Day 4 - LVL

We woke up and it was around 8:30. We were so tired. I just could not get up. But I did, I made Ry breakfast then woke Matt up. I made him get up this time. I laid back down and had a bowl of cereal in bed. It was all okay, our bed was in the kitchen remember. So I was right there with them all. After we all ate, we just lounged around for a bit, in the bed and in the camper. Well little Ry was getting restless, so we decided to go down to the pool and go for a swim. We were the first ones there...which was great. We swam in the big pool for a bit. Matt rode him on his shoulders for awhile. He going under the water with him He would not keep his mouth shut. We would say, okay mouth shut, are you ready, go. And by golly as soon as Matt would hit the water with him he would open his mouth. It didn't seem to bother him though. He just drank it and went about his business.

Then the baby pool came, we could not get him out of the thing, he was in that pool for at least a half hour. The water come about mid chest. So he could just walk and run all he wanted. He met some girl friends in there, they were just a bit older. We all know how big of a flirt he his. They loved playing with him. And he was playing pretty good back! One of the couples we met were from St. Jacob, grew up in Collinsville, and lived in Troy at one point in time. Now yes he was doing very well in the pool, everyone one was so surprised, but one lady actually thought he was only 7 or 8 months old...that would definitely be a Michael Phelps in the making...but my Ry would win 9 gold medals and break his record. But anyway, that lady was just crazy!!! I did have another lady judge me for not having a life jacket on him, but he was in 2 feet of water with me right there, I was in the pool with him the whole time. Yes I agree he needs one soon, but she was scared to let her grand kids play around Ry since he didn't have a life jacket on, and she actually said that.

We got dressed went across the way to the Creekside Cafe (which I can't use my $25 member card to get points at because they are not affiliated with LVL...whatever, it talks about LVL all over the cafe and has pictures) This is the only place you are actually going to spend more than $5 at, to actually accumulate a good amount of points. (1 point per $1, you have to have 350 points first to use, then like 350 is good for $7.00) How pathetic is all that! Sorry about all that...all that really got us upset.

While we were in the cafe eating our over priced fried food that came on foam plates, Ryan decides he is REALLY tired, and falls asleep in the highchair. His poor little head keeps bobbing back and forth, but he is out. So I picked him up and we headed to the sports arena so Matt could play some hoops. He really wanted Ryan to watch and maybe play, but he was out, we just sat on the floor and Ryan slept in my lap. Next to us were a teenage couple playing one on one, who we think just met. They are totally flirting, she is just in her bikini, flinging her blond hair all over, while he continues to remain red in the face. They are just giggling like crazy. It was really cute to watch, then it dawned on me...when did I become the old person holding their baby, watching their husband shoot at memories. We were the ones always meeting new people camping. Now, well, things are just different. I am getting old...I am a mom.

After all the life realizations, we went down to the reservation building so we could get online so Matt could order his new phone...remember he turned it into scrap metal with the lawn mower. We did all this while Ryan took his nap in the backseat. We went back to the camper and just vegged out. We were so tired. This was our last day, we did not want to be this tired.

Instead of staying around the camper and complaining we decided to go down to the boat house and rent a jonboat. We had to put Ryan in this little life jacket, he was so cute... I was now a good parent, he had a life jacket on! This boat moved so slow, it was not fun. We could count the leaves on the trees. We got to the middle of lake and we were all crying, Ryan was the only one who was vocal with it though. He hated it. I would not let him move around in it, the huge fear we would tip. So he had to sit still, all stuck up in his life jacket like a zombie. It was just horrible. So we turned the boat around and tried, key word tried to oar too, so we could move a little faster. No we were hitting each other with them, then Ryan found them, he wanted to play with them, it was just a big mistake...the whole thing was a huge mistake. We finally made it back we returned everything, and I told the kid that it just didn't work out, and he said we didn't have to pay, that he didn't want us to complain. Well we weren't going to complain, we didn't work out, not the boat, I tried to explain that but he was not listening to us, and said people complain, so by that point I was not stupid, we took our money and our last memory of a jonboat with us.

