The Griner Vacation Begins to Missouri.... New Post #4

So, we finally began our trip two days late. At first we weren't even sure if we were going to be able to go. It was quite a week leading up to our trip. Here is the pre-trip week in a nutshell:

Van engine light comes on, needs work, find out it needs tires too,

Our water bill gets lost in the mail and I find out by a notice telling me our water will be turned off in 5 days,

Credit card fraud on our only active credit card so have to close accounts, but oops need it to pay for our new tires which we have already had put on,
establish new credit card and go to pay for our tires and oops, they don't take credit cards aaahhh! Probably the only tire place left on earth that does not take credit cards ( I did not even ask if they did, I mean even McDonalds takes credit cards) That's small town for you. So anyway, not easy to come up with extra hundreds of dollars before vacation.

Get the van, and then....

John gets the flu! We get him on Tamiflu and now we are just waiting to see if anyone else gets sick and how he does on Friday. In the mean time the bill that was lost is found so now I have paid the water bill twice.

Needless to say, I was feeling a bit like it was not meant to be for us to go on our trip. Sunday morning came and John had been fever free for 24 hours so we decided to go for it, and I am glad we did.

Sunday after Easter baskets we finished loading up, remembering I had been packed since Friday our original leave date. Then we were off. We drove 10 hours that day to Grandma Kay's house in Springfield, MO. The little ones did great considering the long day and it went by pretty quickly. We had a wonderful visit with Grandma Kay. It is the first time we had been to her home and she made us very comfortable. She had a special box of trucks waiting for Landon by the fireplace and they entertained him all 3 days. We went shopping and to a really fun place called Incredible Pizza. Kind of like a bigger scale Chuckie Cheese. Landon and Addi have never been to Chuckie Cheese or any place like that so it was interesting to see their reaction. Addi loved it and Landon was a little overwhelmed and skittish. It was not his favorite, but he did love the race cars, of course. We had fun playing outside and just visiting too. Mike's grandparents came for a quick visit and it was so nice of them to stop by. Mike really wanted to see them as it had been a long time. We are so glad we went and look forward to our next visit with Grandma Kay. Here are some pictures of the first part of our trip......

The Griner Kids loaded and ready to go. I started out in the front seat but after having to stop 3 times in the first hour for Landon to go to the bathroom, decided it might be better for me to be in the middle seat to help entertain. Alot of work but a good decision.


Our chauffeur...


Andi beginning her first book of many on the trip.


Addi is really a better traveller than Landon. Mostly she just sits with her blanket and sucks her thumb.


Andi kept a journal during the trip. It will be fun to look back on I know.


John has moved to front and mom to the back. He did not mind at all, imagine that!


Landon not such a good traveller already in a bad mood and it we are not even half way there.


Landon's whining was a little contagious.


Landon happy once again with goldfish.


Addi sleeping. She loves her naps and is a good car sleeper. Unlike Landon.


Kentucky here we come!!


Landon and Addi in a silly mood and enjoying their carseat trays that Mike made.


Springfield 261 miles yeah!!!


I was getting a little bored myself so thought I would snap a picture of me. Pretty vain I know ....


Look! Andi's reading!!


John, of course, brought his guitar! He entertained us all and my Dad would be so proud!


When we got there Addi went silly, crazy I guess from being so happy to be down out of her carseat. Here she is being wacky in her brothers toy suitcase that was filled with cars!


Addi and me playing some tunes on the piano.


The special cars Grandma Kay had for Landon entertained him the entire time we were there.


Mike and his mama.


We went to the Bass Pro shop which is always a fun place to go and look. The kids are checking out the waterfall.


I tried to get a picture by the big bear, but Landon was afraid of it. At least he got this close. Addi walked right over to everyone else.


Grandma Kay showing Addi the fish.


Landon playing with the new cars and trucks.


Addi having some fun outside.


So cute of her getting up...


Addi looking up at the Bass shop. I think she was looking at a big elk.


The whole Springfield gang!


The Griner family in MO


Addi learned she could look through the slats in the fence to see the school bus going by.


Landon loving being outdoors for a while. He danced and laid all over the ground. He is a ball of energy!





Mike getting some outside time too. What a hottie! :)


I loved this picture of Mike with Addi because they look like they are walking the same way. So funny.


Mike playing ball with the kids.


Landon looking down in the yard, probably for a lost car or truck.


Mike was holding Addi and playing with her. He asked where her belly button was and then laughed and laughed when he tickled her. A great father / daughter moment. She loves to be held and get individual attention. But then who doesn't?






Addi loved this big ball!!


Mike getting some father / daughter time with his oldest daughter.


Andi loving the outdoors too.


Andi and Landon playing in the grass.


Andi watching the little ones.


Addi showing us her driving skills at one of the games at Incredible Pizza.


Kay at her piano. It is they type of piano that can play itself with music scrolls. So cool to watch the keys move themselves.


Watching the piano play all by itself.


Mike and Addi taking a breather.


Landon and Andi playing ball too.


John and Landon racing away at Incredible Pizza. For sure, a favorite for everyone!


John and Andi at the starting line. Landon is beside John, but you can barely see him.


Addi walking the bleachers with Dad.


Addi was just tall enough, with her bow, to go and we had a blast cruising the track. She loved it!!


Landon wanted to ride with Mama too.


Addi rode this train around this little track like five times. She loved it and kept saying, "Choo, choo!"


Me teaching Landon how to bowl. My dad would be soooo proud, look at that ball right down the center!


Addi riding the merry go round, another one of her favorites.


Landon and I watching his ball roll slowly down the lane to the pins... We are both doing the same weird thing with our mouths too while we watch it, funny!


Andi racing around the track! She won a blue ribbon too!


Springfield, Missouri!!!


Addi showing us her superwoman strength!


Landon and Addi checking out the engine..once again my dad would be so proud!


Trying to get a good picture is nearly impossible, but here are two attempts. We were killing time waiting for the big kids to finish their games.



Grandma Kay and her grandkids.


Mike and his grandparents.


The whole group visiting and catching up.


The Griner kids posing for a group picture after fun at Incredible Pizza.


Landon and Addi checking out the tires right before we go. Landon was satisfied he did not need to change them.