Thursday October 25, 2012 - The View From Section EE

I will start off with the video I tried to load last week. Here is Emily and her Old McDonald song. She has sense increased the words a little, but this was all she had at the time. 

I will start off this week with a little bit of school safety information. Yesterday we had scheduled Brianna's conferences during lunch since I am stuck at work on the evenings. We had Kristy's grandpa's truck removing more leaves from the yard. We dropped off the leaves at the dump and drove up to the school. We were about 10 minutes early so as we drove by the schools playground we saw Bri outside, so we parked and watched her play. We said to each other that we felt like creepers watching kids at recess. We then went inside to go to Bri's conferences and the Principal walks up to us and asked us if we were driving a pickup truck. Turns out the crossing guards, two girls a few years older than Bri, were to report any suspicious cars while they are outside. Turns out they did a good job and at least reported us! Like I said, we thought were were a little creepy. Its a good thing they are being observant. 

Tomorrow marks a pretty big day for us. Closing day for the Omaha house! It only took 17 months to sell the house and a financial headache, but its sold. We went out last weekend to get the last of our belongings out of there. It was a little rough. We were fortunate enough to get into the housing market when they were passing mortgages out at the street corner and we were able to get a brand new house. It was everything we needed in a house. 

Brought home a few monsters into that home. The yard felt so big when we brought Reagan home. Looked like he could run and run and not even get close to the neighbors house with his little puppy strides. Then as he got bigger and decided to disobey us and go to the neighbors deck it was time to fence him in. Turns out wooden fence posts, large dog, and some nasty wind doesn't bode well for the fence. Bri decided to leave her lasting impression on the house after we had the carpets cleaned professionally for Christmas one year. We, begrudgingly, gave her cup of hot chocolate from Starbucks. Roughly two sips into it, it gets dumped on the carpet. 100% our fault. Everyone from the Myans to Nostrodamus to anyone on the street knew she was going to do that, yet we gave in and let her have it. As we were leaving, the carpets looked good, but there was her huge stain of hot cocoa. Emily was there the shortest amount of time, but she still left her mark, or we failed to clean her mark up. A couple cute hand prints on the stainless steel of the oven was cute enough to just leave. 

As rough as it was to leave, we do realize that from the very beginning we knew we weren't going to be in that house forever. Its just too bad it took so damn long to sell! 

Prediction:

Last week the Iowa State offense showed once again its one of the worst in the conference. For some reason they started out really well taking a 10-7 lead. Then the wheels fell off and they failed to move the ball at all. Its a little frustrating since the running game was suppose to be so good, but it has been anything but good. If I had any say in the matter, and from 19 rows up in the end zone my opinion is pretty much ignored, I would run the ball with Jeff Woody more than the 5 times a game he gets now. They need to play the game 10 yards at a time and use Woody to chew up 3-4 yards a play. Eat a lot of clock and punch it in with lengthy scoring drives. 

This week brings Baylor to Ames. Baylor has one of the better offenses facing a good Iowa State defense. The Baylor defense is literally the worst defense in the country. Its too bad the Iowa State Offense is so bad, but this should be a game they put some points on the board. I do not have a very good feeling about this one, but I hope I am wrong. This is a turning point for both teams, the loser goes home with a difficult chance of making a bowl game. The winner sets them self up for a bowl chance and a strong finish. I have that feeling Baylor will win this thing, but there is no way I can predict Baylor to win. ISU gets the running game going and they pull off the win. 

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Thursday October 18, 2012 - The View From Section EE

It turns out that having a nice new work phone and a lot of time with Emily in the mornings that I happen to take a lot more videos and pictures of her. The other day she just started to sing a song, and I had no clue where she sang it before. Very similar to Brianna when she sang "Baa Baa Black Sheep" constantly. Here would be her "Old McDonald" video but I will have to delay that. Turns out I'm having issues posting a video. I'll throw a picture in just to suffice for now.


This past Sunday we went to my grandmas for a Thanksgiving style lunch. A typical Evans meal. There was a whole lot little Brianna did not want to eat, so she asked for a pear. She got her pear but grandma said she had to eat her food first. After she suffered through eating bits and pieces, Kristy gave in and let her eat the pear. Not so fast! Grandma didn't approve and took the pear from her and told her she needs to finish her lunch since it was so much work to make. The look on Bri's face was priceless. If it was us or either of our parents, she would have argued back and probably gotten her way. She was speechless. Just sat there wondering what just happened. We couldn't help but laugh. After she choked down some more food and spit out some squash in the bathroom she finally got her pear. It was very funny.

