Iowa State Capitol-Des Moines, IA

After leaving the Mall of America we started out on our long trek from Bloomington, Minnesota to Peoria, Illinois. There is an awesome rest stop called Top of Iowa Welcome Center right after you enter Iowa in Northwood, Iowa.We were so grateful to get out for a few minutes. The kids were excited to get popcorn! (Made us think of my dad who LOVES popcorn.)

Loved seeing all the wind turbines in Iowa. The turbines seem to be everywhere! Did you know that Iowa is a leading state in wind energy? Check out the Iowa Wind Energy Association.

Our next stop of the day was the Iowa State Capitol which opened in 1886. It was designed by two architects: John C. Cochrane and Alfred H. Piquenard. We arrived there long after it had closed for the day, but we enjoyed checking it out. (We really needed to get out of the car to walk around a bit.) The exterior is so impressive! Look at that golden dome. You can see it from miles away and it shines in the sunlight. 

We gave Hotch a call while we checked out the Iowa State Capitol. The kids loved getting to talk to Daddy! We had been away from home for two and a half weeks when we took these photos back in June. We were all missing him so much! Wish he could have come along with us.

That golden dome gilded with 23 karat gold-leafing is 275 feet tall. It has a lovely lookout lantern or cupola that can only be accessed with an accompanying Iowa state senator or representative. Here is a photo journey of someone who was able to travel to the top of that dome. Each of the other four domes also has a lantern.

We drove around to the west side of the Iowa State Capitol and were rewarded with an incredible view of Des Moines, IA. We would love to visit the capitol building again, tour the inside of it and better admire the Iowa State Capitol grounds. We would also like to spend time in Des Moines. 

The west side of the capitol is really beautiful. When we showed up there was a bridal party taking photos. It took me a while to get some photos without them in it. No wonder they chose that site for wedding pictures because the capitol building is gorgeous with immaculate grounds too. 

Couldn't get enough of those domes!

The pediment sculpture (1879) on the front of the Iowa State Capitol really interests me. I am still searching for the sculptor. Here's what I have learned about the pediment meaning (left to right). The far left figure represents Transportation. She has a train on the left and the HMS Pinafore ship (named after popular opera in 1879) on the right. The next figure represents Justice. She is holding the scales of justice. The center figure represents Liberty and she holds a bronze torch in her right hand. The next figure represents Knowledge. She holds a tablet with books at her feet. The far right figure represents Agriculture. She has crops on the left and a plow on the right. 

As we left Des Moines, IA we got to see an amazing sunset in our rear and side mirrors. It was the perfect beginning of a long 4 1/2 hours drive. 

Talking to Hotch on the phone helped me get through the long drive in the dark on a flat, boring road. So grateful he stayed awake chatting with me!

Sunsets and Swimming-Keokuk, IA

After our incredible day in Springfield, Illinois we headed into Keokuk, Iowa to spend the night. When the kids found out there was a pool in the hotel they got so excited. The drive to Keokuk, IA lasted 3 hours which didn't help to ease their anxious waiting. One good thing about the drive was the sherbet colored sunset as we arrived at the Mississippi River right across from Keokuk, IA. It had been a long day and drive, but we just had to stop to take some sunset pictures before the reflection on the water faded away.

Braxton's favorite bird is the bald eagle. He spots it everywhere we go. No surprise that he was thrilled to see it when we stopped for photos. 

These next photos were taken by Alyssa as we passed from Illinois over the Mississippi River and into Iowa. (By the way I love Iowa, but more on that later.) She did pretty well considering that we were in a moving vehicle and she was photographing through our dirty windows.

The second we arrived the kids busted out their bathing suits and impatiently waited for me to get ready. Might you we had been going non-stop on their feet since 8 AM and didn't arrive at the hotel until 8:30 PM. Okay, I'll be honest. I really tried to get out of taking them to swim, but in the end I kept my word that they could swim that night. Thankfully,  we had life jackets for the little ones so I didn't have to go in. They just swam around like little fish for two and a half of the longest hours of my life. We didn't get back to the room until 11 PM and they crashed immediately!

The next day we arose bright and early because we had a very busy schedule ahead. We had the best hotel breakfast ever and then hit the road around 9:30 AM. (We stayed at the Hampton Inn and I highly recommend it.) Keokuk, IA is a very small town. Wish we could have investigated just a little bit. 

As Delaney helped me pump gas we found the funniest looking little bug. She asked me to take its picture and now we are curious about what it is. If you know, then please enlighten us.

Keokuk, I will definitely be seeing you again the next time I am around.