The Trip.... Part Two

After St. Louis (see below), we headed in a roundabout way to Bourbonnais, Illinois. From there we attended the family renunion for David's mom's side of the family. I took so few pictures. Alas. Not pictured is a ton of food, horseshoes, volleyball, Jack the dog, and a billion soy beans.

I did not take these photos. I think Cheryl did. These are half the ones she took. Multiple pictures with various individuals NOT looking at the camera make me smile. I love them.

From left to right back row... Steve, Jeff, Julie, Brian with Lillian, David, Wayne, Angie, Jeff.

Middle row.... Jennifer, Amanda, Jennifer, Dorothy, Jonathan

Front row.... Scout, Nick, Kimberly, Walter, Nora, Alek.

Walter realizes he has to share with Lillian.

Mmmmm.... Appetizing demonstration of how to eat rice crispy treats.

Again with the sharing...

I think they were singing "Twinkle, Twinkle"

Every year this is a major attraction for my kids.

Cracker Barrel....
Putt Putt! This is Lillian chasing a ball. Empathy got the best of her. She was chasing the ball so she could comfort it after it had been hit.

It survived.

The First Half of the Trip

I am well aware of how behind I am... but it's time to start catching up!

Early in August, after what can only be called a "really fun" car ride......

............we went to see my side of the family in St. Louis on the way to Illinois. We got to see the Missouri Botanical Gardens....

We got to see indiginous plant life....
Indiginous wildlife....
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't quite convince Walter to be scared or believe that these guys were real. Bummer.
There was some performing...
some exploring....


some building....


some buzzing...

and some koi-feeding death-marching....
(and some watching of the others doing the death-marching from the cafe)
And The Magic House! Where Walter fished alone for an hour.

He fished in the pond and then took the fish to the beginning of the stream... and then followed it back to the pond..... and we started all over again!

That night we were treated to a bar-b-que and Walt got to hang out with his cousins. And then a dance performance was enjoyed by all.

Walter fell in love with Buster....

and we saw what being 17 is all about.

The next day we drove to Springfield to see the Lincoln Museum with Aunt Genie (center with bonnet) and cousins Ella (far left) and Jessica (not pictured).

We then walked a couple of blocks to see Lincoln's home in Springfield. He wasn't home.

The next day, we drove to New Salem and saw the replica of the town as it was when Lincoln lived there.

Walter was as enamored of Bay as he was of Buster. Bay is 27 and has lived his whole life in the New Salem settlement. He likes grass and makes noise when grass- givers walk away!

And we left something in the woods behind the settlement. I'm not saying what it was. I'm just saying it was Walter's fault.

Ella! Look at the Camera! Alek! Smile!

Myron's Moment

Uncle Myron has performed this little number at the last two or three family reunions.

He clearly missed his calling -

What happens

when I get out the phone camera in Taco Bell?

Name That.... Eyeroll-Causing-Utterance

Nora likes to play name that tune. A lot. So, here's a twist. How many utterances does it take before you can guess what we are up to this week?

1. (slap) Walt: That's what you get. (kid screaming)
2. David: Stop kicking the back of the seat!
3. Alek: Be quiet, Walter.
4. (SMACK) Alek: Walt just hit me!
5. (moaning and whining for approximately 2 hours straight) Nora: Why does my neck hurt every time I get in the car?
6. Nora: Why does it have to take so long to get there!
7. Walt: I have to go potty.
8. (THUMP followed by screaming) Me: I don't even want to know what happened! HANDS TO YOURSELVES!
9. (whilst VBS music plays for the 175th time encouraging Christians to pat a friend's back)Nora: NO ONE CAN PAT MY BACK, IT'S NOT FAIR!
10. (indiscriminate whining)
11. (indiscriminate suffering)
12. (indiscriminate fatigue)

How many did you really have to read before you guessed????

Yep... it's time for the family vacation! Pictures and better attitude to follow at a later date.