MISSOURI LAMPOONS VACATION POST 2...

Ok so yesterday got busy and I have to post the rest of the vacation in a second post. Here's a picture of the falls mentioned yesterday. It really was a beautiful place and the sound of the falls was just extraordinary. I took video and if I ever figure out how to post it, I will (Is there a "Posting video to internet for Dummies book?)

There were actually 2 waterfalls there. Above is the second fall. Below is the first. The area between them was shallow enough for a person to walk between them. The kids there were walking out to the top of the second fall and jumping off of it. It scared me at first because I didn't know how deep it was at the bottom of the fall.

Here's Gooey and I sitting on the rocks enjoying watching the falls. I can't help but sneak smooches whenever I can.

On our way leaving the falls, we caught this couple relaxing in their Hillbilly Hot Tub. We cracked up over this. I realize it was a really smart way to keep cool (it was so hot out) but how redneck can you get? The ducks were even swimming in amongst them.

This is Inspiration Point. It's a small spot on the side of the road with a plaque where someone dubbed in Inspiration Point. It's really a spectacular view. For those old enough to remember Happy Days, I did make Hubster give me a kiss.

After leaving Joplin, we took a wrong turn and ended up in Galena, Kansas. It was ok because we got to see some really nice houses (in the mulitmillion $ range) plus we drove on Old Rte 66. It amazes me how narrow highways were back then especially since cars were so much larger.

Our next stop was Ozark Village. It was the same as Ozarkland but a different name. We bought a shot glass for the collection.

We arrived in Springfield at about 8 and spent the rest of the evening resting and visiting with the IL's.

Saturday morning we went to the Green County Fair. I didn't take a lot of pictures. Let's just say it was too hot to do much. Bubba and I petted our first bull (we asked first and were told to do it very gently because bulls get aggitated easily. Who knew?). We walked through the stalls and looked at the cows, horses, and sheep. We met a woman with her 5 mth old cow that took 1st place the day before in her category. You know how they say people and their dogs start to look alike? Well, evidently it applies to people and their cows too.

You can see how hot it was at the fair by the looks on Gooey and Bubba's faces. Well, not so much Gooey. He was having a blast. Bubba griped the whole time about how bored he was.

Isn't Bubba's new hat just so cool?

Sunday, we ended our trip with a leisurely drive up Hwy 65 to Sedalia (where we stopped at the Russell Stover's outlet store. I think I gained 10 lbs just sniffing the air.) We drove through Knob Noster hoping Whiteman Airforce Base would be flying maneuvers but weren't so lucky. Whiteman is home to the Stealth Bomber and if you've never seen one in flight, you're missing out.

Our last stop was at a small ma n pa shop. I bought a neat little thing that hangs in your kitchen to hold plastic bags from the grocery store. You put them in the top then they dispense out the bottom. It's such a simple gadget but works so well. I also bought some seasonings.

The vacation was so much fun. We left the dog at home with the nieces because I didn't want to take the chance of leaving him tied to the bumper and forgetting. We also made it a point to not visit any aunts for fear they would want to ride along.

MISSOURI'S LAMPOONS VACATION

For our family vacation this year, we decided to take what we called Missouir's Lampoons Vacation. We drove from Kansas City to Joplin, stopping anywhere we felt like stopping and taking our time doing so.

We began the day at 8am, driving down hwy 71. Our first stop was a small Amish store (no clue what town it was in). They had beautiful quilts and hand made furniture. I bought a jar of "Million Dollar Pickles" that are just like the pickles my mom's aunt used to can.

Our next stop was the Precious Moments Chapel. We played at their park and walked the grounds. The flowers were amazing and the fountains were magnificent.
Bubba and Gooey admiring the fountain outside the Visitor's Center at the Precious Moments Chapel.

After the chapel, we zipped across the highway to Ozarkland. This is the prime place to buy just about every tacky souvenir ever made. We spent a small fortune on t-shirts, hats and candy.

For dinner we ate at the truck stop wherE CMT's Trick My Truck is filmed. Across the street from the truck stop is the Chrome Shop Mafia's shop. We once again spent a small fortune on t-shirts and spent some time talking with The Bossman's mom.

