PEO and June 27 Weekend 2015

On Wednesday, our P.E.O. group took a trip to Arrow Rock for a picnic lunch and to see the play South Pacific at the Lyceum Theatre.  It was warm out, but there was a breeze for the picnic and we were under a shelter house, so it wasn't bad.  The musical was excellent.  Left Clinton at 9:30 a.m. and returned at 6 p.m. - long day.

On Thursday, Amanda and I had our make-up Mother/Daughter day from Mother's Day Weekend when she had work in Japan.  I arrived in Overland Park around 8:30 a.m., and we were off for a day of shopping, conversation and a lovely lunch at Olive Garden.  It was nice to have a day for just the two of us - we love having the kids along, however, sometimes it seems we never get to complete a sentence!  ha ha  Amanda found some black dress pants at White House Black Market which look great on her, and we bought a few other things, but she couldn't find the red flats she wanted :(.   I brought Apollo home with me since Chad's car is not yet repaired, and they were going to have to bring the rental Jeep to Clinton again the next day.  I think he was happy to be back in Clinton - I know I'm happy to have him back!  We didn't get to walk Friday morning, as it was raining, so he was sad, but we had the day together.

I went to some garage sales on Friday but didn't buy much.  The Todds all arrived in Clinton around 8 p.m. with stories to tell and faces painted from the Sprint Family Fun Day which took place on Friday.

On Saturday, the guys had an early call to the golf course for the GVMH Auxilliary Golf Tournament.  Amanda had several conference calls she was hosting, so she set up shop in their bedroom using the TV in there for her computer screen - she's so smart!!!!  Before she had to start working, Peyton taught her Momma and me how to make knotted bracelets which she learned at AAC.  She was so proud to be teaching us something.  She wanted me to crochet her a sweat band for her head, so I did, and she picked out a button to sew on it.  Cute.  She also wants me to crochet her a blanket, so I'm working on that now.

The kids and I had a fun morning playing.  We went to Artesian Park to the playground there and had fun on the tornado slide (Garrison was halfway up the stairs before I realized he was going up there - he went all the way up and down alone) - swings, monkey bars, etc.

When we arrived home, Amanda was finished working, and we all had a lunch of ham sammies (the kids wanted octopuses) and peach pie.  The guys ate at the golf course.

Sadly, the Todds started home around 1:30 p.m. as they were all going to a neighbor girl's birthday party at 4 p.m. and Chad needed to mow the yard.  Apollo got to stay in Clinton since he would be coming back in 3 days anyway for Olde Glory Days.

Grandpa told Garrison, "Garrison, I'm to miss you".  Garrison said, "It's okay Grandpa - I'll be back in a few days".  Too funny.

We are blessed and have some wonderful memories from a great but too short visit.  Looking forward to several days with them over Olde Glory Days.

Father's Day Weekend - 2015

Our weekend started early when Amanda/family arrived Thursday evening - always nice to have them here with us.  Friday morning after breakfast, Amanda and Chad headed to Springfield for the weekend while the little folk stayed here in Clinton with us!  Yay!

Peyton and Garrison brought their fishing poles and their life jackets, so we were all set for a fishing trip!  Kelly Briggs and Sherri Albin took us fishing at a lake across the road from where they live.  The fish were biting!  It was a beautiful morning, cool and a little breeze, and not humid.  Kelly kept busy baiting their hooks while Sherri and I helped them reel the fish in!  They caught 8 all together.  Garrison loved pulling in the stringer of fish to add another one each time one was caught.  They had a blast.  Wild man Garrison was casting and managed to hook Grammy in the forehead!  No problem - Miss Kelly was able to get the hook out pretty quickly, and the fishing continued.  After we caught enough, we went back to Kelly's house to watch Sherri clean them.  Garrison was quite interested in the process.  Peyton enjoyed petting Sonny, the big calico cat.  A box turtle walked up on the driveway which added to the morning of nature.  Kelly also showed them a snake skin the snake had shed which was taller than she is.  Wow.  Garrison wouldn't leave until Sherri had all the fish cleaned - so cute.

We came home and took showers and had lunch with Grandpa.  Aunt Mary and Uncle Mark had invited us to bring the kids down to their lake home for a weekend visit, so we decided - why not?  Peyton asked if she could go back to work with Grandpa, and he agreed, so she spent the afternoon at the bank with him.  Garrison helped me pack things for the lake, we played bat and ball (he's good), and he helped me do a little laundry before Grandpa and Peyton arrived home from work around 3:30 p.m., then we were off for the lake - Apollo in tow too!  Both kids slept pat of the way to the lake which was good so we could have lots of fun when we arrived.  Ron took the kids to the pool while Mary grilled burgers and dogs for our dinner.  We enjoyed a tasty dinner of grilled burgers and dogs, potato salad, slaw, baked beans and chips.  Yummo.  It was a beautiful evening, so we sat out on their balcony/deck for quite a while watching the boats, swimmers, etc.  The dogs loved it out there too.  We took the marshmallow shooters Ron had made for the kids, and the war was on - fun times.

