Stayin' All Night at Mema and Pappy's

As I mentioned in a previous post, the Bischoff kids stayed all night with us one at a time, starting with Lucas on Thursday night.  We all had been to the park to have pictures taken that day, then to Orange Leaf for custard.  Lucas came home with me to spend the rest of the afternoon and night.  He asked if Gavin could come with us.  On the way home, we thought about going to visit Lost Hill Park....there's a creek with crawdads, and a cave, all kinds of adventure.  So we stopped to pick up Jadon and Wendy met us at the park with Micah.  What a fun way for four boys to spend an afternoon.  Karla took these great pictures of them wading in the creek, skipping rocks, catching crawdads and enjoying a fun "cousin" day.

  Can't wait until Jude and Cael get big enough to explore the jungle with us.

We took everybody else home, then went to Chick-Filet at the Mall to eat, then over to Petland to play with some puppies....and hamsters....and guinea pigs....and birds....and everything else he could hold.  Then back home to watch Inkheart.

Friday morning we met everyone at the zoo.

Friday evening we all met at the Fair and had a wonderful time.  It was Bailey's turn to spend the night, so she went home with us.  She and I watched Princess Bride before turning in for the night.  The next morning Wendy brought Ruthie over and stopped to pick up Haven on the way.  This is how the girls spent their morning:

 Do these girls know how to have fun or what?  I really thought they would want to dress up in fancy dresses or do make up or something....but...no...let's make a water slide with mud and everything.  

They finally came in and dried off and we took Ruthie and Haven home and Bailey wanted to go get some Orange Leaf.   It wasn't open yet when we went over there, so we went to the mall and ate, then topped it off with some yummy frozen custard.  We took Bailey back to Mimi's so they could go for an outing with her.

Saturday night was Micah's turn to stay all night.  Everyone came over for supper and when they all went home, Micah stayed.  We watched Batman (the cartoon) before going to bed.  Sunday morning, Micah went to my Sunday School class to help me with the K-1st graders.  He was such a good helper.  The rest of his family came for church then back to Mimi's for lunch.  Micah, Pappy and I went to Steak and Shake (his choice) for lunch.  Then we went by and picked up Ruthie and took them both to Orange Leaf.   We dropped Micah back off at Mimi's and brought Ruthie home with us.  She and I got ready to go to the Back-To-School Bash at Homestead Acres Trailer Park.  There was a bounce house, cotton candy, sno cones, hot dogs, games........Ruth, Jadon, Haven and Jude had a blast.  Unfortunately, I have no pictures.  My camera battery was dead.  Waaahhh!  Heather and Mallory were so busy serving they didn't have time to take pictures.  I guess I will have to rely on the pictures in my mind of their little blue tongues and sticky faces and fingers.  


Ruthie and I had to call it an early evening because I had to have her back to her parents by 7:15 Monday morning.  Sad day.  I also had to tell them good-bye, as they were leaving to go back home.


Well, it was rather a whirlwind visit, but packed full of fun!  It is always such a joy having the family all together!


Until next time,


Donna

 

Haven, Buddy and the Rock Stars

Here are some pictures of Haven with Buddy.  They seem to have an affection for each other.  Of course, if it is an animal, Haven has an affection for it.

And here are the Rock Stars...............

Rock it, guys!!

Love,

Mema

August Post #4: Our Anniversary

Tuesday, August 10th was our 42nd wedding anniversary.  Gary came home from work that day with these:

They are absolutely the most perfect roses I have ever seen, along with the sweetest card (the kind that makes you cry because it's so beautiful).

He had already scheduled to take Thursday and Friday off, but we didn't really have any plans...just a get-away somewhere.  So, Thursday morning we started driving south down into Arkansas.  We heard an ad on the radio for the Showboat Branson Belle with Todd Oliver and Irving.  We had heard from friends that it is a really good show, so we turned around and went back to Branson.  We got tickets for the 4pm dinner and show.  We were not disappointed..it was a great show.  The music was great with dixieland jazz, swing music, Broadway show tunes, hit tunes from movies....and Todd Oliver and his dogs.  Good dinner...except no milk for Gary.  That's always a downer for him....but one minor fault is not bad for the evening.

