Missouri 2010

We made our annual trip to Missouri this Labor Day Weekend instead of Memorial Day weekend because we were there to celebrate Gpa and Gma Mantle's 60th wedding anniversary. It was a wonderfully relaxing five days full of family, farms, and fun. So nice in fact that my mind was a little warped and for a moment I thought, "Maybe we should move here?"...

Ella was perfect on the plane - she requested the window seat but wanted the shade down for most of the time...she colored and watched movies...so easy. It was a horribly turbulent flight - so between Travis having his eyes closed and me with my head between my legs, it is a wonder our kids didn't freak out - luckily, they are not like their parents in that respect and can handle a bumpy plane ride with no problems...lucky!

Mary and Greg had the pleasure of Jonah for most of the flight there...he didn't sleep at all but was happy and hyper just like I expected.

Magnets - Bailey and Ella...now to think that Ella is 4.5 months older than Bailey and Ella isn't even super short.

Travis and Ella found this catepillar in the grass...wow, I had never seen such a thing.

Look at that brave girl holding the catepillar...you couldn't pay me to do that.

Cousins - Garrett (8) , Bailey (3), and Ella (3)

Travis spent a lot of his day catching fish in the pond

It took a while but Garrett and Bailey finally got Ella to roll down the hill...

That is a fake cow we are standing next too...can you imagine???

Saturday night - The "weinie" roast

I just love how these two girls just fit with eachother...and I love how casually Ella is sitting.

Just a gorgeous night...

Enjoying the cool weather....soon after this we all had to go inside because it was just a little too nippy outside....

Hmm, Hmm....good


On Sunday, we all went over to Uncle Mark, Aunt Cindy and Erica's house for the 60th wedding anniversary celebration for Travis' grandparents. There were about 70 people there (all related) and it was a blast. It was full of good conversation, games, yummy food, hayrides, and farm fun. It is so nice to have a family that can all be in the same room with one another - no drama...just lots of love :) Who knew??? (no offense to my NY family, I'm just sayin'...it's nice)

One of the donkeys

The first of many hayrides...

Ella really was in all her glory (I mean cousins and farm animals - it doesn't get any better for her) ...she had such a great time at this party

that she slept until 11am the next day.

The guests of honor - Faye and Elmer Mantle (Travis' grandparents) -

Happy 60th Anniversary to an amazing couple

The "big" boys had a croquet tournament

Timmy attempted to teach Ella how to fly a kite while at the same time teaching her all about "tension"

Uncle Mark's turkey...just a pet, not Thanksgiving dinner :)

The kids had Wii tournaments...

Our beauty

Ella and Xander were very intrigued by the goats and even got to go in the pen to pet them.

All of the beautiful hand-picked flowers straight from Mark and Cindy's property.

Monday night we went to Aunt Marla and Uncle Greg's house. Ella was in heaven when she saw that Joe had a shelf full of dinosaurs and other animal figurines...glad you haven't grown out of that stage yet Joe (he is 18)...Ella, Joe, Andy and Timmy played in his room all night. So glad to have cousins that want to play...no matter how old they are.

Aunt Marla and Jonah

We headed back home on Tuesday...back to real life...back to the heat...what's up with this heat? 108 in the middle of September, I mean come on now. Getting ready for a visit from Adam and Katelyn to celebrate mom's bday early (she will be in NY for hers) and then the preparations begin for Ella's 4th birthday..it's a princess party this year. Can't wait!