Prediction:
Last week those Wildcats of Kansas State got by the Cyclones once again! They do everything they need to do to win, and they have a chance to make a ton of noise this year.

This week ISU travels to Stillwater, OK to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The same Cowboys that ISU knocked out of the National Championship game last year. Fortunately, this is not the same OK State team. They lost arguably their best offensive players in school history. This year they are playing very well on the offensive side of the ball but they are lacking a relevant defense. The ISU offense has not been good at all, and you can even call it awful. I don't think it can get any worse and matches up with a below average defense, this could be the week it wakes up.

I believe the ISU defense is good enough to shut down OSU, it's just the offense needs to score enough to win. I am taking ISU in this one by a couple touchdowns at the very least.

41-17 Cyclones!

Thursday October 11, 2012 - The View From Section EE

This week brings a couple Emily stories. I think Brianna will be OK with her not being mentioned this week.

First Story:

This past Sunday we raked up a billion leaves in the yard. While running the leaf blower, I look over and Emily is walking up to me and talking and not really making a lot of sense. This had been a common theme while running the leaf blower and not being able to hear her. A minute later Kristy stops me and tells me to look over at Emily. She must have been telling me she had to go to the bathroom because I look over and her pants are down in the middle of the yard. Luckily she had not yet gone, otherwise she would have peed all over her clothes! I guess it took a couple times in the summer when other kids/boys happen to go to the bathroom in the yard to make her think she can go too. This wasn't the first occasion, but first occasion where she wasn't wearing a dress or a swimsuit.

Second Story:

Since Kristy has a new daytime hours job, we have had to use the day care place in town on occasion. Yesterday was one of those occasions. Emily was there all day as we both had to work early in the morning. Turns out she has been doing pretty good. She doesn't like tomato's and nacho's, but we knew that. Her report yesterday had a couple interesting points. One, she is kind of bossy. Who knew with a sister like Brianna that Emily would turn bossy?!?!?! I guess it was just a matter of time before we found that out. The next point is interesting. Emily naps really well in the afternoon for us. Turns out she naps well there too, but it took a twist yesterday. The workers found Emily after she woke up walking on top of currently sleeping kids. I didn't believe it when I heard it. I asked her about it today and she said she walked on them and it was fun. Nothing new here, but what Emily wants, Emily gets. I guess.

Prediction:

Last week I thought ISU would win by 14, and they did! The ISU offense did score more than I predicted, but that's a good thing. They switched to the back up quarterback, Jared Barnett. Obviously that was the correct move. For some reason, they seem to respond a lot better on offense with Barnett in the line up. Jantz may have a better arm, but Barnett gets the offense moving.

The past three ISU/Kansas State games have been decided by a total of 15 points, all K-State wins. The things old man Bill Snyder has done at K-State is tremendous. He took on of the worst football programs in the history of football and made them a winner. He retired then after three bad years returned to continue what he has done in the past, win. ISU is due in so many ways to beat the Wildcats. Three years ago an amazing catch in the end zone as the game was ending resulted in ISU needing an extra point to tie the game. Go figure, it gets blocked and K-State wins. The next year ISU was down 7 late in the game when Austen Arnaud overthrew a wide open Alexander Robinson that would have resulted in the potential game tying touchdown. Then last year in a cold blustery day in Manhattan, ISU just couldn't get it down and lost by 7.

This year K-State is ranked in the top 10, and for the first time in a long time, ISU is ranked 25th in the Coach's Poll. Turns out this Saturday the weather could play a major factor. Sounds like a lot of rain throughout the day and even thunderstorms and potential severe weather. K-State is a team that does not make mistakes, but they are playing a solid ISU defense. I think ISU will be able to stop K-State's running attack and force them to pass, and if the conditions are as bad as they say they will be, this bodes well for Iowa State. The ISU offense must not turn the ball over. That is the key. IF they turn the ball over less than K-State, they win. Its that simple. Bill Snyder teams make other teams look bad by capitalizing on their mistakes. I the magic number is 24. If ISU gets to 24 first, they win the game. I look for it to get sloppy at times, but think ISU pulls the upset.