Then we checked into The Castle hotel...I went for a swim...then we went for an evening snack including milk for Gary.  The hotel provides a great breakfast with eggs, biscuits and gravy, waffles, etc.  along with entertainment.  Gary Welch and Danny Yeary sang for us.  Danny Yeary sang with the Blackwood Brothers for 27 years and now has his own show in Branson.  We went shopping at the RedRoof Mall and at the Tanger Mall until time for the next show.  We saw the #1 Hits Of The 60's at the Caravelle Theater at 2 pm.  We loved it.  Very talented singers and I especially loved the part where they came into the audience and picked out someone to go up on stage and dance.  We sat in row 10, but one of the girl singers came all the way back to us and pulled Gary out of his seat to go up on stage and dance with her.  (I think she had her eye on him the whole time.)  She said, "You can't hide from me back here."  I was laughing so hard, because I knew this was the last thing in the world Gary wanted to do.  So, what did I, his loving wife do?  Get jealous and storm up on stage and pull him off.  NO, of course not.  I grabbed my camera and started taking pictures.  Here he is doing the Watusi, the Batman, the Twist and Freestyle.

Don't ya just love it?  She thanked me for letting her borrow my husband for a little while.  I told her I was so glad she did, even though he was way out of his comfort zone.  


Well, we decided we just couldn't top that adventure...plus we had spent all our designated money.....so we drove home...back to our own comfy bed and my pillow that I forgot to take with me.


I am so blessed to have spent the past 42 years with my best friend and love of my life.  Each year just gets more precious and I am so thankful for every day that the Lord gives us together.


All my love to my wonderful man,


Donna

August Post #3: Friday at the Zoo and Friday Night at the Fair

Friday morning we all met at the zoo:  Heather, Jadon, Haven, Jude, Lindsay, Gavin, Cael, Wendy, Lucas, Bailey, Ruth, Carlene, Karla and me  (Micah had to run and errand with Doug).

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This was a day to remember at the zoo.  First, we saw the hippo brushing his teeth.  Wish I had taken a picture.  I think I was just in awe.  He had his mouth wide open rubbing his disgusting teeth on the huge round brush on a pole.  Next we saw a baby kangaroo in it's mommy's pouch...so cute.   Then the otters were showing off for us.  They swam back and forth in front of us doing tricks.

Then we saw a black bear in a tree..not unusual, you say...well, how many times have you seen a bear poop from a tree branch.  Huh?  Well, we did.

Next we got to the tiger space.  Nothing going on...tigers just laying around...until......one jumps up and starts running across the yard chasing a rabbit.  The rabbit got away, but the other tiger got mad and they started fighting.

So, do you see why this was an awesome day at the zoo?  Most of the times the animals are just laying around sunning and sleeping.  

Then we all met at the Ozark Empire Fair that evening at 6:00. 

Ruth shows her Texas riding skills!

Here's cowgirl Haven!

Jadon's horse likes to go!

Cowboy Jude is at home on his horse!

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Howdy Ruth!!

Ride 'em Cowboy Jude!

Aunt Wendy rides down the slide with Haven

4..5..6..(their ages)   Let's buzz out of here!!

Waiting for the Pirate Slide!  Can you say AARR, Haven!!

Cael is enjoying his McAllister's Tea!

 The only thing Cael could ride was the carousel.  So he and Jude and their mommies rode the Carousel Animals.

After a couple of hours of corn dogs, root beer, rides, visiting with each other and so many friends we saw there, we left for home.  This was Bailey's turn to spend the night with us so she came home with me and we watched The Princess Bride before turning in.

More fun to come,

Donna

August Post #2: Cousins Pictures

Doug and Wendy and family arrived Wednesday evening, August 4th for their summer visit.  They stayed with Doug's mom, Carlene this summer and each one of the kids spent a night with us for some badly needed (by me) one-on-one time.  Thursday morning we all met at Close Memorial Park for our annual "cousins picture".  Mallory Schmitz took over 900 pictures of the kids that morning.  We brought a picnic lunch and ate at the park after the pictures.  Then we went over to Orange Leaf Frozen Custard for some dessert...mmmmmm.  Here's a few of the pics I took while Mallory was photographing.

Mallory's pictures are much more professional-looking than these, but how can I go wrong with this good-looking  and fun bunch of kids?  

Love them all bunches....

Mema