Made it home

We made it home last night about 7:30, tired but glad to be home. We really enjoyed the Imax movie yesterday. It was called Wild California and had beautiful scenery of California. After the movie we stopped at the outlet mall and Tom got 2 pair of tennis shoes and I stopped at a wonderful kitchen store. We then went to the mall we ate lunch in Branson and then onto Springfield to the zoo.

Since we are members of the St. Louis zoo we got in for free and that is my price! After our walk around the zoo, I understood why it was free. They didn't have a lot of animals and we walked the entire zoo in about 2 hours. In one area - called wild Missouri, we stopped at this one display and Alayna said that is a raccoon - we have those in our yard. The next display was 2 deer grazing, and she proudly announced that we have those in our yard. The next display was the red fox and again she said we have those in our yard. She then turned to me and asked - quiet loudly - "Grandma, when are we going to see something that we don't have at home?" Several people just looked at me funny - I am not sure what they were thinking!!

We got done with the zoo before Tom was done with his side trip so we went to the playground and she played for about 45 minutes before Tom showed up. Then it was onto home. After we got home Kristi wanted to see the DVD of the Presley show and was so happy to see Alayna several times on the DVD. Mom has watched half of the show and we will see the rest tomorrow.

Last day in Branson

We are waiting for the last of my 5 movies to download. Only 5 minutes remaining. I figured if I stayed up most of the night when others were asleep I could get the movies to download and did 4 last night and am finishing the last one now before we leave.

We have tickets to the 9am IMAX called Wild California. Tom wanted to see this one, and it was half price with our other admission ticket so we are going. Then we are stopping at the outlet mall because Tom needs a new pair of tennis shoes and then we are headed for Springfield. Tom wants to go see some people that he knows. So, he is going to drop Alayna and I off at the zoo and he is going on his journey. I thought we would make this trip without a visit to a zoo, but who was I kidding???

More later.

Dixie Stampede

Wow...what a show. This was a great show and Alayna did wonderful. She loved the horses and all the action that was going on. If you have never been to Dixie Stampede you eat all your food with your fingers. You get an entire Cornish hen, slice of pork loin, corn on the cob, creamy vegetable soup, potato wedge, roll, and apple turnover. Alayna ate the entire Cornish hen, her corn on the cob, small bit of soup, roll, and the apple turnover. I couldn't believe that she kept eating. She didn't want to leave because she wanted the show to go on.

After we got back to the hotel tonight, we asked her if she wanted to go swimming and she said she would rather stay in the room and play. She is playing quietly with her toys on the desk right now while I attempt to download at least ONE movie and Tom is down in the hot tub. Nice - quiet night.

Tomorrow we have tickets to the 9 am IMAX movie and then we are not sure what we will do. I have one suitcase already packed and just have a few items to finish up and we will be out of here. This way, if we sleep late like we did this morning, we won't miss our movie - I hope.

Happy Birthday mom

I know she won't read this until I get home and show her...but I still am thinking of her today!!!

Day 1 and 2 in Branson

Well, I guess you could say this is really day 2, but we didn't get here until about 3 yesterday afternoon. We had a nice trip down here, went a lot faster than I remember - either that or Tom had me drugged! We stopped for lunch at Lamberts and had a 45 minute wait for our table but we had our food in less than 10 minutes. Alayna ate really well, even ate fried okra. She thought it was funny that they were throwing rolls at us. Wanted to know if we could do this at home...we will think about it.

We picked up our show tickets on the way to the hotel. We went to Presleys' last night. Alayna loved it. We were afraid that she wouldn't sit still, but we had tickets on the 2nd row and right in the action. We bought the DVD of the show last night because we are on there several times. This way, she could remember it for a long time. She talked about different stuff all the way back to the hotel.

Today we went to an Imax movie and then over to the Butterfly Palace. She had a hard time making good choices, but is taking a long nap now. We are going to Dixie Stampede tonight and have to be there at 4:15 for dinner at 5:30. The next show is at 7, so I am sure we will be back here earlier than last night. We are going to swim some and get out of here early tomorrow for some mini-golf and stuff before we leave.

My download is not going well, too many people on the network and I am having a hard time. I have 5 movies to download and have not even finished one yet. I hope to get this done before we check out tomorrow or I will be locking up the Internet at home for awhile.

Greetings from the road

We are about 30 miles from Springfield and we are driving as I type this. I borrowed an air card from work, and man I love it! I can surf the web while my chauffeur does all the driving. Of course this will only last as long as my battery stays charged. I guess I need to invest in one of the chargers for the van then I can surf the entire trip!!

Need some advice...

Poor bubby is suffering with allergies. We have tried everything we can think of that is otc. I made a doctors appointment for new allergy testing since it has been about 10 years but we need something to get us through the next 10 days until they take everything away from him. Does anyone have any suggestions on something that would help him...I would be glad for any ideas. He is so stuffy, runny nose, watery - itchy eyes, etc. Any ideas anyone???

We leave for Branson tomorrow

After I go to get my mammogram tomorrow morning, we are leaving for Branson. We plan on having a late lunch tomorrow at Lambert's Cafe. We love to go there since they tend to throw your rolls at you. They also have HUGE portions, so we are going to share our meals. Then onto Branson and swim a tad before going to see Presley's show. More later!

Going to Branson this week

Since Tom and I have to take 5 days off before the end of June we decided that we would go to Branson this week. We really wanted to go to Denver, but need to take Alayna since Kristi is in school and we thought that the drive to and from Denver would be too much for her in such a quick time - since we are not leaving until Wednesday and have to be back on Sunday. Anyhowmany...we are going to Branson and going to see Presley Country show, Dixie Stampede and a lot of swimming. All Alayna and Tom and talking about is swimming and all I am thinking about is downloading movies for my IPOD. I think we will spend a lot of time at the hotel. I will post updates while there...

