular season games. Also, since 2000, 7 of the 11 4A state championships have been won by Dowling (3) or Valley (4).

New season, new team. Gone are strong players QB Connor Bravard, RB Dalton Parrott, Flanker Eric Lee and some great lineman. Not to mention good defenders in Jason MacMurray, Ben Boesen, etc.

Darboh goes up for the reception in Week 0. (Des Moines Register)

Here now, a guy named Amarah Darboh who’s on nearly every coach’s radar who plays in front of 60,000 fans or more each Saturday. His acrobatic catches are highlight worthy. Darboh is one of three returning offensive starters. T.J. Palme is back on the offensive line and so is Evan Barkley.

The defense has even fewer returning players. Jacob Stacy moves from corner to safety and linebacker Matthew Formanek.

Johnston's Marcus Montgomery and Dowling's Dan Hartleib look to fill the shoes of star players that graduated last year and keep their teams in the hunt for the playoffs. / JUSTIN HAYWORTH / REGISTER PHOTO

The Maroons will send out new quarterback Dan Hartlieb to lead the team. The son of former Iowa Hawkeye signal caller, Chuck Hartlieb, will get his first varsity start and his first round of playing time since tearing his knee last season. Coach Wilson says his arm is not a question. But his size and speed may be unknowns at this point.

Many guys are players you’ve not heard of like center Mark Kenkel who dropped 40 pounds this off-season to go along with his 6-1, 270 pound frame, or RT Jimmy Barsetti and SE Brandon Ogden. Those three will see significant time this season and look to carry the “next man in” mantra. Ben Goaley will be the featured back and is described a tough, angry runner.

The offensive line is bigger than in years past. T.J. Palme will play both sides of the ball. Others, like NG Alex Kramer will have a baptism by fire Friday night at Drake Stadium.

The linebacking corps of Matt Merfeld, Nick Navin, Michael Palme and Jon Wisnieski looks to be solid. Nick, is the younger brother of Spencer Navin, now playing baseball at Vanderbilt University. Navin will also start at FB, but will Reed Flood will see action later in the season at that position as well.

A player to keep an eye on is junior Bandit Linebacker Jon Wisnieski. The 6-4/210 pounder is tough, according to Coach Wilson. He’s the same height as standout Ben Boesen from last year’s state championship squad, but already carries more muscle on his body. Look for “Wiz” to be all over the field. He’ll also line up at TE, just like Boesen, and could be the key to offense as teams key on Darboh.

Another option for Hartlieb will be flanker Matthew Haack. The 6-1, 180 pound junior is listed behind Amarah on the depth chart, but will see plenty of time on offense. Haack will also play RCB.

The West Des Moines Valley Tigers are used to playing in the post-season and playing well into November. Coach Gary Swenson enters his 37th season as a head coach (280-89 career record). The Tigers bowed out at 7-4 losing only to playoff teams of Dowling, Fort Dodge and Ames.

Coach Swenson told KXNO radio Thursday afternoon he likes to have seniors on his squad on the field. This year, he’ll have 10 returning starters beginning at QB with Jeff Pullen. Also OT Trevor Hanson, OG Austin Stephens, WR Brody Baumann, FB/LB Brandon Ellingson, TB Trey Lewis. The defense brings back DL Sam Raridon, LB Spencer Hellman, DB Nolan Lodden and DB Jake Nitz.

Pullen split time behind center last season to finish with 570 yards passing, but was effective when he would tuck it and run. Coach Wilson predicts Pullen to be more of a run first QB this season.

Seniors Adam Maher, of Ames, Brandon Ellingson of Valley and Cole Pederson of Waukee believe their times might make some noise this season. Mary Chind/The Register / /Mary Chind/The Register

Trey Lewis will be the featured back of the offense. Ellingson should be a nice, big target for Pullen to throw to.

Like Dowling, Valley is replacing a top runner in Martin Looney who rushed for more than 1,500 yards last season.

We go on the air at 6p this year on the radio on AM 1150 KWKY. You can listen online at KWKY.com and for the first of five times this season, watch the game on-line. The production will feature our radio audio and multiple cameras. You can watch at http://www.dowlingwebcasting.com or by clicking here.

We will again be operating the KWKYSports twitter feed. Romelle will be busy tweeting out scoring and game updates. We also want to hear from you, so send us your question for our ask the announcer segment of the pregame show.

The varsity game will begin around 7:30 PM which follows the sophomore contest at Drake Stadium.
Join us Friday night.

