Spontaneity. It ain’t
my thing. I like a plan. I like to know any and all details. I’d pretty much rather stay at home, because
at home I have more control over the situations. You get my drift? Trey is much more spontaneous than I am. He doesn’t worry about the small details,
time schedules, the what if’s, packing, etc.
He leaves that up to me. I wish I
were one of those “laid back, go with the flow, I don’t care if the sun comes
up” kind of people. I’m just not. Well, with ALL that being said, Trey started
talking about a camping/canoeing/rafting/St. Louis trip. Naturally, I think this is perfect timing
(sarcasm added) since I have gone back to work after being at home over 6
years. Well, he WANTED to go, so HE
planned. It was like PULLING teeth to
get any details out of him. Finally we
sat down and I explained that my anxiety levels go UP when I don’t have a clue
about what is going on, and if he wanted me to calm down then I need to be in
the know.
I started nearly a week in advance with the packing, sorting,
washing, arranging at home, and then all the planning for my sub too. It was a j-o-b. But I managed to pull it off and last Thursday
we headed out at 3:00 PM on the 4 hour tour to Eminence, MO.
I don’t do rides, rollercoasters, upside down, fast, back and
forth, or anything like that kind of rides.
Well, the ride to Eminence sort of went that way and I felt car
sick. We were in some rural parts. In rural I mean: no sign of life for over 40
miles, no cell phone service, and gravel roads.
Finally, at dark, we arrived in Eminence at the "resort".
When Trey said we were camping, I quickly said I was not. I can get outside and rough it with the best of them, but sleeping in a tent, "I will NOT do!" I might be too prissy for that. I require AC/Heat, a bed, and electricity. So we got a cabin.
Trey packed some food and bought some food for a cookout.
Annie was unsure of this whole man field trip.
After we ate meat only...man meal, we headed to the fireplace to watch the stars.
We all slept pretty good and woke up to cool temps the next morning. I was slightly concerned since we were supposed to canoe a 7 mile stretch, but it warmed up.
Our humble abode the next morning...
The sign said there was a spa. I thought it was something extra. Apparently not!!!!!!! The spa was right there in my bathroom all along.
Whoop there she is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ford said the town reminded him of going back into the 1800's. I thought it was quaint.
A breakfast stop was a must...
Then off to the canoe rental place....
I borrowed these beauts from a friend for the river.
The guide was taking us to our drop off spot. Kind of like "Man vs. Wild". He was warning us about snakes and such!
I have never seen anyone have a panic attack in my life. However, I would say Annie Lamar came mighty close to one on this trip. She is like her momma. She does best when she knows what to expect. We didn't fill her in on any details of this canoe ride. We simply tossed her into a canoe and pushed it into the water. Apparently, the loud scraping of the rocks under the boats, the swaying of the boat, and the all out unusualness of the situation sent her OVER THE EDGE!!!!! She flipped the heck out! We calmed her down and took off. About 50 yards into it I made a bad turn and went onto the bank. She went into orbit. Orbit!!!!!!!!! From then on out she rode with her Daddy.
7 miles....
The water was so clean and ohhhhh so cold. BUT it was refreshing. It literally froze your body, but when you got out it felt good.
Catching tad poles....
We stopped for a picnic. Trey started getting stuff out of the cooler. He asked me where the bread was. I quickly explained this was "his" field trip and he needed to pack the bread. We had NO bread.
Jacks Fork River....we canoed down the Alley Springs.
Breadless sandwich...
After the 4+ hours on the river we stopped for some ice cream...
Then we drove the almost 3 hours down more fun roads to St. Louis...
Drury Inn and Plaza...
Off to see the Cardinals play...
The sweet newly wed couple that had only been married a month who sat behind us will probably never have kids now. Annie kept glaring at the man creepily over her glasses and saying, "ET phone home!" Being that it truly is a SMALL WORLD, they knew some people we knew and such. Sister and I left at the third inning and walked back to to Drury.
First we got robbed for $30 on a Mickey that is probably lost by now...
The Drury has a good complimentary breakfast (you pay in your nightly room fee) which Annie enjoyed in her jammies.
Saturday after Annie and I ate, the boys went down to eat while I showered. They didn't want to come back up to the room so they went to see the arch.
Then we headed to Grant's Farm...
Ford started feeling lousy and was asking to take a nap!!!!!!!! He recovered!
Annie is rotten and screams to get her way!
After Grant's Farm I needed a rest. Trey and Ford went back for some baseball. The littles and I went to nap. Ha!!!! I wanted to nap. Didn't happen.
We swam....
Then explored some more...
The Bit has begged for a year and a half now to ride a horse and buggy. I hope that 15 minutes and $50 was all he ever dreamed of!
I think it was!
No trip is complete without a Trey on the phone picture!!!!!
We checked some things off of the kids' bucket lists...
Visited another state- Missouri
Rode in a canoe
Got on a river
Cardinals game
Rode a horse and buggy
Rode the subway