Back to the camper we went, we decided to go for another swim, then off to courts we went...and there was that teenage couple again...she now had on pants but not shirt just here bikini top.

Went back, Ryan had bath, then drive, then bed. We decided to stay outside and stay by the fire. The bats were back, they came out earlier and earlier every night. Matt actually asked me if I was now okay with the bats, NO I was not okay with them, they still scared the crap out of me. They would just fly so close, but hey we never had a problem with bugs, we brought our bug zapper but that was just wasted space in the car by this point. We had a lot of fun, just the two of us. We really needed it, we stayed out there till around 2 or so. It was really nice, we talked and just laughed a lot. It was huge for us, it was like old times, just care free.

That was our day and night...well except for one thing...Jason and Loni, you may want to stop reading... You see we really like playing with fire, and we had J and L fire/hotdog pokers with us and we played in the fire a lot with them, and would turn them red with the coals at the bottom and well, Matt some how did this to it, that's right it was Matt, not me, just for the record!

Day 3 - LVL

It is now Sunday morning. They had a church service we could attend down in the sports arena. They would either have a volunteer give the sermon or we would watch a video. So I was pretty excited. Well, I think we were all so exhausted from the previous night that we over slept. I woke up at 8:30 and everyone else was still sleeping. So, I was not waking them in case Ryan was unable to take a nap all day.

When ever Ryan did get up I made us breakfast, we had scrambled eggs, strawberries, and toast with jelly. I let Matt sleep in since he is always so tired. I was going to make him egg burritos. Well since our bed was in the kitchen he heard me cooking. He rolled over and proceeded to tell me how nauseous he was. He got up and went to the bathroom (which is also in the kitchen) and emptied his belly. We don't know what made him so sick. He had this really nasty looking thing on Friday at that windmill restaurant, it was called a slinger, it was kinda like an egg and sausage scrambler, but with chili on it. So that could have been it, he has also been taking meds for his back, so it might have been that.

I took Ryan down to the pool so Matt could go back to bed, or do what ever he wanted. It was much easier for us to leave, there was no where for us to go in the camper to give Matt some peaceful time to feel better. So I took Ryan down to the pool, well I can't believe I waited so long to do this, we only did wait cause it was so busy on Saturday he would have been pushed around by all the bigger kids. So the pool had a slope going into it and a little fountain in the middle of it. He loved it. He is truly a water baby (maybe he is the next Michael Plelps).

We went and got changed in the shower room and we were walking out and Matt came walking through the doors, it was so perfect. He took a shower at the camper and he is feeling better.

We went back to the camper and ate a quick lunch. We then headed "into town", which was Hermann. Hermann MO, was a beautiful town, beautiful views, it was just a cute little town. This town also consisted of wineries and a brewery...he he he. We parked our car and walked down this touristy street. We went into the first winery, sampled about 5 or 6 wines. Then off we went down the street. Well we found this brewery. You could sample 5 ounces of beer for $1. They had 5 different different types of beer, so we were each going to do 1 of each. Well I think I was a little confused, it ended up being A LOT of beer. But no fear we drank it, we drank it all, with child in tow. No it did not look very good, while we sat at a table with Ryan in a stroller downing our beer, because the straw and cup we gave him to play with was not working out much longer. It is not something we would normally do, but it sure was alot of fun. The buzz only lasted a bit. We also stopped and got some yogurt for Ryan since he was such a good boy while mommy and daddy boozed it up.

After we left Hermann, we went back to the camper had dinner, played outside, drove Ry around and off to bed he went.

Matt and I decided to build a fire and sit outside for a bit. It was getting later and later, and the bats were back and they were flying like crazy around us. So I decided to stop security when they passed to tell them about them and to see what we do, and if we were safe. So I stopped the first one I saw and he was just clueless, he was like yeah I guess they are bats (well there is no such thing as night time birds you dork) they might be trying to get the bugs and when I started to tell him what was going on he said I have to go there is a little girl missing and drove off...okay why wasn't this more important before I was going on and on about these bats. He was just weird. So after a little bit, I remember we saw a little girl around 11 or so walking up a rock road by herself. So I stopped the security truck again. Well thankfully it wasn't the same guy. He said the girl was found, mom had jumped the gun, she was just playing with a friend and didn't come back in time. So then I asked him about the bats...he said yes they are bats they are eating the bugs and there bat cave was right behind our camper. Yeah us, we now confirmed we had bats for neighbors.

