Spring Break 2014

I decided that I would take the entire week of spring break off work and spend some quality Madelyn and me time. I knew this could be a potential disaster if I did not have something planned because she nor I do well with idle time. We tend to annoy the crap out of  each other with too much time on our hands. So, I planned a mini vacay to Oklahoma. We had a small list of things we hoped to accomplish while we were there but also didn't want to be on a tight schedule. We set out on our adventure Monday morning traveling south out of Augusta. Our first stop was several hours later at the aquarium in Tulsa, OK. After spending a couple hours there we got back on the road and headed towards OKC. Unfortunately we arrived right at 5 o'clock rush hour and I ended up taking a wrong turn which may or may have not resulted in a few cuss words. We eventually found our hotel, or is it motel where you exit and enter your hotel room from the outside? It wasn't the classiest of places but fitting for us and Madelyn loved it! After we got settled we headed to Dave & Busters for dinner and game playing. Madelyn hit it big at one game raking in 1000 tickets. She had over 1900 overall and ended up "purchasing" $30 worth of prizes which likely would have cost me $10 at the dollar store. Oh well, on vacation there is no budget. Right? A couple hours later we were heading back to the hotel in the dark, which always makes me a bit nervous in a new place.
The next day we got up, enjoyed a continental breakfast and discussed the days activities. The options were zoo, Discovery Center or the outlet mall. It was the nicest day of the week so zoo would be a nice option, but she picked outlet mall. What??? This cannot be my child!!!! Well she new exactly what she was doing because she made out like a bandit with all the new spring clothes and shoes and even got another ear piercing. We enjoyed the day and I also bought some new clothes too so no complaints here. That afternoon we relaxed in the hotel/motel room and watched the newly purchased Frozen DVD. That ranks right up there with my all time favorite, Fox and the Hound, by the way. That evening we went to Bricktown, which is downtown OKC for dinner. We had a little snafu with not having cash for parking and my debit card not working in the atm machine which may have caused a few more cuss words but after that all was good. We decided to eat at Toby Keith's Bar & Grill, amazing food and cool environment. I had been doing well with counting calories up to that point but I could not resist the bull balls and loaded baked potato for dinner. I had my days worth of calories in one meal. Oops!  We then walked around Bricktown and took in the sites. It is a very cool place. Definitely would be fun for an adult night out too. We later headed back to our room and got settled in for the night.
Wednesday we got up, enjoyed another free breakfast and decided that would be the day we would head home but before we did we wanted to make a stop at the Discovery Center. At that point we were both tired and ready to be home and I was thinking that three hour drive wasn't going to be a real blast. The Discovery Center was very cool and hands on which is good for a kid that HAS to touch everything. It was spring break and there were a bazillion kids and as a general rule I'm not a fan of kids, but I persevered and we had a good time. A couple hours later we had had enough and were on the road to home. One pit stop at a swanky truck stop for gas and a souvenir magnet and the rest of the trip home was smooth sailing.
It was a really great trip for some quality mom and Madelyn time and fun memories were made. I hope to make a mini vacay with just her and I an annual tradition.
Upon returning home we took the evening to relax and the next day we spent spring cleaning. When Madelyn is in the mood to clean watch out because nothing is safe. She apparently got the good cleaning gene from her dad, because I sure don't have it.





Here are just a few pictures of our trip:

 

 

Driving Miss Daisy

This is Carol aka Miss Daisy. I've been her guardian for a little over a year. I oversee her health and assist her with making safe life decisions. I try to take her out to lunch at least once a month, which usually also means a trip to the dollar store for some pop and hot fries. She is a girl that knows what she wants. Around people she does not know she is very shy and timid, hang out with her for awhile and her true personality comes out. She has no trouble bossing me around and shouting out demands. She is just what I needed. She has been nicknamed Miss Daisy because she refuses to ride in the front passenger seat in my car. It usually becomes a battle of the wills and 9 times out of 10 she wins. I believe she sat up front one time and that was with bribery. It makes me feel bad that she insists on sitting in the back seat, but maybe she  got wind of my terrible driving. I have even offered her a helmet for the front seat but she won't budge.

Sneak Peak

A friend from work takes pictures mainly as a hobby but has created a small business while doing so. One Sunday afternoon we met her at the Keeper of the Plains in Wichita for a few pictures. I think they turned out great considering the subjects she had to work with and the best thing it only  took about 30 minutes.

 

 

 

I'm saving my favorites for my Christmas card so you only get small  preview today. 

Walter's Pumpkin Patch 2013

A couple Sundays back Madelyn and I planned a trip to the pumpkin patch with Conley and Summer, my parents, my niece Aubrey, and our good friends Angelia, Dylen and Hollee Slusser. We arrived right as it opened and the lines were already ridiculously long. Apparently everyone in Butler and surrounding counties had the same idea. Thankfully the place is so big and there is so much to do that the only waiting was to get in. It was a windy and warm afternoon for some pumpkin patch fun.

 Don't tell Aub but Madelyn is taller than her.

 The pumpkin patch kids

 Miss Aub on top of the world.

 Conley's first time at the pumpkin patch and he wasted no time acting like a kid.

 Summer is just chill.

 

Summer is just chill x 2.



Paddle boat crash,  thankfully we didn't have to swim in after them.

 Big kid climbing the rope.

 Just a swinging (my dad's fav song. :) )

 Angelia, Summer and I were on one of the corn maze teams. Summer was on a mission to win, Angelia and I were no help. 

 <3 p="">

 The crew with their pumpkins.

 Catching a ride from Hollee

 The oversized bouncy thing (unofficial name) was a blast, but I may have peed my pants a little.

 

 

Took a Little Trip

Last month Madelyn and I joined Conley and Summer on a trip to Grapevine, Tx. This was our first time to meet Conley's dad and step-mom, Bill and Carol. It was a fun-filled trip and I'm looking forward to future trips.

 Madelyn loved their pool and was completely content doing nothing else.

 Dinner out at Joe's Crab Shack

 

The girls learning card tricks from Carol. We also spent one evening playing Gestures. It was so funny and I pretty much suck at it.

 

 We spent one morning at Lake Grapevine which is walking distance from Bill and Carol's house.

 The girls enjoyed the water and Conley and the girls took a little swim to and from an island.

 We had planned to go to LEGOLAND but there was an over two hour wait so we went shopping instead.

 Photo bomber, Summer.

 They may just have a modeling career.

 More pool time.

Bill, Conley, Carol and Summer

Geckos were out every night to eat bugs, so each evening we went Gecko hunting. They are fast little boogers and lose their tails when trying to get away. We ended up catching seven. They made the trip home with us. Well two basically were cooked to death in the back window of the car, but five made it home. The remaining lived for less than 48 hours. Obviously we aren't good at gecko raising.



Ear Plugs Please

Madelyn has decided to give band a whirl. Her dad and I encouraged her to be in band but let her know that if she starts this year we want her to play through at least the eighth grade. She had to do some pondering before she was willing to commit. Once she committed then she had to decide what instrument she wanted to play. First it was the trombone, but then when trying out different instruments in class she discovered that she was pretty good at flute, but her final decision was the trumpet. Thankfully we found a great deal for a gently used trumpet on Craigslist and didn't have to spend $900 for a new one. If it makes it through the first year we definitely got our moneys worth.

Now where are those ear plugs??