Vacation!

Last Thursday Jo invited the boys over for the morning, along with some of the other daycare kids, to play.  It was a nice few hours that I was able to get some errands done on my own!  While Mason was there, he found Dale's tractor collection and insisted he play with them.  I sure hope he didn't break any of them!  

Braeden and Mason playing with Dale's tractors!

After that, we decided to take our kids to the movie theatre, along with Jo's youngest daughter Lauren and Madelyn's friend from preschool.  They run older movies in the theatre for only a couple of dollars per person, so we thought that would be a good event for a rainy day!  Before heading to the theatre we went for lunch, then another friend who was meeting us there called to say the movie was sold out!  So...on to plan B...movie at my house!  We got candy, popped some popcorn, and put in the same movie that was being shown at the theatre.  The kids sat pretty well for about 40 minutes...then they were all up and playing...guess there were too many toys around them to sit and watch a movie!

Lauren & Mason

Mason, Braeden, Ryan, Zane, Madelyn, Madelyn, Nora

Friday afternoon we met one of Zane's preschool buddies and his little brother at the pool.  I also worked with their mom at school this year!  They boys got along really well!  We have to get together with them more often!!  We laugh, becuase our lives seem to be on the same track...her husband went to Northwest, they are the same age as us, they have two boys the same age as ours, and we are both expecting!  They know they are having a girl...wonder if we are too?

Zane & Nathan

Mason & Nicolas

Mason talking about a few things...

We've really been looking forward to our vacation to the Ozarks!  It's such a double edged sword, because I want it to be here so bad...but when it's over it's just that much closer to summer being over...but no matter what we make great memories always!

This year vacation didn't start off the greatest...Sunday the rest of the family met at our house and we had some lunch before heading to the lake.  Once we got there, we checked into the cabin and unloaded our things.  As we always do, the girls headed out for groceries.  Each person had their own list.  As we were shopping, Grandma kept telling us her stomach didn't feel well.  While checking out, she got red, was sweating, and told us she wanted to go to the emergency room.  Imagine us...with three carts full of groceries...running to the car, throwing them in the trunk, and getting her into the car.  Then the pain started getting worse and she wanted an ambulance...so we called one and waited for it to come.  We didn't know what to think...we called the guys and told them to come, and we headed to the hospital to meet them there.  After lots of tests we found out that she had a ruptured ulcer, which basically means she had a hole in her stomach and everything from her stomach was leaking out into her abdomen.  She was full of infection and in a lot of pain.  Surgery was scheduled for Monday morning and she was told she couldn't eat or drink ANYTHING...not even water...for 7 days.  Wow, what a vacation for her huh?  Grandma was very worried that she had ruined our vacation...but we stayed at the cabin and carried on...with heavy hearts...like she would have wanted us to.

Zane, Marcy, and Mason swimming in the lake

Mason "boating"

Zane was super interested in learning how to dive this year, so every time he got the chance he'd practice!  In this video you'll see him "frog dive" which is actually something Matt's family used to do at the pool back in the day when they went to the Ozarks.  As the story goes, it was quite a sight as Matt's grandpa and Dad would hop like a frog and "ribbit" their way to the pool...so this is where the frog diving came from!

Zane got good at diving!

Mason really came a long way over vacation!  He went from being terrified of being in the water without having a death grip on someone to swimming around the lake on his own.  He still has respect for the water and realizes he can't swim alone, but he really did well!!!  It's so cute to hear him when he jumps to you...he'll say "That's not far...cwoser, cwoser (closer, closer) until you're close enough for him to jump to!  He was just a different kid than last year...he cried, cried, cried, wouldn't put on his life jacket, etc. last year, and ended up having a double ear infection.  This year we could barely get his life jacket off of him, he would ask if we could go boating, and he wanted to jump in the lake all the time!  It was much more pleasant!

Mason showing off his swimming!

Throughout the week we spent a ton of time in the boat and in the water.  Grandma would have been proud!

