Goodbye & hello

August 28, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

Time to say so long. We had a fabulous vacation. It’s always good to spend time with family.

We had flowers and Kelly lilies waiting to welcome us home.

Grilling & games

August 27, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

Our last night of grilling and games.

Busy, busy day

August 24, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

We went to see Mr. Popper’s Penguins and out to lunch with my aunt.

Then we headed over to my cousin’s for grilling, swimming and fun.

I think they’re hatching a plot.

Uh oh. They’re up to something.

Ah. A trip to the playhouse.

Praying mantis

August 23, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

We sat outside in the heat, enjoying ice cream. I watched this praying mantis leave a garden, cross two lanes of traffic, hop up on the sidewalk and continue past our table. The crowd parted, and it kept going. There must have been a big praying mantis party out behind the Dairy Queen. Either that or she’s a regular customer.

(I know. The pictures suck. I took them with my phone.)

Football training camp

August 22, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

I know I said I don’t care about football. Still don’t. But I figured, who knows. Maybe my kids care. The Kansas City Chiefs were in St. Joseph for training, so we went to watch them practice. My uncle stayed until the very end and collected autographs for us.

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Food & fun

August 21, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

We stopped at Dave & Buster’s on the way back from Lake of the Ozarks. The milkshakes were gigantic, the margarita was a “million dollar,” the chipotle-honey dipping sauce was fantastic, and the kids had a blast.

I really want to find a recipe for that dipping sauce!

Lake of the Ozarks

August 20, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

We spent a few days at Lake of the Ozarks with my cousin and his family. Yowsa, it was hot! It got up to 108 degrees, and I think the heat index was 113. But we had tons of fun.

We stopped to cool off and eat lunch at Paradise Tropical Restaurant.

Kansas

August 19, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

We spent a day in Kansas, visiting my uncle, who’d just had surgery. We had lunch at Ricky’s Cafe with my aunt and cousin, and we stopped in to see my great aunt.

These boots were made for walking

August 18, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

I stopped in at St. Joe Boot Co. and got some fine boots.

Lost your marbles?

August 17, 2011 | Family,Missouri,Summer,Vacation

I know where to get some!

Moon Marble Company just might be the coolest place the kids and I have visited. It’s right across the Missouri border in Bonner Springs, Kansas. We got to see how a marble is made by hand. (Others are made by machine in only a few places in the world.) And who knew? One of the big marble shows is held in Iowa.