August Vacation: Day Three

 As a prize for completing the Summer Reading Program, the girls got free passes to the Animal Safari.  We were all super excited to head there for the day and it definitely did not disappoint.  The girls were so enthralled with the animals.  They absolutely loved this little monkey that was in the gift shop (before we ever started- while we were buying food to feed the animals) and Amelia exclaimed she was having the greatest time. 

They had some animals outside to look at and the girls loved dropping food down these tubes into the monkey and lemur cages. 

 

Something that cracked me up was this bird.  I was talking to him and saying hello and telling him he was pretty and then we turned to walk away and he said, "HELLO, HI."  Amelia spun her head around at the speed of light and said, "Who said that?"  I told her the bird did and then he said it again!  She had never heard an animal talk and it was awesome to watch her realize that the bird spoke.  

We decided to start our safari and two girls were wondering what we would see...

I laughed and screamed the whole time as we saw a whole lot of this.

The animals were in our faces and hilarious.  Ross came very close to losing his entire crop of hair to a zebra. Amelia was almost eaten by a buffalo.  And our window was almost shattered by a long-horned creature.  FUN, haha.  It honestly was a great time, albeit slightly scary.

 The girls each picked an animal from the gift shop.  Amelia picked a lemur she named Amanda and Elise picked a donkey she named Mae Mae. 

Picnic before heading home

The girls were SO good and this really was one of my most favorite days in a long while.  Love my sweet family.

August Vacation: Day Two

Sunday was Promotion Sunday and I honestly wasn't that worried about Elise Mae.  She cried almost every single week and we had to be paged several weeks, so I was hoping she wouldn't cry more than usual.  She actually loved Mrs. Debbie and did great!! The crazy thing is that Amelia started out with Mrs. Debbie and is now on her third teacher at our wonderful church.  WAH. And although Amelia was nervous about meeting her new teacher and very sad about leaving her old one, she made it through with just a few tears and ended up having a great class.  She looks SO big here. 

 

 

 

We just hung out and had Sonic and played some golf and played dollhouse on Sunday afternoon because we had a full day planned for Monday!

 

  

 

 

August Vacation: Day One

Because of the way they separate the vacation at the residency, Ross got another vacation hot on the heels of his week off in June.  We had such a fun time staying at home and doing fun things each day, we decided to do it again.  I loved not having to pack a thing and letting the girls sleep in their own beds each night.  Or, Amelia in hers and Elise in ours.  Whatever. 

The week before vacation Ross was on nights, so it was extra fabulous to go from no help to him being home every day.  The last night he was working we went to Ozarks Birthday Party on the square.  Everything was free and they had a birthday cake for the city and it was just cute and small-townish and the girls had a good time. 

Amelia the photog captured us petting the donkey

Elise's highlight: firetruck tour

Ended the night with some water table fun!

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We started Ross's day of vacation with a trip to Fayetteville to see Jessalyn's new house.  It was built in the 50's and she has it decorated so cute.  I just loved it.  It has these neat nooks and crannies and the girls loved exploring it.  She took us to an AMAZING pool.  I wish I had gotten some pictures of all the slides and things---the girls had a blast.

Then we met Adam and Joanna for supper and went over to their house for a bit and changed the girls into their jammies for the journey home.  Amelia loved Sophie. It was so nice to get to see them even just for a little bit.  

On the way home we went through a mega disastrous storm, but other than that, we had a WONDERFUL and FULL day of FUN.

Kansas City: Part Two- Fabulous

Let me start off this post by saying that three other couples switched hotels after staying one night in the scary one.  So, I'm a trendsetter if you will.  We didn't have to suffer one night due to my crying fit.  Yahooo. After we got settled, Ross had a meeting and I went to workout and swim.  Perfect.  The workout room had refrigerated towels for you after you got done sweating it out.  How cool is that?

The first night we went bowling with the Cox recruiters and it was a ton of fun.  I didn't break 100 and Ross and I got beat, and I still had a blast.  It was cozy and ritzy and there were couches and I had the best mini slider burgers ever.  Such a fun place and all free that night :)

I talked Ross into ordering room service when we got back and we had a trio of desserts that were awesome.  He couldn't be talked into eating the actual desserts in bed due to his OCD nature, but they tasted just as delish in the chairs.

The next morning Ross had an all day event and so I read, swam, lounged, ran, and walked to meet Emily for breakfast.  This was our view.  KC is beautiful and I guess I never really knew it!

 

We shopped a bit (and a bit more) and had lunch before heading back to our rooms for a nap.  I ended up reading though.  I read a fabulous novel, Alias Grace, and just couldn't put it down.   Ross came back and we got watched some Olympics and then got ready for a dinner downtown.  The food was delicious (never had a bad meal the whole trip) and the company was wonderful. 

The next morning was my birthday and I woke up feeling ready to rock n roll.  31 is still way young, right?

Emily and I went to the Hallmark museum and I loved seeing the vintage cards and ornaments. 