Next, we went to see Missouri's only waterfall, Grand Falls. (I'm not convinced this is the only waterfall in the big MO but until otherwise proven, I'll just go with it. It was as large as I had imagined, but it was still pretty spectacular.
Here are a few pictures of the falls:

MOMMEEE AS A SIMPSONS CHARACTER

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY...

WOOOHOOO A MEME!

My blog buddy, Jenifer at Everybody Loves Raymond, tagged me for a fun meme! Well, she actually tagged me on Sunday but, hey, I'm lazy slow. Enough chit-chat, on to the meme!

The 5 things MEME:

5 things in my refridgerator-

1. 3 bottles of Miller Chill. We tried the Michelob Light version Saturday and I drank them like a sailor sipped on one and enjoyed it. On the way home the next day, we stopped at the store and got the Millers. They aren't as tasty as the Michelob kind. Hubster drank one and I drank 2!

2. An almost empty gallon jug of milk. We go through milk like most people go through air. Hey, Milk it Does a Body Good!

3. A bottle of Ott's honey mustard salad dressing. It's just YUM-O!

4. A twelve pack of Coca-Cola. Well, not an entire 12 pack but the box is there with a few left in it. Hubster has to have his Coke.

5. Leftover lunch meat (cajun turkey breast and honey mesquite turkey breast) from the subs we had a few nights ago for dinner.

**I want to post a disclaimer on this one. Normally, I'd have all kinds of gross things to list but luckily, I've recently done a thorough cleaning of the fridge.

5 things in your closet-

1. Well, uh, most important are my clothes. I have to have them. Not as in, I have to have more and more clothes, but as in, NO ONE wants to see this body naked! So, yes, my clothing is important.

2. Boxes of computer crap. The bottom of my closet has become the storage point for all the computer things we own and don't use anymore. I need to add it to my "clean one thing a week" list.

3. Crocheted afghans. I used to crochet. I don't do it much anymore because I just don't have the time. The funny thing is, I don't even like to cover up with afghans. They're much too warm for me. I'm all for staying cool all year round.

4. Shelves. I have extra shelves stored in my closet. They are the kind of shelves that you hang on the wall and put nick nacks on. But, again, I just don't have the time.

5. An old winter leather coat. It doesn't fit. It's a little too tight. I just can't make myself get rid of it though. I keep thinking maybe one of these days I'll lose a few and it will fit. I'll just keep dreaming for now.

5 things in your purse or backpack;

1. A first aid kit. I bought it at Walmart a few months ago knowing that little boys need bandaids now and then. It still has the wrapper on it. But who knows, one day it will come in handy.

2. An almost empty package of wet wipes. I bought these the same day I bought the first aid kit. These, unlike the other, have been used and used. I can't count how many times I've used one to clean Gooey up in a restaurant. Bonus, they have a nice lemony scent. Not only does it make Gooey smell lemony fresh, but my purse smells good too.

3. A snickers bar wrapper. I know, I need to just throw it away. I ate it on my way home from shopping the other day when I knew it would be a while before I could eat and I was starving! I normally would have left it in the van but I'm working hard to keep the van neat and clean.

4. Lots of loose change. I have this habit of throwing my change in the purse rather than putting it in my change purse. Then, when I take the time to clean out my purse, I add it to the pig (my piggy bank above the washer).

5. My debit card. I love my debit card. It's the best invention ever!

5 things in your car-

1. More change. When I go through a drive thru, I put the change in the cup holder thingy. Then when I clean out the van, I move the change to the pig.

2. A box of Kleenex. This is a new addition to the van and I find it very handy.

3. Gooey toys. Not sticky toys but Gooey's toys. They land here and there depending on what he does with them. **mental note: need to put a basket in there for toy collection.

4. The stroller. It goes everywhere I go (well not everywhere I go but everywhere the van goes). It's so nice to have it just in case.

5. A sleeping bag. There's no reason why it's in the van other than Bubba left it there. It comes in handy having it there. Bubba covers up with it when I keep the van a little too cool for his skinny butt.