Then there was these 2 little girls still playing in the street and it was around 11. Well after a bit they came up to the camper and said their dad needed help he hit his foot with an axe while he was chopping wood and he needed help. So I sent Matt down to their camper with 2 diapers...that is all we had, besides band aids! He came back and said he actually needed first aid and Matt had to go down to the security booth and get help. They came and got him while we babysat the girls. All while the mom was inside sleeping with the 2 year old. Both girls told us how mad the mom was going to be once she found out all of this. And I was like, heck yeah I would be mad, you have my two girls out in the middle of the street while you are chopping wood, then your ankle, then leave them with strangers all at 11 at night...oh yeah I would be mad.

So, after all this we decided to go in and go to bed, it was definitely enough for the day.

Day 2- LVL

We woke up at 7:30. He woke up all smiles. At least he was happy. I made him breakfast and we ate while Matt and I decided what we were going to do. We wanted to stay but do we risk our whole vacation being so tired and stressed.

This was a sleeve Matt cut off a t-shirt and we worn them as a hat for a bit. Ryan also found out very early that climbing on the table was very easy.

At 8:00 I went down to the reservations building. I tried to get upgraded to a condo, or move to another, bigger camper. We could not get upgraded and we could not move till Sunday. Then we would have check out at 11 and could not get the new one till 4. We could not get a refund. So our options were limited. I called my parents after driving around for 20 minutes to get reception to see if they could help since they were the actual owners at the resort. No, they got no where as well. So after my big freak out and break down, Matt and I decided to stay, at least another night, and if it didn't work we would come home on Sunday and have a good couple of days at home.

In the meantime, Matt had the wonderful idea of putting the mattress up against the window in the bedroom, that way it would block the light, then we could put his pack n' play up on the wooden platform. So we did, and we also put towels and blankets up in the other windows. There was enough room on the platform where we could put up his toys. So he would go into "his room" climb up on the platform and play for awhile then come back and join us. It was wonderful. Even though when you looked into his room and he would be playing and it ended up looking like we kid napped him and was holding him in a secret room where no one could find him.

We did go 'across the street' to the playground. We did make it down all the hills and over all the ditched just fine. Ryan loved having free run of such a big area, we could let him explore every where with no fear. He got to the point of pointing across the street and screaming to go to the playground.

After Ryan and Matt's 3 hour nap in the car, he got up and he found all the cabinets and was able to climb in them all. Which was a huge success for us all, it kept him busy while we would cook or what ever. They had to sleep in the car because he would not sleep in his pack n' play yet. Thank God it wasn't too hot they were able to sleep with out sweating to death.While Matt prepared the grill for dinner, Ryan and I walked down to the boathouse and lake. We played and looked at the people playing in the lake from a bridge. Then we walked down to the beach. That is where we met Chester. Chester is a goose not a duck, I was informed of that from some guy working the boathouse. We liked looking at Chester, a lady told us we could pet him, he was nice, and he would let us. Well as a concerned parent I did not allow this. So we just watched Chester. I took a numerous amount of pictures, then all of a sudden I realized Chester only had one leg. We were very sad for Chester. (no he did not swim in a circle, for all you mean people who thought that, he swam away just fine) We later found out from the grass mower guy (they finally cut the grass on Monday) that Chester lost his leg to a fish line. Chester is the only goose who is allowed on the property. Last year they had over 140 geese, they took half to Mark Twain park and the other half they gave to the homeless to eat! So, the only goose they will allow is Chester...lucky Chester huh, he gets to live his life alone with one leg!Ryan also loved to be chased around and around he picnic table...but only by his daddy! He would also try to get down on the grass, so he would get on all fours and back step till he stepped off the concrete. Which was good it gave us time to get him before started to fall or roll.