I treated myself to a pedicure with some birthday money from Mom and Dad and it was my first one in well over a year.  I took another book with me to sneak in some more reading time.  Then Ross and I went to a different part of the city to look around and eat at The Cheesecake Factory.  This was our first time to eat here and the food did not disappoint.  My favorite meal of the trip for sure.  We had avocado egg rolls with cashew dipping sauce and orange chicken.  OH MY WORD.

Then we headed to the outdoor theater to see Peter Pan.  We both love musicals (whew) and this was our first time to see a big production in an outdoor theater.  I was curious as to how it would go.  There was a lovely breeze and it was so awesome being outside for the show.  I absolutely loved it. LOVED. 

The next morning we were going to get up and go to the zoo, but we decided we would rather sleep in and just get breakfast at Panera and head home.  Both of us were ready to see the girls.  It was a great trip away with Ross.  We discussed tons of stuff, big and small.  One thing that we kept coming back to was how rich the girls make our life feel.  The blessings that continue to pour out on us are overwhelming.  It was also nice for me to be reminded how much I love Ross.  Aside from the laundry and his long hours and the nitpicking and the trash not getting taken out.  Aside from normal life.  I love him with all my heart and will fulfill my vow to love him and honor our marriage forever.  I know that in the every day, but it was sure nice to really feel that.  To stroll hand in hand.  To eat a long dinner.  It is nice because now I'm back to the eye rolling and comments under my breath.  Wink.

Kansas City: Part One- Ugly Cry

Last weekend I tagged along on Ross's recruiting trip to Kansas City for several reasons.  The fact that the hotel was free and several meals were paid for was the most prevalent.  We don't/didn't have money for a vacation this year or an anniversary trip and decided this would be most perfect.  I was thrilled to have some time to myself while he was in meetings and some time with him when he wasn't.  I couldn't wait to lay out by the pool and read.  Two of my favorite things that I haven't done since before kids.  However, in typical Heather fashion, drama ensued as we arrived.

Wait...I will back up and say that I was super sad to leave these two angelpies.  I mean, look at them.

They were in their animal shirts geared up to go with Gammy.  Not one tear from them.  Not even Elise, who was screaming, "Gammy ride, Gammy ride."  All she cared about was getting in Mom's car.  That made it so much easier.  But, I was still a mess. 


Okay, back to the trip.  Here is my attitude on the way to KC.  Happy.  Anticipating a wonderful time.  Thankful for two and half hours of uninterrupted time to visit with Ross in the car.

THEN---A few minutes from the hotel, Ross tells me that he "recently" found out there is no pool.  I'M SORRY, DID YOU SAY NO POOL???  I PACKED FOUR BATHING SUITS AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LOUNGING BY THE POOL FOR DAYS. YOU ARE JUST NOW TELLING ME THIS???  Let me be frank for a moment.  This was one of those, I cannot stand you for not telling me this situations.  As in, I wanted to go home immediately.  As in, if you weren't driving, I would punch you.  (I do not condone spousal violence).  I tried to suck it up because I knew everyone we were meeting there would be in the lobby and I didn't want to be too melodramatic.  I try to keep the pyscho doctor's wife image to a minimum.

THEN, we pull up to the hotel (graciously paid for by Cox) and it is a piece of work.  A tiny historic little number in the middle of downtown and I instantly hate it.  Loathe it.  Ross said, lets see how the rooms look.  (The lobby was smaller than our master bedroom).  We go up to our room and Ross almost hits his head on the STUPID low ceiling.  As the door opens, I see a box of a room with a miniature double bed.  I am certain Ross's feet will hang off.  There is a small shower right next to a toilet.  The size of a freaking PORT A POTTY.  I fling open the curtains to look outside and make the room seem bigger and I am left staring at a concrete wall.


At this point, it is time for ugly cry.  You know the one.  The cry that doesn't even continue for the reason it started.  My sob session turned into me screaming that I missed my girls and I never even wanted to come on the trip and I hated the room.  Yep, laying on the bed in fetal position bawling my eyes out.  I scream about hating all things historic (truth) and loving huge, modern hotel rooms (truth) and screaming that I was tricked into this dreadful place. Tears of no pool and gross carpets and historic registry.  Gag.


I know this sounds ridiculous and that I sound like a horrible brat.  But, I just thought I would share anyway.  This is just life.  Ross very calmly suggests we get another room.  I pretend that I will feel bad that we are leaving the hotel where his coworkers are staying and then pretend that I don't want to look ungrateful. He reassures me that this is MY vacation and it is perfectly understandable that I want to stay somewhere where I am comfortable.  He calmly calls downstairs to see if it would be possible to cancel all three nights without a cancellation fee (yes).  He calmly calls to check out a normal hotel to see if they have a room available (yes).  And while my tears were still drying, my husband calmly escorted me to the most amazing room at the Sheraton I had ever seen.  I no longer want to punch him.  Only hug and kiss him and happy cry.


 Huge KING bed.  Massive room with a view of the city.  Pool to lounge at.  Chandeliers.  Top-notch workout room.  Walking distance to the mall and Panera.  And the Hallmark Museum. The crazy thing is that it was just a little more each night than Roach Inn.  It just wasn't "historic." 

 Part two is better.  There is no crying the remainder of the trip. And, I am less of a brat.  Promise.