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Friday October 5, 2012 - The View From Section EE

Not a whole lot to report this week, then as I failed to set my alarm and as I scramble to get Bri ready for school, she makes me laugh. We were about ready to head out the door when she wanted to go get her library book and return it. Then she says "When we go to Okoboji next summer, I want to go to the Spencer  Library and look for Dewey." I was pretty confused, so in the short amount of time I ask what she means. She checked out a library book and the book was about a cat named Dewey and he lives in the Spencer Library. She showed me the page where it shows a library in a town of Spencer. So without a doubt, she will probably remember and next summer we will be searching for a cat in the Spencer library.

Emily has been having a bout with this nasty cough. It seems to be getting better, but enough to drive us all crazy when she cant sleep in the middle of the night. At least she still lovers her Pingu on Netflix. There is only one actual word on the show, and its Pingu. A bunch of grunts and mumbling. Similar to an Evans family gathering. Here is Em and her Pingu song.

Prediction:

I am now 2-1 after last weeks debacle on the offensive side of the ball. The defense did what it needed to do to win Big 12 games. It will be tough to shut out Big 12 schools so the offense needs to show up week to week. That was one of the worst offensive performances we have seen in a while. It was a challenge, but ISU's quarterback Steele Jantz won that challenge by only passing for 3 yards in the first half, and that was two completed passes. It was brutal to watch, and its hard to pinpoint where the began. Bad quarterback play, bad play calling, bad offensive line, etc. Hopefully things will change tomorrow or it could be a long season.

Prior to the season I thought TCU could be a team to beat. Its their first year in the Big 12 and even though they have had some success, they have not played the difficult schedule of the Big 12. I assumed they would be closer to .500 winning percentage by the time the season is done. Then ISU looked awful last week, so I was leading toward a 14 point TCU win. Then Wednesday night, TCU's starting quarterback gets picked up for drunken driving and is suspended. That changes things a lot in my mind. TCU now will be starting a quarterback who was about to play some running back due to their injuries at that position. With two days notice to prepare, I think the TCU offense will struggle, not like ISU struggled last week (no team can have a worse offense performance) and the ISU defense shuts them down. If ISU can straighten out half its poor offense and put up 24 points, I think they can win.

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Friday September 28, 2012 - The View From Section EE

Last week was homecoming for Brianna. She has been looking forward to it for quite a while now. She had mentioned weeks ago about some "Raider football player" that helps in her class. She said she knew he was a player because he wore his jersey in her class. So I had taken that day off, so I told her we could go to the game. Turns out she realizes that kids tend to run free at the games and that is all she did for a half of a football game. I don't think she even stood there enough to look for her class room helper.

We did sign her up to be a little cheerleader. She had a camp after school to learn her cheers. She seemed to catch on pretty fast and told me a couple of them that night. As the week moved on, she kept acting like she didn't want to go to the pep rally or the game to perform the cheers. Maybe she has lost some of her outgoing personality and is becoming more shy. So we arrive at the pep rally and as soon as she was signed in and got her t-shirt on, she was in the middle of the group and showing signs of the original Brianna. Once it was time to line up and perform, she was right out there.

She lined up next to Morgan, on our side of the gym. Everything was chaos, until the cheerleaders lined the kids up in their proper age groups and placed them throughout the gym. Turns out Brianna is in the front row, but on the opposite side of the gym. So no good pictures, but she looked like she had a great time. Then the next day was the football game. As soon as we got there, she was gone with her friends getting ready to line up. This time, we moved to the side of the field that she stood on at the pep rally. The girls come walking onto the field and just our luck, Bri is on the opposite side from us. So once again, she looks like she is having a good time, but we were unable to get a good picture of her.

Prediction:

Well, I am 2-0 on the season in picking wins. Two weeks ago, I was pretty close to picking this score right! Too bad I didn't take that luck to the Casey's in Bondurant this week and pick up a Powerball. The Western Illinois game was what Cyclone fans needed, an easy win where we aren't sweating it out until the end. Unfortunately, the ISU offense turned the ball over too much and still left a lot to be desired. That makes tomorrows game that much more intriguing.

ISU has beaten Texas Tech the last two years. Last year, Texas Tech was coming off a huge win at Oklahoma and they laid an egg, the rest of the year. So far they have played a very weak schedule and their offensive and defensive numbers do not tell us what this team will be like.

The ISU defense has not given up a touchdown since the 4th quarter of the Tulsa game, nearly 4 weeks ago. I feel the ISU defense is very underrated and they will continue to surprise a lot of people and that will begin with a stingy performance against an offense that some are saying can put up a lot of points in a hurry. The problem is they haven't played anyone of this caliber, so I think Tech is held to 10 points and they score their only touchdown close to halftime.

