2025 Summer & Autumn Family Time

 Summer always begins with my granddaughter and daughter's birthdays which are a week apart.  We gifted their family with a year membership at a waterpark called RUSH the previous Christmas and this was a great place for a party for many of granddaughter Kayleen's friends and their parents.  

RUSH Waterpark birthday party for 8 year old Kayleen here with 

Babi Beti

RUSH Waterpark with family and friends to celebrate 

Kayleen's 8th birthday

Sarah & Chris celebrating Sarah's birthday in Daytona Beach, Florida

Soonn after, daughter Sarah and her husband celebrated her birthday in Daytona Beach while I stayed at their house.  I took care of Kayleen and their two dogs, cat, and four bottle-fed calves in the backyard.  Kayleen and I enjoyed learning that there is a difference between shopping and buying at the Battlefield Mall while still having fun.  That included time at a place called Urban Air which is like a Ninja Warrior course.  We got plenty of exercise inside when it was very hot outside! Kayleen is a lot of fun to shop with which reminded me of the many times spent with her mother at the mall. Grandpa Keith drove down to Springfield to join us for church on Sunday and made it back home to Hermitage ahead of the storm that came early Sunday evening on June 29th.

"Climb That Wall!" at Urban Air Ninja Course in the Battlefield Mall

                                            Kayleen with Willow

                           Church time with Kayleen & Babi Beti

                 Feeding 4 little calves twice a day in the backyard

Sadly, on this final day and night before Sarah and Chris were to come home from their vacation, a big storm came to south Springfield and did much damage.  It was scary as Kayleen and I were trapped inside the house without electricity and AC because of the large trees that came down.  We were grateful that friends of the family came several hours later to chainsaw the trees away from the doors and start the generator in the shed in the backyard.  They also helped me feed the calves.  Sarah and Chris drove a rental car home instead of taking their flight from Florida because all planes were grounded or delayed.  They made it back less than 24 hours after the storm hit.  It happened to be on their final night anyway; they drove all night!

Back yard storm damage the next morning after trees removed from doorways all around house; much damage!  37,000 customers intially affected from the June 29th storm with 2-3,000 still without electricity on July1st.  

The rest of the summer went well with a 4th of July celebration at the Mills Ranch in Buffalo hosted by Sarah & Chris which included their neighbors and extended families.  Other events included many hours of play with a new wooden castle I purchased for Kayleen for a few dollars at a silent auction from our local Senior Center, a trip to Branson for Keith and I to see the live play "David" that he won tickets for from our Spring Master Gardener Workshop, baking cookies with Kayleen when she visits and bicycling in the neighborhood.  

4th of July at Mills Ranch in Baffalo - Babi Beti & Kayleen

                 4th of July Celebration at Mills Ranch in Buffalo

                    4th of July at Mills Ranch in Buffalo - Sarah

                      Fireworks set up at Mills Ranch in Buffalo

                Keith & Beti in Branson to see the live play "David"

         Making and eating cookies when staying with Babi & Grandpa

     New wooden castle with lots of characters for hours of play time!

                                 Kayleen biking with Willow & Bruiser

                        Ozark Empire Fair cyclist in Springfield

After Kayleen began 2nd grade at her new Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School, Keith and I were thrilled to join her on Grandparent's Day!  

Grandparents Day at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Springfield

Beti at the Black Walnut Festival in Stockton, MO

                                   Beti's Homemade Apple Pie

Then there was a week visit from Keith's cousins, Chuck and Kevin from Iowa, when they spent most of the time fishing.  I always bake an apple pie for them and cook any fish they catch; otherwise, they are mostly on their own.  I went to the Walnut Festival in Stockton by myself as I have hardly ever missed this event since we moved to Missouri in 1978.  Together we all went to a new festival that was held locally in Elkton.  It was called Puff & Stuff with lots of outdoor vendors and live music.  It wasn't well attended from what we could see but it was different with lots of interesting people.

                             Puff & Stuff Festival in Elkton, MO