Day 1 of 2340

Noah is set to begin his first day of kindergarten.

There were a lot of sunglasses being worn in Ankeny today. Yes, it was a bit sunny, but that wasn’t the reason for the eye protection.

It was day one of school. Those shades were hiding the tears from moms and a few dads as our children began their academic career, or the next chapter in it.

If Iowa stays at 180 days in a year, Noah will have 2,340 days of school until he wears his next cap and gown. If they go as well as they did today, he’ll be just fine.

Our little man met new friends, earned tickets for good behavior and had recess. 3 of them, actually.

He’d already met his teacher when she came for an in-home visit a week ago and at a meet the teacher night last week.

In place and ready to learn.

Noah seems to enjoy academic life. He was starting to get a little bored with summer daycare. There was a different attitude in him. They will read, do math, learn how to play with each other, memorize lunch codes and maybe they’ll get to play with glue.

I may have been one of the emotional ones, but I did not openly cry. I did get a little weak pulling that door open into school. Noah got a hug and we were on our way.

Soon, we’ll be packing him up for college like our neighbors are doing tonight with their daughter.

For now, I’ll take my boy and his Spiderman backpack to kindergarten while wearing my sunglasses.

July is gone, but not forgotten

Paul and Amy at Castello di Amorosa or Castle of Love in the Napa Valley.

Hopefully you noticed this page hadn’t been updated much in the month of July.

I didn’t intentionally take time off, but took time to do some other things.

Amy and I celebrated 10 years of marriage at the end of June. We took the party on the road, with a trip to northern California. We flew in to San Francisco, drove to Napa and came back to the city by the bay.

I could bore you with all the details like I did to Michael Graham, the best friend a guy could ever have, but I won’t.

Ok, here’s a few things we did on our trip.

Beringer preps for Michael Buble.

Recapping, we went to 9 wineries (Castello di Amorosa, Robert Mondavi, Beringer (they were getting ready for a Michael Buble concert on-site later in the week), Beaulieu (near Rutherford Grill where we lunched the day before), V Sattui (where we had a picnic lunch and Amy was again reminded how much she loved birds), Darioush (looked around, but no tasting), Black Stallion, Van Der Heyden (small is an understatement for this winery) and finally Luna.

Napa was hot. The wineries are at every turn. We should have gone into the Sonoma region to sample more of the white wines. Napa is more known for the reds. Lesson learned. We did have a good time along the Silverado Trail.

Cousins Paul Yeager and Sean Nash together again.

Then came San Fran. My cousin Sean and I reconnected for the first time in about 25 years. Just like the mid-80′s, he’s still a trip. He’s an artist, I’m a producer. We both have some abstract concept skills, but he’s the one who should get paid for talking. He was quite the host for our afternoon. We got a quick city tour and the back roads to get there.

The next day, we took in a ferry ride to Sausalito, Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier39/HumanCluster area, trolley car ride and Ghirardelli Square.

The view from the upper deck of AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Oh, and a trip to an awesome ballpark, AT&T. The home of the World Champion San Francisco Giants is a true gem. Tv’s Eric Hanson says it is in top 5 of ballparks. I can imagine two others above it, but that’s stretching it.

The park is on the bay, the views are incredible and the fans love their Giants. Specifically, the Beard. Brian Wilson has the city in a trance. We got to see his entrance twice and it didn’t disappoint. We learned the stadium plays “Lights” by Journey as its “Sweet Caroline” moment. If you’ve been to Fenway Park in Boston, you know what I’m talking about. The Twins play “Livin’ On a Prayer” and the Royals play “Friends in Low Places.”

I did get a chance to go to Waterloo and visit John Bergman a happy 60th birthday. His family and ours are the same. We’ve done a lot of things together and have a lot of memories together. It was good to see so many people gathered for his birthday.

Noah and Levi playing in the sprinkler.

The rest of the month included time with the boys (hairline fracture in Levi’s left leg), ice cream runs, bike rides, hot weather and tending to our ever-growing garden of tomatoes and raspberries.

We’re regulars at the pools, which are doing great business this year, making up for any lost revenue the last 4 years. Noah passed his first year of swimming lessons and is ready for more. When not at the pool, we turned the sprinkler on and let the boys run wild and into each other.

He's going to school this fall?

August brings the Iowa State Fair, the start of high school football for another year of calling Dowling Catholic football, meetings, straw polls, and Noah starting Kindergarten.

Yes. Our little baby is ready for school.

But are we?