Then night fell, we got a bath and put on p.j.'s. We went back outside by the campfire. I had bought some balloon torpedo things at Wal-Mart for .88$, they were the best thing ever, they kept us busy for about a half hour, including the kids next door. You were supposed to blow it up, and let go into the air and they fly off, make a sound and deflate and come back down to the ground. Matt and I were racing our torpedo's...and mine won the most!!! The only problem with these balloons, is that Ryan wanted to keep playing with them, but they were so weak that as soon as they would touch the ground they would pop.

Then it was bed time...and off we were again, the car for about 15 minutes. We came back found 3 huge spiders outside right by Ryan's window, we killed them, and put Ryan to bed. He rolled right over and went right to sleep!

Day 1 - LVL

Our first family vacation started Friday morning. We got up had breakfast, and at an easy pace we left. We had to drop Clementine off at Matt's mom and dads. Then we were on the road around 11:30. Lost Valley Lake (LVL) here we come!!!


Our first stop was at the St. Louis Miniature Museum (remember the passes we won at trivia night). Matt was not very excited about this, but I kinda was. Those are the kinda things you do on vacations, plus it was free.
They had everything at this museum you can imagine, from a nice little family home to the Playboy penthouse...it was interesting.
Then we were on the road. The only other stop was the Wal-Mart in Union. We stop there every trip to get our groceries and what ever else we may need. Well half way there, I realized the bag I packed to keep up front full of all Ry's stuff, and well, I forgot to pack diapers. Well by the time we got there it was 2:30 and he had not had a diaper change since we left the house that morning. You know I can only remember so much, but the diapers was a huge thing. The pack we brought with us was at the bottom in the back of the car so of course we could not get to those, so we had to buy more diapers.


We left Wal-Mart at 4, and we got to LVL around 5 and we got checked in. Which took forever since I had to get a member card that only lasts till March and costs $25.


We went and found our camper, we requested the camper either have a good grassy area or a playground near by. Well , we got the one that had a playground right across the street, yeah right? After we walked down our steep driveway (which required us to put the parking brake on) we would cross the street then there was another huge hill, that you were better off rolling down. Then when you got to the bottom of the hill you had a ditch you had to jump over. Then you had to go down another hill then you were at the playground right across the street!


We unpacked everything and Ryan was just screaming with excitement he just didn't know what to do with himself. He loved the great outdoors. Even though he had to stay on the concrete pad because the grassy area was maybe a 4x4 area with the metal fire pit next to it, and if he would fall, crack goes the noggin, plus the grass was above his knees. But he also couldn't get off the other side because then he would roll down the driveway, across the street, down the hill, bump over the ditch, down the other hill, then he would be at the playground. We did have the lake across the street as well, which was pretty.


Matt grilled up some hamburgers, while I made the side dishes. And we ate dinner outside, it was wonderful. We were having our nice little relaxing vacation...then the night came!!! We brought his pack n' play for his bed and figured from previous stays it would fit with no problem, well we were wrong. There was absolutely no room for it, so which meant Ryan was sleeping with us every night..yeah! Ryan got really tired around 8:30, so naturally I tried to lay him down, well with it being an adult bed I had to lay down with him till he fell asleep, yeah right, he was not having that. So I figured we would drive around and put him to sleep. Which worked wonderfully, he fell asleep by the time I got the emergency brake off and scooted down the driveway. We drove around for about 15 minutes then we went back to the camper and laid him down for his 10-12 hour night time ritual. Ahh, such a sweet baby he was so tired from a long day. Matt and I decided to play UNO, which he won.


10:30 p.m.- The crying started, Ryan had woke up... he never wakes up. So once again I laid down with him to comfort him and get him back to sleep, nope wasn't working either. So, we got all buckled up again and we toured the campground once again. He was fast asleep so we went back and I decided to stay in bed with him, because maybe he woke up last time and got scared because we weren't there in a new place. So we both went to sleep. Poor Matt had to pull out the bench bed to sleep because the 3 of us were not fitting in bed comfortably, and we were not taking the chance to wake him again.


