Bye-Bye, Fourth of July

We had a great family weekend in Hannibal, MO. I got to come home a day early from Nebraska, which rocked. Unfortunately I spent most of my company "day off" doing catch-up computer work; specifically expense reports. I HATE expense reports. But, hey, that's part of the price I pay for "going corporate." I'm supposed to do them every week. I was 5 weeks behind on the computer part, and 10 weeks behind on the receipt packets I am supposed to send it. Yikes!! Good thing I'm kickin' ass and takin' names in Nebraska. I've covered more cases there in the last 2 weeks than I have in the last 2 months in my home territory. A move seems likely in our future...time will tell.

So Friday am we took off for Hannibal bright and early. Well, as early as you can get with a wife who cherishes sleep above even food, and two kids who don't comprehend the meaning of "hurry up, already!" We made it out of town with everyone in a good mood (even JeepMan, which is a banner day indeed - he doesn't chill out until we GET to our destination!), and no tears from either child. I DID have to stop for a really big coffee on the way, but all told it went pretty smoothly. We got to Hannibal around 1pm for lunch and ate outside picnic-style...ok it was Sonic, but still...! We had a mini-blowout from JM as he believes I have lost yet ANOTHER power cord, this one for the GPS. While I can see where he's coming from - I HAVE lost a few items since I've been traveling - I swear I never laid eyes on this particular cord. I have never, and would never need it!! When it all blew over it was like it never happened. This is typical of us. We don't ever meet in the middle; we both stick to our guns and just get over it. The cord will turn up, right where he stashed it to keep me from losing it in the first place, I'm sure!

We checked-in at our hotel, then drove down to the former quarry that is the off-road park. 4x4s only, no ATVs. It's the only way to go!! Lulu started whining as soon as we drove in. She's really a little chicken...I can't blame her though, I remember feeling the same. We showed her around to prepare her for the all-day offroad excursion we had planned for the next day. She seemed uneasy but placated as we left the park, and all worries were swiftly forgotten as we pulled up to the mini-golf/bumper-boat/winery place. Ah, something for everyone. We golfed, checked out the candy store, sampled some wine, and left a few hours later in good moods all around. Things got even better when we checked out a BBQ shack that I had spotted hidden in a hollow near our hotel - the food was fantastic (and we are BBQ snobs as we smoke our own meat!), the ambience perfect, and the prices reasonable. We even had leftovers for our sack lunch the next day.

We met up with the Jeep Club later (Midwest JeepThing) and all went out to watch the fireworks. They were beautiful, shot off a cliff called "Lovers' Leap" right over the Mississippi river, and we got to watch from lawnchairs parked on sun-warmed blacktop, not a bug in sight. Idyllic, I say.

The next day we got up bright and early again (what is it with the early-rising theme and vacations?), and headed out to Hannibal Rocks. Lulu did surprisingly well, though she required much verbal reassurance (nursing term) and literal hand-holding. She finally became content to hold Plato's hand and the "Oh, Crap!" handle, but sometimes would stick her little foot up toward me and squeal, "I need you to hold my leg, too, Mommy!" She was awfully cute.

We went back to the hotel and I took the kids swimming while JM went back to Hannibal Rocks to hang out with the club and have a hog-roast and movie. We ordered pizza and watched a Harry Potter movie. Once the tummies were carb-loaded, it was all over. Both kids konked out hard-core. Being the super-mom I am, I had the foresight to put them in their pjs and pullups before we ate...ha ha ha!

Lulu did roll out of bed last night, and now has an impressive shiner blooming on her left eyelid. We told her she looks tough. She seems to like that. She told me her "boyfriend," Cooper, will think she looks cool, and that he'll be impressed that she went "off-woading."

Made it back fine today, another early morning, sheesh! The kids and JM went to a cow birthday party (don't ask!) and I scurried to the airport, only to find my flight has been delayed and I will now not get into Nebraska until 11pm, IF my connecting flight is on time. Sigh. Bye-bye, holiday weekend. Hello airport delays and lost luggage. Uck.

Lulu did come up with a good one on the way out of Hannibal. I had stopped at Sonic for coffee, and got the kids some breakfast, including tater-tots. Lulu says, "Mommy?"

I glance in the rearview mirror to see a chubby little hand holding up a tater-tot. "What is it, honey?"

"How do dey make tater-totters?"