Summer Family Trip 2010: St. Louis/KC

Our August trip was an adventure, to say the least. Tom had been in KC at some meetings, so the kids and I met him up there. While Tom was in his meetings, we had a brief visit with Grandma…long enough to pick her nose.

 

These kids sure love her…and I have the suspicion she likes them, too.

We visited the cemetery and brought Grandpa letters.

We were then off to Galesburg, IL to visit their GREAT-Grandma. They had been begging to see her again. We stopped half way there…in a town that was literally God forsaken. I think He had forgotten all about this town and Satan had moved in. It was the Armpit of America. Nothing but filthy truck stops and run down hotels…and a McDonalds…because there are even McDonald’s in Hell. We wanted to get two adjoining rooms…but that wasn’t in the cards. The hotel manager said he had a “special room” we could rent for $150/night. Boy was it special. Just look at this beauty. Three Queens. I am itching just looking at it.

The following are pictures from the worst night’s sleep of our lives. We entered the disgusting room – to find it was at LEAST 120 degrees. It was on the second floor…windows shut…end of the day…during the hottest August on record. I called the front desk and told them the A/C was broken. They told me that they leave it off until someone checks in. Seriously. Not kidding.

The kids were ready to claw their eyes out. They hovered around the A/C with sweat dripping off of them. The old, rickety, air conditioner struggled to spit out luke warm air.

 

Bradley did NOT just take a shower. That is sweat.

Bryce showcases how desperate we were.

     

The kids took turn breathing the box fan air. Box fan compliments of the front desk…after I yelled.

Tom went to the store and bought a few more box fans…just to get us through the night. By bedtime we were all stripped down to our underwear. I have to admit that the sheets began to feel good…after being soaked with sweat they felt a little chilly. Bryce was so hot that he fell asleep on the floor. Even a toddler understands that hot air rises. I don’t even want to think about what was on that floor.

The next day we finally arrived and enjoyed time with Great Grandma and Aunt Ann and Uncle Roger. Pretty foxy for 90 years old…don’t ya think?

I have loved my Uncle Roger and Aunt Ann since I was a little girl. Best people on earth.

       

It was sad to say goodbye…but we will be back!!!

The following day we drove to St. Louis for some more fun. First on the list was Science Center. Very cool place. While we were there we went through an amazing Pirate exhibit, saw a great Imax film, and went to a show at the Planetarium.

 

    

The next day was the City Museum…Incredible place…going back soon!!! If you haven’t been here…you MUST take your kids!

   

 

 

 

It was SUCH  a fun place. Here is an official video:

City Museum 30 Sec Commercial from Tim Maupin on Vimeo.

It was the perfect ending to the summer. Our final hoo-rah.

Summer Family Trip 2010: Branson

 Before we get too far into 2011…it might be a good idea if I blog about our trips we took last Summer. I’m not sure how this one snuck by me…duh.  In July, we took a short trip to Branson and stayed at Stonebridge to try some place new.

This was the first trip that we took our pup, Gracie, with us. She loved it. This is where she did her “business”.

We made our usual trip to the Landing:

 

 

 

And Silver Dollar City, of course.

 

We rolled down the windows and yelled “BICKIES!” at King-Kong’s butt cheeks.

Ate at our favorite Diner…

Good times. Great Memories.

Karah’s Road Trip

Tom and I have long held the annual tradition of traveling to Kansas City to see “A Christmas Carol” at the Missouri Rep Theater. We decided that Karah was old enough to join us this year and so we took her on a special road trip. The boys stayed back with friends and had a party of their own.

First, we checked into the hotel for some time to rest from the drive and freshen up before our night out. Karah loved the view of The Plaza from our room. Many-a-dances were performed in front of that window.

 

 

Karah and I hung out in the lobby while we waited for Tom and Grandma to come pick us up. A woman stopped to tell Karah how beautiful she looked in her dress. Karah smiled and graciously said, “Thank You”. After the lady disappeared from sight, Karah twirled like a princess.

We saw a white truck waiting outside – so I hurried out and tried to open the door…but it was locked…and the man behind the wheel was not Tommy T. Karah got a kick out of that!

