Homeschool Day at the Capitol {+ Build-a-Bear & More}

Homeschool day at the Iowa Capitol has been a long time coming for the Beelers.  We were signed up and completely excited to go in 2020, to be one of our first homeschooling adventures in Iowa after our move, and the world shut down the day before the event was to take place.  In 2021, the event was virtual, so this was our first opportunity to represent homeschoolers and take place in the Homeschool Iowa Capitol Day.  

I was disappointed that we couldn't do better justice to the activities and events that the day presented - as it was actually split between the capitol building and a nearby church and it was just too much with the needs of our family.  We missed the governor's and guest speaker's speeches that were held at the church, but we able to tour our capitol building for the first time and really enjoyed that experience.

Off we go - bright and early!

Oh, wait!  Dad's along for the day!  Yay!

We arrived in good time, and the only incident was that I spilled my water all over my lap and was soaked.  #blessmyheart

Our only other experience at a state capitol is our time spent at Missouri's so we don't have a lot of grounds to compare.  I will say that physically navigating the Iowa capitol - from the parking, entrance, and just the building itself - was much simpler and less intimidating that Missouri's.   

Friends of ours from west of Des Moines, the Hinkles, met us for our tour time.  We had a wonderful tour guide who was both knowledgeable and engaging.

Looking up into the dome from the first floor.

The building is undergoing a restoration project, in which they are removing layers of old paint (sometimes up to 30) to uncover the original stenciling paintwork.  The restorers are then re-detailing the ceilings and walls with the goal of putting the capitol building as much back to it's original state as possible.  The outside of the middle dome of the capitol is gold leaf, as are many of the inside details.

Secretary of State's office

The Iowa Constitution

The ceiling in the Secretary of State's private office, showing some water damage from a long ago fire.

The capitol has it's own steam plant and runs on radiant heat (much like WPU! - Mike's worked in his share of steam tunnels!).  The radiators are, of course, aesthetically pleasing, but the children were checking out how warm the tops were.

The Supreme Court....so rich in history.  The bench was all hand carved by one German man - he carved 10 panels to begin with (which was plenty for the time) but as more justices were added it became too small.  Many years later he was found, rehired, and completed 3 more panels on each side of the original 10 to make 16 total.  Gorgeous craftsmanship.

The library was beautiful.  Absolutely stunning.  It is open to the public but only lawyers and legislators can check out books to take home.

When we toured in MO we saw a legislative room like this - actually they were in session the day we were there, however the legislators also had offices.  This was a big difference that we learned about today - the Representatives and Senators that serve Iowa do not have offices.  They each have a desk - and, as the tour guide said, "the chair with arms is for the legislator, the chair without arms is for the clerk, and they sit by seniority." 

The gallery is open to the public Mon-Thurs and is VERY steep with very original little chairs and a banister that's a little lower than a mother is comfortable with.  But it's peaceful and lovely and would be a great way to hear what's going on.

House of Representatives...

The Senate

The Senate floor is divided by Republicans and Democrats and then seated by seniority.

The entire building is truly a work of art.  The Senate and House ceilings do not match because the House had a fire in the early 1900s that destroyed their ceiling and chandeliers.

While I definitely see the purpose of the legislators not having offices, I do have to say it maybe made them feel not quite as accessible to us "the public."  When we went to Missouri's homeschool day we were able to take cookie plates and deliver them to the offices of of our representative, senator, and the governor, and, if they were in, thank them personally or at least show our face to their clerk.  This often led to conversations, office tours, etc., which we enjoyed.  Today we didn't meet either of our legislators.  That said, all those offices in the Missouri capitol make it very expansive, spread out, and harder to navigate.  Always a give and take.

Lots of stairs means no stroller.  Mike took his turn carrying her first and then I offered....about 5 minutes after we switched we started the part of the tour with all the stairs.  So wise, am I...

Mike took Ameliya and Zayden up the rest of the narrow spiral staircase to the dome.  

Natalee and Xavier opted out and Ev and Mom were hot and tired so we stayed down.  We looked at the mosaics and art between the Senate and House on the second floor and then went back downstairs for another potty break and to wait for our crew.

Evalynn and I discovered that the handicap stall we used had a cold air vent by the window and took a minute to cool off (there was no line!).  Toddler wearing + steam heat that's working well on a spring day had us all kinds of toasty.

When we visit the capitol again, I want to be sure to spend some time outside on the grounds at the memorials.

After our tour, we headed to a Chick-Fil-A with the Hinkles.

One minute she's watching the world and the next she's out!

Mike sat in the bus until Evalynn woke up and she got about a half hour nap, which we are so thankful for.  

After lunch, Xavier went with the Hinkles for some fun with Weston at the Sky Zone.

Evalynn had a Build-a-Bear certificate from Nannie and Vance and she had no idea what that meant but we were sure excited to take her!  Mia is her buddy so she came along while Mike took Zayden and Natalee to browse the mall.  Ev caught on quickly!  First she looked for a puppy to stuff but they were out.  She wasn't distraught, though, when she spotted the rainbow unicorn with sparkly feet! 

Can you see her smile?

Time to shop!  She was all about the accessories and chose a "bippity boppity" (wand) for her unicorn that might actually be for Evalynn.  Mia and I helped her find a rainbow skirt.

She named her new friend "Unicorn" and that's what she calls her.  She also will tell you she did NOT go to Build-a-BEAR because she was adamant she wasn't building a bear.  She went to Build-a-Unicorn.  Okay then.

She's still not sure what exactly happened but she got to shop and got a new stuffy and she's tickled pink.

Thank you Nannie and Vance!

This is kind of where my pictures end but the day didn't.  We helped the Hinkles out with a little errand after we finished our mall time.  We thought we'd go on home then, but revived ourselves enough for a stop at a Target and then finished our day with Mexican for supper.  

On our way out of the city I was lamenting to Mike that I didn't take "the" picture of our children in front of the capitol or inside the capitol with something cool in the background.  He loves me so much that he pulled back into the capitol grounds and we got the picture.  Bedraggled, albeit....sky zone socks, mussy hair, Ev's lost her jumper dress, no shoes Natalee, hair all a muss, sleepy faces....but we got the picture.  Thanks, Mike.

(bonus - the parking lots are empty when you're there at night and the lights are pretty)

What a great day.  What a full day.  What an important day for our kids to be a part of.  We are so thankful for the freedom to homeschool.