2 Peas in a Pod: Family Vacation...

Blake in Shelbina, the boys helped themselves to Great-Grandma's slippers

Mr. Cool Calm and Collected...his first ferris wheel ride

Daddy was with Drew without a camera

Playing games at Minor Mike's- FUN for the whole family!

Loving the boat ride!!

Wind blowin' threw my hair!

Thanks Rory for the family photo! 4/4 looking- great job!

Why does vacation ever have to end?! We started our vacation heading to Shelbina to see some of my family. We stopped in Hannibal, toured downtown and stopped at a "park", per the boys request. It worked out perfect to let them run around before we met Great-Gma and Gma for lunch. The boys both showed how they are pros at a restaurant and took advantage of the free buffet for kids! Then, they took a nap from Hannibal to Shelbina (45 mins drive)- just enough to get them through the rest of the day. We were hoping that that was what would happen, but weren't holding our breath! We played all day in Shelbina, then headed to the Lake that night. It was suppose to be 2 1/2 hours in the car, but when we got to the Lake we hit a car show on the strip, which we sat in that traffic for another hour! The boys were great- they loved listening to the music and looking at the cars, trucks, people, and dogs! They finally got to bed around 10- we were all pooped! However, Blake was anxious to get up and go swimming- he woke Daddy up at 6:30, while Drew and I slept in until 8:15.

The rest of the week in a nutshell...
Lots of swimming- a little in the day and night!
We took the boys to Minor Mike's and Busters (a big indoor amusment park and arcade)- the boys loved
riding the bumper cars with Mommy on the back of Drew's car and Daddy on the back of Blake's! They rode in a big ferris wheel and played a lot of games! Won a ton of tickets, but are waiting until next time redeem them!
5 hour shopping trip! The boys were great (with a few bribes)! At one of our last stops, Drew and Mommy went to Carter's while Blake and Daddy went to Lids (Kyle always finds good deals there). Daddy the found boys a Buzz Lightyear and Woody hat- he was so excited- he said, "I felt like I was in their world"! I asked him how much they were and he said he was so excited he didn't even look! They were very cute and they love wearing them! For the excitement and entertainment the hats have been- they are priceless! Fed the ducks several times, that never gets old! I think the ducks will miss us- they ate a whole loaf of bread! The last day, the ducks were on shore and begging at our feet...about 30 of them! I asked Kyle if ducks had rabbis- they were so tame, it was crazy! Of course, that was the 1 time I didn't have my camera!
We looked at a puppy store- they had about 30+puppies (that's 60+ eyes looking at you hoping you take
them home)! We took the boys there to wear them out and start thinking about a puppy. We aren't close
to being ready yet, but it's fun to look and find out which breeds are better with children and which ones to avoid. We do have a void in our home without having furr balls around and losing 2 in 1 year has been tough, but it is very nice not to have more responsibility right now- our plates are pretty full! Kyle asked Drew what he would name a puppy and he said, "Choo-Choo". I would've bet he would have said, "Buzz"! I think between the 2 of them we hear "Buzz" 300 times a day! Blake would like to name a dog, "Shoe"...another reason we will wait to get an animal!
We went to the strip, shopped and had ice cream. I have the hardest time finding personalized items with their names on them, unless custom made. In one of the shops I found missouri plates with each of their names. Kyle asked what I was going to do with them...I said, "I don't know, but I have to have them". There was 1 of each left- it was meant to be!!

When we eat at home at the Lake, we usually eat outside, although this trip I think we were eating inside more. The boys have both noticed the "bugs" outside and take a chance to point them out every chance they get. They love to stomp on the "ants" on the deck. One night we ate outside- Drew saw a fly on his plate- This was what he said, "Fly, fly, ketchup, ketchup, french fry, french fry"! He was telling me that there was a fly, and then he was telling me all of the items of food they were on- I don't think he ate very much! As long as there was watermelon in front of Blake, he could put the bugs on hold until he was done eating.

It's more sad that it is the end of our vacation, because it is probably the last time we will go to the Lake this year. We had fun, we were thankful to have a get away during this trasition until we get our house! Besides, it's great quality family time! Away, from all of life's distractions!