2:00 a.m.- I awoke to crying again. I could not get him settle down. Matt got up with us and the two of us made a human wall so he could not fall out of the bed. After awhile, he was not crying, he was wide awake, ready to play. He was opening the curtains outside, falling all over us, and just laughing, he thought all of this was so funny. Well to say the least we did not. Yes, it was cute though. At one point in time, Matt had fallen asleep and I was looking out the window and I kept seeing these bird like creatures fly by...all I could think was, they weren't bats, were they? Well I ignored it, I did not want to think about bats outside my camper, I just got got the image of the spider I just killed on the wall out of my head. Well, Matt woke up, it is now 4:00 and I have decided to take Ryan for another ride. We went outside, and sure enough there were the bats. I was happy Matt saw them too, this way I was not crazy, and someone would believe me. There they were flying around the huge street light we had in our front yard, giving us way to much light. So I hurried into the car and off we went. I had to drive safe because at night is when all he animals come out to play. Then I was coming down the street and since we had this bright light and were up on this huge hill we really stuck out, and were on show the entire time. I could see Matt from down the street waving the hot dog pokers at the bats. Apparently the bats came so close he could see the veins in their wings. I drove around for a bit more, we went inside and we all three stayed asleep till morning.

Family Fun Time

Last week was Matt's finals at school. So now for the time being we have our evenings back as a family. Our first night, we decided to go to Alfonzo's in Maryville, which has Family Fun Time attached to it.

My dad and brother Andrew took Ryan there a couple of weeks ago, and when they came home they had a lot of tokens left over. So that is why we decided to go. Well FFT (family fun time) is a rip off. A lot of the games cost more than one token, unlike Chuck E Cheese does. Then you get like one ticket, then for some half way descent prize is 2400 tickets. So to say the least we probably won't be going back there for a "FFT".

We did have alot of fun though. Ryan does get to run all over, which is like his favorite thing to do now, is run away. He was able to play some games and ride some rides with his awesome daddy. He even watched Matt do the batting cages, which he loved as well.

This last picture was not taken that night, but is just adorable. Every night when Matt gets home we go into Ryan's room and just look at him. Well that is until he wakes when we walk in and we have to run out laughing. We feel like sneaky little teenagers. But when we go in there he is always sleeping so different and cute, and we just smile and from time to time we, well just me cry. He is just so amazing. God has given us the ultimate gift, a family, that is just ours. Notice the 'orange bat' right next to him, yep he now sleeps with it. The other night he had to take his bath with it, then Matt crushed it trying to get all the water out of it...but Ry didn't care, its still his buddy. When he woke up last night when we walked in he rolled right over and grabbed it and fell right back to sleep.

everything must go

We are leaving this Friday morning to go camping, we will be gone till Tuesday. I am so excited. This time it will just be Matt, Ryan and I. We are in desperate need of a family vacation, just the three of us. I hope it is relaxing, it will tons of fun, but the relaxing part I am a little concerned about!

Well today I am off all day. My goal is to get all the laundry caught up, get packed what I can, get what I can in the car and clean the house. Well it is 11:45 and I have my first load of laundry going and very little packed. My little helper is pulling me in the wrong direction all day. We have been up since 8 and he just know layed down. I should be packing but instead I am blogging!

My mind is in a huge jumble...everything must go with us! It is so hard to pack for that long with a 15 month old. I am packing everything he owns. This is just not an easy task, I didn't think it would be, but I feel all stressed out and now I just can't do it...must I take everything!!!

OK, that was my stress for the day, hopefully...I have had enough for the week already. My car needed a new ABS sensor, that was $200 and last night Matt ran over his phone with the lawn mower, it is now just scrap metal. We thought we had insurance on it, but we don't. So my stress should be done for the week....RIGHT!!!

A bicycle built for two...kinda, a bike and a carraige!

Wonderful friends of ours let us borrow their cart for kids for the back of our bike. It is just wonderful. Now on the hot hot days we don't have to walk in the sun, we can bike to the park. Most of the stuff at the park is in shade. So it is a lot cooler of an activity than it used to be.

The first day Matt brought it home, he took Ryan for a 2 hour bike ride. They went all over, to the park twice, the gas station (go figure, with Matt) for a cool beverage, and Shop N' Save. Ryan just leans back and chills as he is carted all over town.