THE OZARKS............

Finally I am back for another post.  Our annual vacation to the Ozarks was the best yet.  We love this vacation!  Tom and Jan are kind enough to let us stay at their house while we are there.  We left Wednesday night after work.  Thursday morning we headed to Big Surf Water Park.  We go there every year and I really wasn't looking forward to it because Coop doesn't really enjoy it and we can't all go do stuff at the same time because someone always has to stay with Coop and our stuff but Raelynn insisted on going and Coop agreed but I think just to be agreeing with Raelynn.  Anyway, we got there right around noon and boy what a difference a year makes.  We had so much fun and before we knew it they were announcing that the Park was closing in 30 minutes!  Coop loved it this year and we even were sending him down some rapids on a tube by himself.  It was so much fun.  Terry, Karli and I went on some of the slides we had hesitated going on in the years past and were glad we did.  It was all a blast!!!

We got back to the house Thursday night and it seemed pretty warm but we had been out in the sun all day.  We ate, bathed and put the kids to bed.  By the time I headed to bed I was just so hot.  Around midnight or so Terry wakes me up to tell me the AC was froze over and he had to shut it off.....it was 91 degrees in the house.  It was a long night but early the next morning Tom had someone there to fix it.  We just had to laugh because as long as we can remember, we always break something of Tom and Jan's when we are there.  Thursday we did some shopping and stopped by a new attraction called Miner Mike's.  It turns out it is this huge amusement center with a roller coaster, bumper cars, maze, ferris wheel and thousands of arcade games.  We spent the rest of the day in the air conditioned fun center.  Once again, the kids had a blast!!!  Karli and I enjoyed the shopping a little more than the fun center but it was still great to watch the kids having such a wonderful time.

Friday night Tom and Jan came down to meet us and then Saturday we spent the day on the lake.  Raelynn said this was the best day of the vacation.  I love this day and had planned to spend most of it jet skiing that is until we broke that too.  Karli and I flipped it hard and we loaded it will water.  It did eventually dry out and was fine but of course we never heard the end of it :) 

While we were playing crazy on the jet ski, Tom had the kids fishing. 

After the jet ski mishap we went tubing.....well we broke that too!  Seriously, if we are ever invited back it will be a miracle. 

I have to say even though it sounded like everything went wrong, the day could not have been more perfect!  We laughed a lot and Coop got to drive the boat which is all he has talked about for months. 

Saturday night after dinner out we returned to a night venture on the boat and watched some fireworks.  The day ended too soon as did the entire vacation.  It was a wonderful 4 days spent with the family......THANK YOU TOM AND JAN! 

All too soon it was Monday and we were back to the real world.  I always like to get back to the routine but this time it was missing something.  Cooper went to Manhattan on Monday morning to spend 4 days with Aunt Steph and Uncle Cody.  It has been a very long 4 days!!!!!  Raelynn and I have done some fun things that we usually aren't able to do but it sure has been quiet.  Raelynn acts even more mature when Coop is gone so she and I have really had some fun and some laughs but it is just not the same.  As she said tonight, "I miss his orneriness, he is our entertainment!"  She could not have said it better.  Tonight we talked to him using Face Time so we could see him.  After we hung up Raelynn started to cry a little and said she missed him, I felt the same.  Coop however seems to be doing just fine.  Steph said he has been great and not shed a single tear which I am thankful for.  He returns tomorrow as my Mom heads down and stops in Manhattan to pick him up.  Then we have the 4th Annual Golf Tourney on Friday and then both the kids head back to Western Ks with my Mom and Karli on Sunday.  Next week is going to be torture on me!!!