Olde Glory Days 2013

Olde Glory Days 2013 - the 20th year - what a blast!  Grammaw and Grammy picked Peyton up at school on Thursday, and the fun began!  Grandpa and Grammy took Peyton up to the square first thing to eat dinner at the VIP Room - taco salads were enjoyed before we took in the carnival where Peyton rode the carousel, the cars, and jumped in the bouncey houses.  Grandpa rode the tiltawhirl with her - she was scared!   She rode the ponies a couple of times, and we listened to the dueling pianos act.

On Friday, Grammaw came over and helped us fix chicken salad - Peyton chopped all the celery and baked some flag cookies.  Then it was back to Olde Glory Days, where Grammaw joined us!  First we went to Optimist Park for the rubber duckie races - although both Garrison and Peyton had several in the race, they did not win (Peyton was disappointed).  We had free hotdogs there.  Then we went back to the square where we had ham and cheese sandwiches at the VIP Room.  Peyton enjoyed the Little Tikes toys - especially the bouncie house - at the Toddler Tent and she had an ice cream cone.  Peyton was invited to join David Mills' grandkids for a special race of the live ducks after we watched the duck races.  Grammy helped her hold her duck before the race, and we splashed and cheered our duck on but did not win.  She received a duck whistle for participating.  We came home for a bit before going back to the square for dinner at the VIP Room - this time Brown's BBQ.  Peyton had fun on more carnival rides and riding the ponies again before her parents and Garrison came up to the square to pick her up to go to bed.  Grammy and Grandpa stayed late for the Lee Greenwood Show which was great.

Saturday morning we went to the parade.  Grandpa drove the golf cart for the Hawthorn Bank entry, and Peyton joined him for the end part of the parade after he drove in front of where we were sitting.  The first time she has been in a parade. Before the parade, she and Grammy went to the salt water taffy booth for the second time to choose some yummy taffy.  Peyton and Garrison both enjoyed gathering candy that was thrown at the parade and watching the parade.

After the parade, we picked up Grammaw to join us for the afternoon and lunch.  Ron and Chad played golf with Mike Edgett - Garrison took a nap - and Peyton and the rest of us relaxed a bit watching TV and played.  We all went back to the square - including Grammaw - that evening.  All but Amanda and Chad went to the VIP room for dinner - they wanted carnival food!  we rejoined each other and took in more of the carnival.  Peyton and her Daddy rode the Sizzler - too fast for me - and she had a blast.  Then, her Mommy rode the big slide with her.  Garrison joined Peyton on the carousel (with Mommy), but he didn't want to ride on a horse - just had Mommy hold him.  We had ice cream, a funnel cake and lots of laughs and fun.  Peyton rode the ponies one last time.  Back home for baths and bedtime.

Sunday, Amanda, Ron and Chad played a little golf while Grammy and the kids visited Grammaw's house for bubbles, playing with balls, sidewalk chalk, etc.  We came back to our house and played outside on the slide and T-ball, had taco salads for lunch and Grammaw and Peyton played make believe and had lots of fun.  Peyton cried when it was time to go home - she was having too much fun!

The weather was wonderful for the event this year - a beautiful weekend full of family memories.  Priceless.

Father's Day Weekend - 2013

Father's Day Weekend 2013 was great fun.  Amanda, Peyton and Garrison arrived early Saturday morning to celebrate the day with us - including Great Grandma Mintun who was already at our house when they arrived.  We started the day by playing outside (slide, t-ball, etc.)  and looking for frogs at the pond across the street at the 17th teebox.  We had fun playing downstairs - dress up - pretend play with tea cups, etc. before a quick and light lunch followed by homemade ice cream.  Peyton enjoyed helping Grammy serve.  While Garrison, Grandpa and Grammaw took a nap, Amanda, Peyton and Grammy went to Walmart.  Then Peyton and Grammaw put together 5 puzzles.  We had planned to play in the wading pool in the backyard when Garrison woke up, however, the rainstorm took over which cancelled those plans!  Garrison enjoyed riding Harvey (the rocking horse).  We had a delicious dinner of bacon wrapped chicken, mashed potatoes, etc. and more homemade ice cream before the Todds headed for home.  Overland Park had a stronger storm, causing their electricity to go out, but Chad assured them it was back on before they took off.  The painting the kids made Grandpa summed it up - The Best Dads are Promoted to Grandpa.

On Father's Day, we went to church before picking up Grammaw and traveling to the Lake of the Ozarks to Mark and Mary's condo for a father's day fish fry.  Tom was also there for the weekend, and it was nice to visit with all of them.  Mary fixed a fantastic meal of fish, honeymoon potatoes, slaw and cornbread.  Grammaw had fixed a lemon pie for the meal, and I made Mark his favorite chocolate sheet cake.  Brent (condo friend and neighbor) joined us, and we had a great day.

Peyton took the picture of Grammy and Amanda - pretty good job!

Amanda's Birthday Weekend 2013

Friday night, Ron and I met some of his customers at Sugarfoot BBQ near Osceola for a lucious dinner.  It was a beautiful evening to be out and about.

Saturday morning, Grammaw and I went to a few garage sales and then to look at an auction.  She spent the morning with us and had lunch at our house before we took her home so we could go to Overland Park.

We stopped at Kohl's and Dollar Tree on our way to the Todds.  We had a quick dinner together and then the kids added candles to the birthday cake I had baked and decorated at home for Amanda's 32nd birthday - a little early.  We lit the candles and sang happy birthday to the birthday girl before enjoying a piece of cake.

Amanda and Chad went to a Deck Crawl neighborhood party, so we had the little ones to ourself!  We played and gave them baths - and a snack of course - before putting Garrison to bed.  He insisted on a second "nack" (snack) after baths - the boy likes to eat.  Peyton made her Mommy a beautiful birthday card after Garrison was in bed before she was down for the night.

Peyton woke up during the night and came to our bed.  Per Mommy's instructions, I walked her back to her bed and didn't let her get in bed with us and laid down with her for a few minutes to calm her down.  She quickly started throwing up in her bed - on her and on me - bless her heart.  She said she didn't know where her bucket was.  We started to the bathroom and made it to the sink for the next round.  She was upset, but we got her cleaned up and new pj's and me a shirt to sleep in and took the sheets and quilt off the bed before joining Grandpa in bed for the rest of the night.  She was a bit warm and still was running a low temp when we woke up at 7:30 a.m. - yes 7:30!  Late for Grammy for sure.

We had planned to go out for breakfast to celebrate Amanda's birthday, but Peyton wasn't feeling up to it so we ordered carry out and Amanda and I went to pick it up.  The Egg and I - good food.  Chad played in a golf tournament, and we played around the house until after lunch when the girls ran some errands - and had Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt - and the guys took a nap.

Amanda fixed buckets of water for the kids to "paint" the driveway with paintbrushes - great fun - easy clean-up - cheap!  They loved it.  They also watered plans, and we played on the playset outside.  Earlier in the afternoon we made footprints in flour/salt dough and baked it.  Peyton was very proud.  She loves to be in the kitchen.

We brought Amanda and Chad's old stove home for Grammaw to replace hers with - Amanda and Chad had gotten a new stove and dishwasher earlier in the week.  New stove installed - old stove removed - all is good at 810.

A very fun weekend - family memories.  We are blessed.  Happy Birthday to Amanda - OUR baby!