We enjoyed an incredible dinner at The Classic Cup…one of our favorite restaurants on the Plaza. Karah loved having us and Grandma all to herself. She was so big.

We loved watching all of the horse drawn carriages pass by our window as we ate. Karah was in horse heaven.

We arrived to the show early enough to enjoy playing dress-up with their costumes. Tom even participated…much to my amusement.

That boy loves his little girl…enough to do THIS for her…

We sipped some hot cocoa before the show as we listened to the carolers and enjoyed the festive decorations. Karah acted so mature…

But don’t worry…she still reminded us she is 8, from time to time.

The show began and she was enthralled. She held my hand during the frightening parts…which I loved. We bought her a special Tiny Tim ornament for our tree at home so she could always remember this special night.

 

Back at the hotel we ordered midnight room service…chocolate cake was needed. Really, it was.

We slept in the next morning and awoke to the sound of the cold wind, howling. We decided to go for a swim before we did anything else. The pool was indoors on a high floor and there was a huge balcony that you could go out on (in the summer) directly across from other large buildings. Karah and I dared Tom to go out on the balcony in his bathing suit (soaking wet) and do some jumping jacks to entertain the people in the other buildings. The temperature had fallen to the single digits and the wind was well into the double digits. Traffic lights were swinging and the American flag across the street looked as if it was going to be shredded by the wind.

Tom could not resist the chanting of “DADDY! DADDY! DADDY!”…and plunged into the cold air…entertaining us with jumping jacks and push ups. We laughed and laughed in the comfort of our heated pool. Tom swears to this day that this episode is how he got bronchitis. No matter the medical bills…it was worth any amount of money to watch. If only I had videotaped it. :(

We went back to The Classic Cup for breakfast. Did I mention how incredible their food is?

We then did some Christmas shopping at the mall and took Karah to the new American Girl store. She was completely overwhelmed by everything there was to see and do. She eventually decided on some matching jammies for her and her doll. She also picked out a boy “Bitty Baby” for Bradley. He has always wanted one and she was thrilled to bring it home to him.

Lunch at The Cheesecake factory and we headed back home. A whirlwind trip…but hopefully one that she will always remember.

We love this little girl. We are so proud of the young lady she is becoming. 

1-1-11

The new year started off with a midnight kiss. It was kind of like this…except I was in pajamas…and at home… in front of the television…and Tom wasn’t wearing a Sailor suit, unfortunately….but the kiss was still nice :)

The “official” day started off like a typical Saturday…with Tommy T making breakfast for us. Bryce enjoyed some play time at the kitchen table while Daddy cooked. It was the first shipment his truck would have to haul this year. Luckily it was a light load.

Most excellent bed head.

On the menu was French Toast and Bacon…a lot of bacon…to coincide with our New Years Resolution to eat more bacon. (No, not really.)

Paper plates and plastic cups…because that’s how EVERY Saturday should begin….with no dishes.

After breakfast I tackled my first To-DO of the year…and transformed this….

Into this…

Tom and I went and ordered furniture to replace what we lost in the flood. Yet another accomplishment.

We called some friends and invited them over for a last minute New Years feast. I wanted to celebrate the fact that I have energy again…and what better way than cooking all afternoon?

The best thing about last minute parties is there is no time to iron the tablecloths. Darn it!

 

And the kids table…

 

Honey Glazed ham, Cheeeeesey Potatoes, Orange glazed carrots, rolls,salad, and steamed green beans. Ahhhhhhhh!

And then…there was dessert. The Pioneer Woman’s Chocolate Sheet cake…and sundae bar. Oh my.

Don’t you love these dessert cups? My sweet MIL gave them to me for my birthday last year…Crate & Barrel. Love them!

The kids played and watched a movie while the grown-ups had fun playing our newest board game… “Smart Ass” (recommended by intelligent donkeys and bright burros).

I had no idea how smart my best friend’s husband was…though I could have assumed since he chose her. He aint no fool.

It was a great first day of a new year! Can’t wait to see what the other 364 will bring!

Happy New Year!!!