Zane, Mason, Brent, and Marcy on the hot dog

Zane, Mason, and Marcy on the hot dog

Mason & Papa driving the boat

Zane, Marcy & Matt on the hot dog (Zane looks happy huh)

Matt's Aunt Sherri came down on Monday to be with Grandma for the week.  Since we had an extra room, she came and stayed with us each night.  It was nice to have her there!  Mason latched right onto her and always wanted to know "Where's Sherri?"

Mason & Sherri on the boat...looking at the "turtle clouds"

It's kind of a family joke about certain members sleep-walking at night...so it was extremely funny one night when Zane got up, walked out into the living room, ran right into Brent, and kept on walking.  We tried asking him what he was doing and before we knew it he charged right into this cubby hole...between the refrigerator and the wall.  He was swinging his arms trying to get through...but hit a dead end!  Eventually we got him to go back to bed.  The next morning we asked him if he remembered doing it, and he said he didn't, but smiled and laughed when I showed him this picture.

Get these things out of my way...I'm on a mission!

Papa and Mason feeding the ducks

Another Ozark tradition is to go to Dogpatch...an area that has some shops and games.  We had fun going to the shops (those that were open) and spending lots of quarters in the arcade!  Skee Ball is always a favorite...of kids and adults alike...

Matt and I

Mason riding in a "big truck"

Brent, Zane, and I playing skee ball

Zane showing off all the tickets he won at this game!

Matt practicing up on his batting skills...

Matt and Brent found this punching bag game...they were trying to outdo each other.  I think they spent at least $10 in quarters on this thing...this wasn't Matt's highest score...but one of the highest...

Zane & Matt on the tube

Mason & Matt on the tube...Mason wasn't too fond of it and didn't ever really ride it...but the picture makes it look like he did!

One evening we went out for barbecue.  There was a little bit of a wait before eating, so the boys fed the fish (they have HUGE fish outside), chased some ducks, and we even got a family photo!

Mason feeding the fish

Zane feeding the fish

The boys chasing a couple of ducks...look close...and see Zane "sneaking"

Our family...this is the best we got with Mason!

Matt's family...Craig, Keeta, Matt, Brent, Marcy

The Bakers...Craig, Brent, Marcy, Mason, Amy, Zane, Matt, Keeta

The boys watching the ducks

Our view while eating barbecue!

On Thursday (my birthday) we were finally able to go see Grandma at the hospital.  She really was doing well and improving each day, and we thought seeing the boys might be a good dose of medicine for her!  They took books and read to Grandma.  I was so proud of Zane, he walked right up to her and gave her a big hug and kiss.  Mason was a little more leary, but they both did well visiting!

Mason & Zane reading to Grandma in the hospital









Zane skiing!

 

Zane skiing!

Mason "pulling Zane in" after skiing!

Last year we found this great place called Franky & Louie's.  It has a beach, food, drinks, and is just a great place to go!  We went there on Friday and the boys had a ball!  Zane spent the whole time there building rivers and a dam...and Mason was in and out of the water.  It was nice and relaxing!  Weird enough...I saw a family from my school there!  Small world!

Dig in boys!

Mason enjoying the lake with Papa

Franky & Louies.  See Zane at the right...working on his river and dam!

Zaner on the beach

Mason on the beach

Our feet in the sand!

On Saturday we decided to go back to the hospital to see Grandma again.  They gave her a dye test on Thursday, it went well (no leakage), so she was able to have some juice, jello, and pudding.  This was good news as we thought it would be a whole week before she got anything!  She had more of her tubes taken out so she looked different than our first visit!  This time we just took Zane.  We also took him to an indoor arcade for some fun!  He was so good...I think he enjoyed having his mom and dad all to himself!  When we left he said, "That was fun, wasn't it?"

Zane on the ferris wheel

Train ride

It was a great vacation!  Of course we wish Grandma and Grandpa could have been there enjoying it with us...maybe next year we can have a do-over!  Grandma is doing well and may get to come home today.  We continue to pray for her healing. 

Please also pray for my family as a cousin of mine passed away this week from cancer.  Marla will be missed!!!

Although we had a great time and made lots of new memories...with stories to tell...it sure is nice to be in our own home, sleep in our own beds, and have my laundry clean and put away!  And now...time to try to slow time down and enjoy the rest of the summer with my boys!  Wish me luck!