Sun, 27 Sep 2009
A busy weekendThe big event this weekend was Melody's birthday slumber party on Friday night and Saturday. She invited four friends for pizza, crafts, movies, and a little sleep. I think they had a good time, but we were all sleepy on Saturday.
But another big event of the weekend was Bryan's date with Shannon McGee to her Homecoming. They did consent to pose for a couple of pictures before the dance and Bryan said later that they'd had a good time.
Today was Melody's real birthday and she was glad to leave Primary to go to Young Women's. We also opened more presents today and had a macaroni and cheese with hot dog birthday dinner. That was just Melody's default dinner because she could never decide on anything else to have.
Today she is really twelve. Doesn't she look older?
The big present was from Marc and me. We gave her a sheet and comforter set (Who invited that kid?)
Yes, I "burned" the hot dogs because I like them that way. Whew, now that birthday celebrations are over, maybe we'll be able to get some rest…or Halloween costumes finished, then some rest…
Sun, 20 Sep 2009
Notes on Fifth Grade campThomas decided to write about fifth grade camp on his own blog. So if you'd like to hear about the experiences he had at camp, go to his blog and read more. There will be more than one installment.
Sat, 19 Sep 2009
Kids Expo and Balloon GlowI didn't ever write about last weekend, I guess I was too despondent about Thomas being away at camp all week to function well…
Anyway, we had fun last weekend with an open air painting class at the park by City Hall. Melody, Thomas, and I walked over there instead of our usual Saturday morning chores. The kids had fun painting and I got to visit with several friends.
There was a Kids Expo going on and the Rec-Plex was free for the day.
So we went ice skating and swimming. I didn't last very long ice skating because I was wearing shorts, short socks, and didn't have gloves with me. What a wimp. Melody and Thomas did a little better.
Sunday evening we took Thomas to camp. They rushed him off, so I only got this one picture.
He came back on Thursday evening with tales of fishing, hiking, a ropes course and lots of cooperation activities, good food, campfires, and a visit to "the mud cave." It sounds like a lot of fun. I'm glad that he was able to go.
Then last night we got to go to the annual Balloon Glow in St. Louis at Forest Park. We got there early for a picnic dinner, and had a fun walk all the way across the beautiful park, taking lots of pictures on the way. Marc is the tiny person on the bridge in this picture.
We got to the balloon staging area just as it was getting dark and just as they started to inflate balloons. We stopped to see the Energizer Bunny first, because this is the most recognizable balloon. The race is centered around this balloon. This year, being the 20th anniversary, they had a birthday cake balloon to go with it. Melody wanted her picture taken separately with it because of her birthday next week.
Then we just stood around watching all the balloons. When a balloon is successfully inflated, an airhorn is blown and the balloon flames are turned on to make the balloons glow to celebrate. It was fun to be in the midst of all of this. I love all the activities that go on at Forest Park.
Thu, 10 Sep 2009
Labor DayWe had a hard time trying to decide where to go for Labor Day and finally decided on a camping trip to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. This was to bring closure to the trip we took a couple of years ago where we got there too late to get any tickets for the "good" tours (so we basically drove there for nothing). But this time, I almost waited too long and couldn't get a campsite… So we stayed in Bowling Green at the KOA (only thing available…someday I'll learn to plan ahead).
But we had fun anyway. It was pouring in St. Louis when we left.
We did spend one night in the tent in a rather loud and exciting thunderstorm. But the weather didn't affect us down in the cave. Mammoth Cave is, by far, the longest cave system in the world, but is mostly a "dry cave" so isn't particularly spectacular. We ate our lunch in the cafeteria underground, and hiked for four miles on our tour. I'm glad we went, but we have prettier caves right here in Missouri.
Bowling Green is where Corvettes are made. I would have enjoyed going on a factory tour, but since it was a weekend, they were not running and so we went to the Corvette museum instead and learned more than most people would want to know about Corvettes. I think Marc enjoyed it. There were some pretty cars there, and lots of people who were way more into cars than I.
We went to a Kentucky farm for homemade ice cream
and Melody and Thomas did a corn maze.
All the kids enjoyed the play area. Bryan liked being pushed around in this pipe. It would have made me throw up.
We found a couple of letterboxes to add to our growing log book. This time there were no mosquitoes. 
I enjoyed seeing that we still remember how to camp and set up the tent and cook our meals. We had a little trouble cooking over a fire in the rain, and ate our tinfoil dinners in the dark, but it was nice to get away as a family. Here we are eating by the light of the van, since we forgot to bring a lantern. When you don't camp for awhile, you tend to forget what you need…
Now it's back to the routine. Except that Thomas has fifth grade camp next week. And then it will be Melody's birthday. And then Halloween…Where does time go?
Jan Dill Hall St. Peters, Missouri
Page created: 09 November 2008
Page modified: 31 December 2009