The ISU offense will most likely turn the ball over too much, again, but I think the defense shuts Tech down for the win. The key on offense is ISU needs to run the ball, and run the ball well. They ran all over Tech last year in Lubbock, and I do not see why they cant do that again. This game could be a shootout like it was two years ago in Ames, but I see too many offensive mistakes for ISU to score a ton of points and the ISU defense will prevent Tech from going crazy.

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Friday September 14, 2012 - The View From Section EE

So the only thing correct from last weeks prediction is an Iowa State win. 9-6 is not what I expected at all. Both offenses looked really bad at times. ISU started out fast to begin the game, then Iowa made the appropriate adjustments and ISU did not. ISU was fortunate enough to hold on to win.

A couple plays of the game I noticed, that were not the biggest highlights of the game. The first play was Iowa opting to kick the field goat at 4th and goal from the 3 yard line early in the 4th Quarter. This is similar to Iowa kicking the field goal on 4th and 1 last year in overtime. The ISU offense was ugly the second half, and the field goal still had Iowa behind by a field goal. If Iowa goes for it and is stopped, ISU has close to 100 yards to go and there would have been a good chance of them either turning it over or getting pushed back and Iowa forcing a safety. Kicking the field goal is the safe bet, but at home in a rivalry game, why not go for it.

The second play was the Steele Jantz interception near the goal line late in the game. The key was not the Interception, but to me, the game saving tackle by Jantz around mid-field. Iowa was set to run the Interception back to win the game, but Jantz in a sense, nearly lost the game and saved the game all in once play. If he doesn't drag the Iowa defender down, he would have scored and we have a different outcome.

Last Saturday we watched the game at a Hall in Tama as we attended a benefit to help our good friend Brooke.It was a very good turn out and I am glad any little bit can help with all they have been through. Now my little story about helping with the benefit.

In early August, Brooke's sister and friend started up a benefit for Brooke. They threw out the idea of a silent auction, so I figured I would see what I can do to help. I sent out emails to Iowa State, Northern Iowa, and Iowa's Athletic Directors to see what they can do to help with the silent auction. Within five minutes of sending the email to Jamie Pollard with ISU, he responded saying they would love to help and he will forward my email on to the appropriate person. Within a week, we had an ISU's football coach, Paul Rhoads, sign a football for us.

Immediately after I sent the email to Troy Dannen, the Athletic Director at UNI, I received an automated response that he was on vacation. No big deal, we were early and can wait until he got back. On the date the email said he would return, I got a response from him, at 8:12 in the morning. Not long after, I had an extra Sports Illustrated from UNI's NCAA Tournament Basketball run a few years ago signed by their coach, Ben Jacobson.

Now the kicker. I emailed Gary Barta, Iowa's Athletic Director. I even mentioned that Tim and Brooke are Iowa season ticket holders for football. I never heard back from him. I completely understand that the AD's are not the ones who are responsible for this, but the other two AD's simply guided me into the right direction. I am not trying to slam Iowa in any way, since I am obviously not a fan, but I thought it was odd I did not even get a response.

Prediction time:

This week marks our first game of the year. We are in a new parking lot this year, so we are very curious to get to Ames early to see how it is. Its a little further of a walk, but a little bit of walking will not hurt at all. We are also taking a load of kids too. This could be interesting since its a night game, but some grumpy kids fighting at night cant be all that bad!

Saturday should be a game ISU fans have been waiting for, a blow out win. Its been a couple years since ISU has had many games where they have won easily. In 2009 they started the year with a couple 20 point wins, but this one against Western Illinois should be a 40 point win. Since Vegas doesn't set any betting lines on games between the FBS/FCS subdivisions of college football, the off shore places do, and they have labeled this as an ISU favorite of 38.5 points. Its strange even seeing ISU as a favorite, let alone a 38.5 point favorite. For some reason, I see WIU covering this one. I think ISU wins, but I guessing a missed extra point or missed field goal keeps the winning margin under 38.5 points. Since the defense kept Iowa out of the end zone, I fully expect them to keep WIU out as well. I guess we will wait and see tomorrow!

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Thursday September 6, 2012 - The View From Section EE

After a few reminders and knocking off a lot of dust, I have found this blog again. Definitely late, but I guess that's what happens when the past eight months have flown by. Here is a little recap of this year:

-I moved to Ankeny and started work in Des Moines. Kristy and the girls stayed in Omaha with fingers crossed the house sells.

-March rolls around and Kristy found a job in Des Moines. So we officially move to Iowa and become small town residents again. House still on the market.