Saturday morning we woke up and enjoyed a yummy biscuits and gravy breakfast that Mary fixed us along with cinnamon rolls I took.  The kids were ready to go to the pool at 7 a.m., but we managed to put them off until around 9 a.m.  They absolutely loved swimming in their pool and are good swimmers.  We stayed about two hours before we went back up to their place for lunch - bbq meatballs, rice and hot bread.  Mary played Trouble with Peyton which she enjoyed.  After lunch, it was back to the pool for Grammy, Grandpa, Peyton and Garrison - this time for only about an hour before we packed up to drive back to Clinton, arriving around 4:30 p.m.  Thanks to Mark and Mary for having us - we enjoyed every minute.

We unpacked and had macaroni and cheese, ham, peaches, etc. for dinner by request.  After showers and a little TV, some card games and puzzles, we headed to bed by 8 p.m. - everyone was exhausted!

Sunday we went to church where I played the gathering music.  The kids enjoyed church and donut time before we came home.    Peyton was good help in the kitchen helping me prepare our taco salads and strawberry shortcake for Father's Day lunch.  She made her daddy and Grandpa a card for Father's Day.  She cut up strawberries and helped make the guacamole.

Amanda and Chad came back to Clinton from Springfield around 11:30 a.m.  - the kids met them outside and surprised them by shooting them with marshmallow from the shooters Grandpa made them.  Giggles galore.  It was fun.  We enjoyed lunch together and a short visit before they headed back to Overland Park.  Another fun family weekend - we are blessed.

Amanda's Birthday Week - June 2015

Amanda turned 34 this week - on Thursday - seems impossible!  The kids and Chad bought her flowers (Peyton's idea) and a Dairy Queen ice cream cake to celebrate.  I think they plan to take her out to dinner at a later time - maybe to The Melting Pot on the Plaza which sounds like fun!

On Tuesday, I took a friend, Susan Mosley, to Warrensburg for a doctor's appointment to get a shot in her spine - she needed a driver, as they expect her to be very sleepy on the way home, which turned out to be the case!  She did manage to stay awake long enough for us to have a yummy lunch at King's Chef (Chinese buffet) before returning to Clinton.  It was a good day.

Thursday night, I conducted my second PEO Meeting as President - it was much less nerve wracking the second time around.  Went to a couple of garage sales but didn't find much.

Friday was garage sales again.  Again - not too many things found.  I'm trying to go through boxes and drawers to downsize and get ready for the September 19 city wide garage sale.  It's a slow process.

On Saturday, I spent the morning baking and decorating a birthday cake for our sweet Amanda to take with us to OP on Sunday and baked Big G some lemon muffins - one of his favorites.  Ron and I motored to Tightwad to have a tenderloin at Donna's Drive In and got caught in a horrible rain storm on the way back.  I was supposed to go to Appleton City around 3 p.m. for a PEO Reception for the AC Chapter, but it was raining cats and dogs in Clinton at that time, so I decided against it.

On Sunday, we went to Overland Park to pick up Amanda and the kids to go to the KC Zoo for the day.  Weather couldn't have been more perfect - around 70 degrees and overcast without humidity.  Great day at the zoo.  We saw lots of animals, rode the train, the tram and the sky tram and had a yummy lunch there at the zoo before going back to the Todds for birthday cake! Always a hit with the little people.  We missed having Chad with us for the day as he was playing golf in a tournament.

Amanda and I made a quick trip to Kohl's (a 30% coupon burning a hole in my pocket) and by Hyvee and for a sweet tea at McDonald's while Grandpa and the kids napped!  We headed home with a couple of stops, arriving around 5 p.m.  A wonderful day with our favorite people.

We are blessed.

First Week of June 2015

It's been a busy week!  I managed to have a klutzy move and hurt my pinky toe on my right foot - possibly bgoke it - and walked around limping most of the week.  I ran into the entrance of the closet door in the dark and sort of wrapped my toe around the molding - it hurt like the dickens.  I wasn't able to go for daily walk most of the week - Apollo was disappointed - so was I.  It is finally feeling some better now, but still hurts.  Ouch!

Ron and I went to Clinton Abstract on Monday morning to close on the 40 acres of land on AC owned by Mom and Daddy.  It all went smoothly, and it is now owned by Kathy Shoemaker - she had rented it for many years.  Before going to the closing, I worked a couple of hours volunteer at the church office, something I will do the first and second Monday morning of each month to help them out while they have their staff meetings.

Amanda and family came to Clinton Wednesday evening to spend the night on their way to the lake for a few days.  We enjoyed having them - the visit was just too short.  They left early Thursday morning.

I went to Cape Girardeau Friday-Sunday for the Missouri State PEO Convention with Debbie Sieger and Marjory Jackson.  We had a good few days, but it is a long way to Cape Girardeau from Clinton, Missouri!

Amanda/family stopped back by through Clinton and picked up Apollo to go home.  He had been in Clinton for a few weeks while they had work done around their house.  We are going to miss the little guy, but I'm sure he is glad to go back to his family.

Sunday evening, we went to Dan and Lisa Wallace's house for Supper Club.  We enjoyed the evening and had delicious burgers and brats.

Ready for another week.  We are blessed.