Our Branson Getaway!

Friday morning Katie Barrett came over and picked up Mason for the weekend so we could go to Branson. Thanks Barrett Family for putting up with Mason.

Our first stop was Osceola Cheese and we picked up lunch.  We had cheese, beef sticks and honey mustard pretzels.

We got to our condo and relaxed for a few minutes.

YAY! A nice jetted tub in the bedroom!

We stayed at the Westgate Resort and it was nice and comfortable.

First thing: open a cold beer!!

In the evening the boys drove go-carts.

The WINNER!!

What a go-cart track!

Yummy Ozark Mountain pop

A fun little stop for the adults!

The kids enjoyed Ripley's Believe it or Not museum.

Standing next to the replica of the tallest man.

Then we made a stop at the Table Rock Hatchery and fed the fish.

Table Rock Dam

Sunday morning started at our all time favorite breakfast place.  Billy Gail's Cafe is the best local breakfast stop in Branson. Delicious pancakes that are HUGE.

Totally stuffed and ready for a fun filled day at Silver Dollar City.

Absolutely beautiful day at Silver Dollar City.

When the gates opened Dylan and Michael ran/walked to the new roller coaster.

The Outlaw Run

There they go!!!!  They both loved it!

We stayed from 9-5 and we were tired but had lots of fun!!

We made it home in one piece after driving through a rainstorm.  Michael grilled chicken for dinner and now I am enjoying a redneck margarita.  Oh, I also made chocolate cupcakes with a Milky Way frosting to take to work tomorrow.  It has been nice to be off for a week but back to reality tomorrow.  Thank goodness our Bahamas trip is right around the corner.

No More Elementary School

It's official!! We do not have any children in elementary school anymore!! All of the cute little parades and fun parties are over.  

Dylan even talked me into buying Krispy Kreme donuts for his class.

Here he is during the all-school "clap-out".

The official walk out of school!

Yes, I cried!

6th Grade Celebration

Today was a little difficult for me because my baby will no longer be in elementary school.  I am not ready to send him off to middle school.  

Michael is in Pennsylvania so he was not able to attend the celebration.

6th grade breakfast

Kindergarten and 6th grade picture

Receiving his certificate of completion of Rhein Benninghoven Elementary School

Dylan was an announcer for the 6th grade talent show.

Dylan Marshall Arnott was the leader of 93 sixth grade students in the Harlem Shake.

Then Cass and I brought lunch for Dylan to enjoy on his last day of eating in the loud lunchroom.

After school Dylan and some friends had a pizza party at the house to celebrate.

Tomorrow Dylan has a "clap-out".  This means that all grade levels stand in the hallway with the 6th grade parents and clap and wave good-bye to the 6th graders as they walk out the front door and head to the park.  Yes, I will be crying at 8:15am tomorrow.

Spring Break Day 2

Today consisted of doing lots of laundry and making double decker fudge brownies.

Nice little treat for studying hard for finals.

Dylan and I went to Oak Park Mall this afternoon and did some shopping for vacation (even though we are not going for a few weeks).  Then we went to Kansas Sampler and I found my camelbak Pittsburg State water bottle that I have been looking for since Christmas. 

Happy Spring Break to me!

Spring Break....Finally!

Since I had to go to a training during spring break back in March my work gave me 5 extra days to take off before summer.  I decided to take this week off and I didn't think it would ever get here.

I got home from the gym around 7am and took the kids to school and then got my Starbucks. I enjoyed a few hours with my iPad, coffee and Mason cuddled up in my chair.

He might be a little spoiled!

My friend Katie spent a nice relaxing day with me and we talked for hours and hours!! Thanks Katie for the delicious Old Shawnee Pizza for lunch.  Dylan wants to wear a tie for his 6th grade graduation Wednesday and I had no idea how to tie one so Katie learned how by watching YouTube.

Maybe some more practice!!

  It was pretty humorous but you really can learn how to do almost anything on YouTube.

I am so very sad for the lives lost in the devastating tornado in Moore, Oklahoma and so thankful my sister and her family are safe. It really makes you realize that anything can happen at anytime.  I grabbed my kids and hugged them and took them out for frozen custard.

Cherish every moment!!

The Start to a Busy Weekend

This is something you rarely see at our house and I guess this is what happens when you play two basketball games back to back with only 6 players.

After the two games I made spicy jalapeno cream cheese meatball sandwiches, french fries, dark chocolate brownies and now I am enjoying a whiskey strawberry daiquiri (Dylan is drinking a strawberry smoothie)  

Poor Cass is working till 9pm. Tomorrow up to 4 basketball games! YAY!  Thank goodness I finally get my Spring Break next week.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day started off with a delicious Starbucks coffee and I got to stay in my pajamas till 9:30am. Then my family took me to the Plaza and we had brunch at Tomfooleries.  It was an absolutely beautiful morning to walk around the Plaza.

JC Nichols Memorial Fountain

Then we had a nice walk around Loose Park.

Me and my two favorite kids!!

After a wonderful morning we headed to a basketball game.  Dylan played great and they beat an undefeated team.  Now it is cocktail time! 

Yummy Pink Bikini Cocktail!

Happy Mother's Day to the best Mom and Sister that anyone can ever have!!  I love you both!

Productive Saturday

We have been busy cleaning(inside) and painting(outside) today but we made time to go try some food off the food trucks in downtown Shawnee.

Pulled pork sandwiches from Smokin' Fresh Street Side BBQ

Sausage, beans and rice from Cajun cabin

Dylan was also productive today.  He decided he wanted a seat on his electric scooter.  Look what he can make with a little duct tape and wood.

I really liked that I did not have to shell out any money for this project!