A Visit with Grandma

Well, most of the visiting is done. I've put 2400 miles on he car - SO FAR!

I've said my goodbye's to Susan and all the fella's from Rolla. What a great 2 weeks it's been. Now time to spend a couple of days visiting my Mom before we start the trek home.

The first order of business was to take Grace to Build-a-Bear for her birthday present. She really wanted a Giraffe - but, of course, this was a limited edition, and was sold out in 10 days NATIONWIDE. She settled for a Jack Russell Terrier - and, given input from the staff, named it for one in a book called Wishbone. Here, HE is getting stuffed with Grandma looking on.
After stuffing, and hearting, and putting in an audible bark ($5 please) then its on to washing and fluffing HIM out. This was some fun - and VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS!Then we made a birth certificate, made the name WISHBONE OFFICIAL and gave him some patriotic bows. Tell me, why does a male dog need bows? Grace will have to tell me that.After this stop we went to Barnes & Noble and Ingrid got a couple of pre-birthday gifts too. Everyone was happy. We went to lunch - took grandma home to nap and went swimming in the very neat hotel pool. An indoor/outdoor one. Dinner was our favorite flavor - FREE at the hotel happy hour. We brought in Grandma too. Mommy shared one of her 3/day free drinks with G'ma - and all was fine. Ice cream on thhe way home and we called it a day. Well - not until Grace had some computer time ....... Ingrid snugled down - an watching some TV in Kansas City.

Wednesday - our last in KC. Searle (my SIL) called last night and had the day off to share with us. We went to the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. one of the finest in the country and browsed arround the galleries. I spent a lot of hours there as a kid - lots of good memories. We had lunch with Searle and then went to visit grandma again.

THANKS FOR A GREAT DAY SEARLE!!

Mom wanted to see the girls swim - so we brought her back to the hotel. Then back to her apartment for a nap . The girls finished their swim and after another FREE happy hour (LOVE DRURY INNS!), we met Roger, Searle & David for dinner. Then the final stop in KC - ice cream.... YUM! Tomorrow (Thursday) we'll be heading out super EARLY for aother Drury in Indianapolis - and then to Rochester for a visit with Aunt Sugar and to celebrate Grace's birthday. I think then we'll be more than ready for home.