Missouri Trip

We spent a long weekend for July 4th and Mom's birthday in Springfield. It was great to have more time with Mark's parents, and also to see Grandpa, Heidi, Damon, and Jill. As it turned out, Katie and her family moved to the Oklahoma City area that same weekend, so we missed seeing them. 

Damon & Jill

me, Heidi, and Jill

group selfie: Jill, Dad, Damon,
Mark, me, Mom, and Heidi

We drove out on Friday, getting there in time for dinner with everyone. On Saturday, Aunt Sue, Herb, and their puppy Tilly took took Jill, Heidi, and me for a hike on the Busiek Trails, about half an hour south of Springfield. In the afternoon, Grandpa came over to Mom & Dad's, and we all hung out through dinner. We also played some party games I'd never played before: Codenames and Blank Slate.

Busiek Trail Map/Sign

along the trail, an old cemetery

we took a few minutes to read the headstones

Jill took this one of Heidi, Aunt Sue, and me

the river near the start of the trail

the big bridge across the river

Jill with Tilly, Aunt Sue, and Herb

Herb, Aunt Sue, Jill, and Heidi

Tilly, Aunt Sue, Heidi, and Jill

Heidi and I took our shoes off to
wade across on the way back

 

Sunday was July 4th! Dad took some of us out for breakfast, then we did a bit of work around the house in Nixa (the one Katie just moved out of). In the evening, we had plenty of fireworks to watch right from Mom & Dad's driveway--just like we'd remembered. Hard to capture it in pics or even video, but everywhere you look, there are big, big fireworks exploding in the sky. They were still going when we went to bed. 

selfie with Mark in the driveway

Mom taking a picture,
Dad and Grandpa watching fireworks

On Monday, Mark and I went to visit Grandpa at his place. It was really good to see him and spend time together throughout the weekend...it had been a long time since we'd been together in person. We also did a few more small projects at the Nixa house, then played games with Mom--it was her birthday! Mark broke out an old favorite on his Nintendo Switch--Dr. Mario. It was fun to watch them re-learn the game together. Later, I joined in for a round of Five Crowns. 

me, Grandpa, and Mark

Mom playing cards with Cody

We had Braum's at the house on Tuesday morning, then hit the road. Just a few weird detours on the way home and some traffic in Indy, but we got home (to our house!...it still feels surreal sometimes). My tomato plant was wilted after a few hot summer days of neglect, but I'm happy to report that it's bounced back and seems to be producing a good batch of tomatoes! (all green so far, but a few big ones and several small ones growing :-). 

sad, wilted tomato plant

the biggest of several tomatoes growing now!