Summer Field Trips

As usual, when the boys come for a visit from California, we try to take them around the state of MO, to give them a feel for our Midwest life. We started off their vacation time with Puddle Jumper Days in Odessa. They found a car show and got to dream a little dream or two. Then we drove across the state, and up to Hannibal, home of Mark Twain. Jordon had read Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, and Kerry had heard of him, so we thought it would be interesting to them to see where Sam Clemens had lived. We drove there on the hottest day of the summer, walked around downtown, trying to cool off in the shade, in the stores, and finally caught the breezes on the trolley tour. We went from a heat index of 115 degrees to a cave tour at 51 degrees! What a difference being 200 feet below ground makes! The boys really liked the bats in the cave, rock formations, and seeing some real signatures from the 1800's on the cave walls. When the lights went out down there, it was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. We caught the trolley back to town, and embarked on the steamboat ride on the Mississippi River. It was still so hot that most everyone on board stayed in the air conditioned deck. That's quite a difference from what Mark Twain was accustomed to when he piloted on the river. We saw Jackson's Island, which is where Huck and Jim took refuge, and just being on the river was an interesting experience. Our boys were hoping that the riverboat would take them on down to St. Louis, but it was a short trip, so back we went to downtown Hannibal, and back to 98 degrees weather.

We then traveled on into Granite City, IL, to see family, and relax by a pool. When we returned home, we spent a day down at Powell Gardens to see the Butterfly Festival. A Blue Morpho graced my head while we were in the butterfly pavilion--you couldn't design a more beautiful hat! While we were there, Kerry morphed into a huge butterfly for us. Couldn't fit him into our car for the home trip, so he had to morph back into a teen.

Where did this summer go?

Can't believe it is the middle of August already. And schools around here are starting next Monday. We had company, great nephews from San Diego, visiting us the last two weeks, teen boys, who kept us hopping. Now we are setting around in an exhausted state, wondering how did we make it through those years with our kids? Got to be young to do that anymore.

Our new kitty Violet is charming us on a daily basis, BUT hubby wants to rename her Shredder. We bear her claw marks to prove it. But she is so cute, so we have to forgive her for not yet understanding that human skin is not jeans denim or the cedar post in the kitchen. We got her a new scratching post with a jingle toy at Costco the other day. Just like any other kid, the box the toy came in was more fascinating, but she got the hang of it, and now diligently works on it. If she doesn't attack the cedar post right next to it. Then hubby came home with another new toy yesterday. Those laser mice! Ohmygoodness, you should see her run through the house chasing it! Then there is that toy feather duster on an extended stick. You would think she was competing in the Olympic gymnastics this week, because of her back and front flips trying to get that toy!

Vallee cat is getting used to the kitten, but can't decide whether to steal her day-glo mice, or box her ears when she gets too pushy. They will work it out I think. The little one runs madly after big sis, so Vallee now has an admirer, even if she doesn't want one.