5 things in the world you want to see before you die-

1. Hawaii. I want to watch the sun set from a beach in Hawaii.

2. Grandchildren. I want lots of them and I look forward to being a grandma. Before Gooey was born, I used to fret over what if Bubba never has kids. Now, with 2 children, my odds are better.

3. Success and happiness for my children. I'd like for them both to have successful careers. I want them both to get college degrees and not live paycheck to paycheck. I want happiness for them, whether it be through marriage and children, or whatever it takes for them to be happy. Nothing in the world matters unless you are happy.

4. A brand new car. I'd like to see me in a brand spanking, fresh off the lot vehicle. I've only had one new car (11 miles on it when I drove off the lot) in my life. I'd like to have another one.

5. And, last but not least, we can't forget world peace.

Ok so now I have to tag 5 more people. I don't know yet who I want to tag so I'll edit and add them later. Right now I have to go change Senor Poopy Pants.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY...

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

RECIPE RALLY...LASAGNE...YUM-O!

Lasagne is one of those recipes that there is no easy method of making it. I've come up with what I think is an "as easy as possible" version.

Ingredients:

12 cooked lasagne noodles
1 1/2 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
1 large container of ricotta cheese
1 lb shredded mozzarella cheese
1 large jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce (I prefer Prego Traditional)

Pour a few tablespoonfuls of sauce into bottom of your baking dish. I use a 9 x 13 glass pan. Spread the sauce (this is to keep your lasagne from sticking to the bottom of your dish). **Place a layer of noodles in your pan. Spread a few tablespoonfuls of ricotta over the noodles. Top with 1/3 of the burger. Pour some sauce over the burger and spread with the back of your spoon. Top with a few handfuls of shredded cheese. Repeat from ** twice. Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes or until cheese is slightly browned. Allow to cool for a few minutes so that it "sets up"

Serve with a salad and some cheese bread and enjoy!

MOUTH ZIPPERS...

I need one. It never fails. I can not visit the in-laws without someone complaining that I hurt their feelings because of something I said. I just can't win.

We went to a wedding reception where we got to see family we haven't seen in a long time along with new little people in the family. Hubster's step-sister has a son 6 months older than Gooey that we hadn't seen yet (except for pictures). I made a comment about Gooey and T being the same height. It was a simple statement. I said it only because I'm still amazed that Gooey is so tall.

Well, her son has a metabolic problem that keeps him at the low end of the height scale for his age. He's not failure-to-thrive short, just in the lower percentage range. I knew this about him but my statement wasn't in any way being mean or facetious. It was a SIMPLE OBSERVATION!

The next morning at breakfast with the Step-Mother-in-Law, I was treated to a sly comment about how the Step-Sister gets upset when anyone comments about her son's size. I can understand why the Step-Sister would be bothered but I think the comment from the Step-Mother-in-Law was unneeded.

I'm beginning to think that a mouth zipper would be nice so I just don't have to talk when around the In-Laws.

MR. LITWICKY...

Every day at 11:00 am at the corner of 38th Street and Brighton, Mr. Litwicky, wearing his wife-beater t-shirt and bermuda shorts, walks out of his house. He shuffles down his driveway in his worn house slippers and crosses Brighton to his mailbox. He picks the mail up, once again walks across the street and walks back up his driveway. He can be seen doing this faithfully every day, rain or shine, cold or hot. Many people have seen Mr. Litwicky doing this.

The strange thing is, the house where Mr. Litwicky lives was demolished about 6 months ago.

At the corner of 38th Street and Brighton is an empty lot. The old house with the old-fashioned bomb shelter was destroyed after Mr. Litwicky passed away. One day the house was there, the next it was gone. No one that I know of witnessed the demolition of the house. As a matter of fact, it was a while before anyone noticed it was gone.

This is the story that Bubba and I made up as we were passing the old lot this morning. We were both cracking up on our trip to the grocery store.

I love making up stories like this with Bubba. I started it, getting that My-Mom's-Crazy look from him as his brain tried to comprehend whether I was telling a true story or not. I get that look a lot from him.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!...

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY...