Several important people in our lives were going to be in Missouri around the same time so we decided to make a trip again this summer. It was a busier vacation than usual ~ lots of people to go see, a cell phone to fix (and you have to drive to St. Louis to fix it), family and friends arriving.....
But the drive to and from was the best we've ever had, especially traffic-wise. We picked up Phoebe from camp on the drive to Vandalia (she was Worn. Out.). That little bit out of the way took us around Austin and Temple, which is traffikey and full of road work. We traveled back on Saturday and Sunday with Sunday taking us through Dallas and Austin which, again was great, because of less traffic and no road work.
Phillip drove me around and told me all kinds of stories and showed me all kinds of landmarks. I've heard it all before, but I always enjoy hearing it again. Especially since I forget so much. Papa did the same thing for the kids. Drove them to the place he grew up and the one-room schoolhouse he attended. Papa and Mimi lived a Laura Ingalls life.
The church above is the Spencer Creek Baptist Church that Papa grew up in. It's still going strong. His brother attends. Papa goes to First Christian Church in town now.
Mimi wanted a picture of Harrison with his hair freshly combed. Doesn't take long for those cowlicks to spring up.
Decorating an old phone to look like a cow.
Cody and his kids were passing nearby so they came over to spend a day and a night with us. I meant to get more pictures, but this is the only one I got, I guess. And not a very good one at that. So that's Emmey and Liz on their phones. It had been two years since we saw them last. Some of the kids swam at the Vandalia Aquatic Center and other of the kids watched Doctor Who. We played some games, did a lot of talking and eating. Phillip drove Cody around and told him stories and showed him landmarks. Good times.
Always a beautiful sunset from Mimi and Papa's front porch.
Papa, Phillip and Elizabeth on the front porch swing.
Harrison wanted to be a raptor in a cornfield.
Soybeans were growing across from Mimi and Papa's, so we had to drive down a gravel road to find a cornfield. The crops are doing so much better this year. Last year it was too cold and rainy and it was a poor harvest. This year is looking good so far. (I feel like I know what I'm talking about when I say stuff like that.) I really liked Laura Ingalls and Farmer Boy when I was little. Now I get to live around it a little bit when we visit Missouri.
Across from the raptor in the cornfield was a wheat field. Part of the field had been harvested, so Harrison gathered some straw. He's still trying to figure out what to do with it.
While Phillip and his dad went to St. Louis to take care of a dead cell phone at the Apple store, I took the kids to Moberly. That's where the college that we met at is located. It's where we lived as a newlyweds for a couple of years and where Elizabeth was born. I took them to the church and visited Mary Green. She often had college kids over to her house in town, and Phillip and I probably got to know one another there more than anywhere. At least I got to know him. I was pretty quiet, so I don't know if he who say he knew me from Mary Green hang-outs.
Anyway, the picture above is in the new library with Patty Agee. She and her husband "adopted" me and had me over for school breaks, got me involved at church and let me dog-sit while they were away (dorm life is fun, but I sure enjoyed getting to stay in a home once in a while). She is the librarian for the college, and I loved the library. She would have spiced cider in a crockpot for certain winter holidays and it smelled so good in that library!
Rothwell park where we had our first serious relationship talk about "what is this?" Yep, I asked that on the first date. I wanted to know where it was headed ~ no foolin' around. He also proposed to me there in the park a few months later.
Galen and her family were there this week. There was a lot going on in her life. They went to Jeff City to eat at a favorite restaurant of cousin Eric who died in a car accident 7 years ago to the day. She also had recently come into contact with information on her birth family and was able to meet up with her siblings on another day this week. It was fun to see all the pictures and hear the stories and find out how many of her birth relatives other family members and friends have known because they live in the area.
Aunt Anita and her kids also came for a meal. She homeschools her son, who is Elizabeth's age, so she and I got to compare what we're planning to do this year. Always fun for two homeschool moms.
In the picture above, Papa is reading a newspaper and Uncle John is watching the kids (Phoebe, Jonathan, Harrison, and Seth) play a card game.
Phillip and his brother, sister and parents.
Back home again! Liz had made cow cookies for the Harris' and then we forgot them on the countertop when we left. So Harrison is trying a 10 day old cookie. It's a bit tough, but still tasty.
Back to baking right away. It's the 4th of July after all. Must have a flag cake.
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