-In May, Bri ends her first year as a Kindergartner. She really enjoyed her first year of school and did a very good job!

-Middle of May: We are ready for Bri to go back to school. I'm really starting to be a full supporter of year round school. Omaha house still for sale.

-Bri played her first season to Tee Ball. She seemed to have a good time, even after she took a ball to the head on the first play of the year. Turns out, there is no safe place on a softball field for Tee Ball. She was no where close to where the ball was intended to be thrown when she got hit. Its still comical seeing 16 girls thrown onto a field. As confusing as it sounds, they have it set up really well and by the end they all looked much better.

-Emily turned 2 in June. Its been a crazy fast two years. I see a major disadvantage of having a big sister that talks as much as she does! Emma has not stopped talking. Every single day!

-At the end of June we had the annual Okoboji trip. Turned out to be a great time as usual. I think we have finally figured out that the all day pass at Arnold's Park Amusement Park is worth every penny. House is still on the market.

-As I am sitting here trying to recall the summer, its all a blur it went so fast. Seems like once the heat hit in July, all we did was stay cool by staying inside or out at the pool.

-Bri had her first taste of Great Plains Pizza in Ames. That the only pizza she wants to go to now. The honey drizzled on the crust was the deal for her!

-House is still on the market. (The common theme today.)

-A couple weeks ago, Bri started the first grade! All summer long she wanted to go to Adventureland. Well, as poor as our schedules are, we failed to make it to Adventureland. About the first week of August, she did not care about Adventureland, all she wanted to do was go to school! That is fine with us.

-Emily took up potty training. Funny thing is, she kind of started on her own. It helps having an older sister, because she tries to copy her all the time. So we have officially been saving cash on diapers for the past month.

-Last weekend we all celebrated and participated in Shawn and Alyssa's wedding. Turned out to be a great day. Just a little overcast in the after noon, but no rain, and no blazing heat! The girls were great. Bri was excited to walk down the aisle with Landon. She insisted they practice any chance they had. Bri stood up front with the rest of the girls the whole time and Emily, was Emily. Emma was suppose to walk after Kristy and I and after the runner was pulled down the aisle. She insisted walking with us while talking the whole time. At least we did not have to pick up any pedals. Those stayed in her basket!

-And finally, the house is STILL on the market. I may be 31, but I am officially getting gray hair just because of this house!

Here area  few pictures from the year:

Emily on her 2nd birthday!

Brianna running hard in Tee Ball.

Bri and I before the Daddy-Daughter Dance.

Family Picture at The Harvester during Shawn and Alyssa's Reception. 

Emily next to the Cy-Hawk Trophy at the Cyclone Tailgate Tour in Marshalltown. She was so afraid of Cy. 

Bri and I at Great Plains. She's a huge fan!

Prediction time.

I am getting a late start on this portion this year. Well, I had a late start all together anyway. I believe Iowa State has 12 more games left, that includes going to a bowl game. I feel they are good enough to go make it to one. All summer long, we sat around and looked at their schedule and wondered how tough it will be. The Big 12 added West Virginia and Texas Christian and lost Missouri and Texas A&M. I feel that its pretty much a wash. Missouri and Texas A&M have not been that productive in the grand scheme of the Big 12. I do think WVU and TCU will be good programs, as they already are. But I feel they will suffer some growing pains in their first year in the league. They are talented, but they have not had to endure a conference schedule the Big 12 produces year in and year out. I am still on the optimistic side, even before their solid performance last week against Tulsa. I still see seven wins (Tulsa, Iowa, Western Illinois, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Baylor, and Kansas). I think they have a chance against Oklahoma and West Virginia at home. The TCU, Oklahoma State, and Texas road games will be tough, but the games are played on the field and we get to play the guessing game well before the year starts.

This week: @ Iowa.

Its been ten years since Seneca Wallace took an Iowa State team into Kinnick Stadium and won. Turns out, that ISU win was the only loss in the regular season for those Hawkeyes. Last week the Iowa offense had a difficult time against Northern Illinois. Iowa is breaking in a new Offensive Coordinator and I feel they will have so me growing pains throughout the year. ISU looked good at times on both sides of the ball against Tulsa. Steele Jantz completed 71.5% of his passes, something he did not do well at all last year. I think this game will be a good one, but I am going to say ISU pulls this road win off. I think the offense takes care of the ball early and jumps out to a 10-0 or 14-3 lead. Iowa will climb back in late, but ISU holds on to win.

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