Happy early birthday, mom

Yesterday while in Kansas City we celebrated mom's birthday early with a wonderful dinner at the Skyes Restaurant at the top of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Kansas City. It is 500 feet off the ground and revolves to show a 360 degree view of Kansas City. The view was as great as the food. We watched nightfall settle over Kansas City and the beautiful orange sun set on the horizon many miles away. They said it takes an hour and a half to do a complete revolution, but we completed it in an hour. Mom had lamb chops - something she has not had in years. She also had orzo, something she said she didn't like but after trying it she found that she does like it. I was impressed because most of the staff stopped and told her happy birthday and brought her a birthday surprise. She really enjoyed herself, and it was a once in a lifetime experience. We probably won't do this again for many years but had a wonderful time. Alayna loved that the scenery changed all the time. She sat on the ledge by the window and laughed when she would move around and have to get up and change to a new spot on the ledge. She was not concerned that she was so high in the air.

introducing Kolby Eiman

Isn't he beautiful? We got to mean him yesterday and he is so sweet. I just love the expressions that newborn babies make...they are priceless. Mom really loved being able to hold him and talk to him. Alayna did really well with him, but she couldn't understand why did Aunt Gail (Kolby's Granna) had him in a laundry basket! After we left she had to call her mom to tell her what Aunt Gail had done - and that she was worried that she might forget him and throw him in the washer! I told her that I am sure Kolby's mommy would not let that happen.

I may have created a monster...

Tonight, I taught Alayna how to climb the tree in our front yard. She had a blast and does not know fear (which I guess is a good thing at this age). She wanted to climb really high, but I could not reach her so I told her where to stop which was pretty high for her age. I hope Kristi has good health insurance cause grandma is teaching her bad things!!!

Kristi says I need to update

So, how do you update a blog when nothing exciting has been happening. We have had some good news, but mostly it is day to day usual stuff.

We were blessed with a new addition to our family...Kolby Jeren Eiman (hope I spelled the middle name right!) was born to Beth, Lucas and Brayden on Friday. This is a great addition to mom - as it is another great-grandchild. Look what she and dad started...so many branches to the family tree. Beth had a great pregnancy and a wonderful birth experience. We can't wait to meet him, but are waiting until Beth is a tad more rested. So, we I will post a picture of mom with him as soon as possible.

This last week-end we were suppose to go to Holt, MO (close to Kansas City) to help a church celebrate it's 125 anniversary. This is a church that we were members of when our kids were born and we really enjoyed. But...it snowed enough in KC that Tom didn't think it would be safe so we stayed home instead. Now, I was not upset about staying at home but really wanted to go hear Bob (Tom's brother) play the organ. That is something we really miss hearing since he is such a wonderful organist. That was one of the biggest reasons we were going - the chance to hear Bob tickle the ivories again. Now, mind you it did not snow one flake here - so all day Kristi and I teased Tom about the "blizzard" we had. At one part of the day he said he was going to go put gas in his car and get his hair cut. I told him to wait while I got the shovel so that I could help him get his car out. If looks could kill....

I finally got my recliner back after 9 long weeks. They had to rebuild most of the chair so it is like a new chair. I am so glad to have it back since I really missed it. I can now go back to great naps in my chair. I have slept many nights in this chair when I can't sleep in bed because of my knee.

Mom had been having so much pain lately. She can't have a shot in her back until after March 9th doctor visit so she is counting the days down. She wants to quilt but it hurts to sit for that long, so she has been knitting a sweater. She is back up to wearing her stoma appliance for 3 days again which is so much better. The surgery is paying off. We are trying to decide if we are going to visit family for her birthday or not. She is not sure if she is up to the trip. I have to take 5 days off without pay and so I thought this might be a great opportunity to go to Memphis to see one of mom's cousins and then swing over to Little Rock to see Freddie, Mary, and Jo and then back home. A lot depends on the weather, mom, money, etc. If we don't go to Memphis then off to a Zoo Alayna and I will go. My pass is still good and this means that zoo's are in my future.

Kristi and Brian switched cars for a little while because Kristi injured her shoulder and can't lift Alayna up into her car. She starts physical torture tomorrow for a short time to see if this helps. If not, then I am not sure what she will do. She starts classes at Columbia College on March 16th. She is taking Accounting 1. She has enjoyed her time off of classes, but it is now time to buckle down again.

Brian is getting ready to turn 23...can you believe that my baby is 23??? He is going to Ohio for his birthday for a gaming thingy with some friends. They get together and play on-line games in the same room. On-line in the same room. ON-LINE IN THE SAME ROOM!!!! Must be a gaming thing.

Tom is just putting up with us. Last night at dinner Brian came over and Tom begged him to move home just so Kristi and I would have someone else to pick on! He is not sure when he is taking his 5 unpaid days off yet. He doesn't think he can take off the same time I am off because when the plant employees are gone is a great time for him to work on the line computers. Of course, when the plant employees are gone is a perfect time for me to be gone.

Tonight I made yet another cake for a girls birthday at work tomorrow. I bought one of those form pans in the shape of a flower and decorated it. It went pretty quick and is pretty. The maint. department at work wants to buy the stuff for me if I make a cake a week for them. They don't care what it looks like - they just want the cake. They love my icing. I still still trying to decide if I am going to do this or not.

Not much going on with Alayna. She has been enjoying Dr. Seuss week at school. Yesterday was PJ day and she really enjoyed it. She is her usually chatty self. She was upset that we didn't go to the motel this last week-end. She wanted to swim so badly, so I guess we will have to go to one and stay soon. She is itching to get outside.

I know there is more...just don't know what it is.