Chicago to Branson!

Sunday we were up at 2:30 am to catch our flight to Chicago at 6 am. We got to the airport and had to wait for coffee. The flight was uneventful and I slept most of the way. We waited for our bags for way too long. We have discovered that the airports in the states are not the most speedy in the luggage delivery category. 

Mitch picked us up after our bags arrived. We dropped our stuff at his place and his friend Adrian came down to his apartment. He lives in an old hotel that has been converted into apartments. It overlooks the lake. The view is stunning. His apartment is fabulous, as you would guess. 

That’s Lake Michigan from Mitch’s kitchen window. 

We headed for a bite to eat at a deli called The Bagel. Stuart and I shared a corned beef sandwich. It was delicious. We then went back to the apartment to get Mitch’s car. We headed to Aldi and Target to grab some needed supplies. After we got back to the apartment, we began cooking. We went to the rooftop for another glorious view. 

When you go upstairs or downstairs, a lift carries your cart as well. 

Adrian, Mitch, Stuart and myself shopping in Target. 

The rooftop!

My bro and his fab pad. 

We came back to the apartment and then Glen and David showed up. We cooked on the rooftop. The weather was perfect. By 10 pm, Stuart and I were wiped out. So Mitch kicked Adrian out so we could go to bed. It was a great evening. 

My buddy David

I must have slept like a log. When I woke up I thought it was at least 9 o’clock, but alas, it was only 6:30 am. Mitch was already awake and working on something. His new company, Matchdaddy, has him busy, which is good. We lounged around the house until about noon. Then we headed to send a package via UPS. After that was completed we went to a restaurant called The White Palace Grill. We had meatloaf and a Chicago dog. Stuart and I were supposed to share, but somehow I didn’t get a bite of his Chicago dog. Hmmmm. 

We then decided to go back to Mitch’s apartment and walk down to the lake. We walked for almost an hour. On the way back we were smokin’ hot!

 We decided to go to Wilde for drinks. Adrian met us there and then we headed to Clarke Dogs and I actually got my Chicago dog. 

We went back to the apartment and I fell asleep. Stuart spoke to the kids who were having an awesome road trip with Grammie and Pop. 

We left Chicago on Tuesday morning at 6:30 am. I Skyped the kids on the road because I hadn’t spoken to them the night before. They said they were having a great time. What special memories they have created on this road trip. We stopped in St Louis to have lunch with Amy, Mitch’s friend. 

We ate sushi which made all of us tired. Therefore a pit stop was necessary about an hour after we left St Louis. It started raining about an hour outside of Branson. I do love a summer shower, especially when we are in the Midwest. 

We arrived at the house at 5:30 pm, about the same time as the kids and Grammie and Pop. They had stopped at the George Washington Carver Monument for a tour. 

Pictures from the kids’ road trip with Grammie and Pop. They had a lot of fun!

After some unpacking we decided to take a trip into town to eat at Billy Bob’s Dairyland. I had frito pie and it was delightful. We stopped at Wal Mart to get some milk and then we were on our way home. It was after 9 when we landed at the house. The kids showered and then headed to bed. They didn’t want to sleep downstairs because of all the noises that were being created upstairs by all of us walking across the floor. They settled when I came down stairs and stayed with them until they fell asleep. 

Wednesday my mom and I went to Wal Mart to get some provisions. When we got back Russ, Julie, Morgan and Emily were at the house. It was so good to see them. After a bite to eat we decided to go to Silver Dollar City. 

Random lady sleeping. Morgan posed for me so I could pretend to take Morgan’s photo, but instead took this of the sleeper. 

The whole family (minus Rony, Mya and Nolan)

Pop and Jack watched a musician intently. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon at the park, riding rides and eating kettle corn. We ate dinner at Shoney’s and headed back to the house. The kids took a bath in Grammie’s tub. They put too much soap in so getting it all out after their bath was nearly impossible. 

They had a hard time settling down and didn’t end up going to sleep until almost 11 pm. Oh, who cares! They don’t get to see their cousins very often so I suppose a bit of lost sleep isn’t an issue. 

Fake sleeping. 

Aunt Julie doing surgery on Jack’s wart. Grammie should love the fact we chose the bar as our operating table. 

We spent some of the evening on the porch and then all turned in around 11 pm. 

Nothing better than coffee on the porch!

My intention was to get up at 5:30 am to go and walk, but instead I smacked my alarm clock. After all, it was my birthday. 

I ended up getting up just before 8 am. Stuart and I went to walk with Russ and Julie. There are WAY too many hills in Branson for my taste. We got back just after 9 am. I took a shower and then went out to have coffee on the porch. The grandkids and grandparents went to the rec center at 10 am for all of them to work out. We then all met at Wal Mart for random purchases. My niece has decided she is going to be a Vegan so we were buying her some food. 

Once we were back from Wal Mart, Stuart, Russ, Julie and I went to the outlet mall for a little bit of birthday shopping. I was asked what I wanted to do for my birthday and that was what I wanted. None of us bought much, but we had fun together. We left from there and met the rest of the gang at Flat Creek Restaurant, where we had my birthday dinner. I had crab legs, which were delicious. I also got a free desert and a happy birthday song. Yeehaw!

It’s my birthday!



Dominoes madness!

We came back to the house and had more cake and ice cream. On the way back, a storm came rolling up. We couldn’t get all the cushions in from outside before the storm started. The great thing about the Midwest is the storms that brew in the summer time. Showers hit and then all is calm and it cools off. Although the porch was soaked, we still attempted to dry it off in order to sit out there for the cool weather. 

While we were on the porch we got the report that a duck boat capsized and 17 people had drowned. It was such a tragedy. Nine out of eleven in one family died in this incident. It really upset us as there were 11 of us together and it was an activity that we would have done. It seems when it’s your time it’s your time. 

Friday, Mom and Dad went to Tulsa to pick up Rony, Mya and Nolan. We ended up having 15 people in the house, once Morgan’s boyfriend arrived. 

While Mom and Dad were gone, we decided to go down to Dick’s 5 and Dime to shop. It’s one of the last dime stores I know of. We ate lunch and then came back to the outlet malls to buy some tennis shoes. We went back to the house and had dinner ready for everyone. Once the kids were in bed, we played dominoes. Stuart won two matches and I won the last one. 

The girls slept head to toe. 

We all got up Saturday morning and went to Kanakuk 2, a Christian sports camp in Kimberling City. Rony had decided he wanted to be baptized. So Russ had arranged it with his friend who worked there. We ended up having lunch and met got to meet Ruby, my friend Katie’s daughter. Katie and I were besties in high school. 

Pop and two of his fans. 

Besties!

Waiting for the baptism in Table Rock Lake. It’s crazy to think 17 lost their lives in this lake just two days before, but the symbolism in baptism is it gives you life in Christ. 



The whole family was there to witness Rony’s decision. 

Ruby!

We got back to the house around 3 pm and decided on spaghetti for dinner. Russ, Julie, Stuart and I went to Wal Mart to get mince, salad, and pasta sauce. We also had to get a bracket for the curtain that Jack pulled off when he was playing hide and seek. We got home and Stuart, Julie and I made dinner. Okay, to be fair, I only did the garlic bread, but I helped. After dinner we sat on the porch for some relaxation. 

The evening was spent on the porch and playing dominoes. It was a relaxing day and great day celebrating Rony’s baptism.