Family Trip to Missouri

The kids and I spent a week in Missouri in order to attend a cooking camp that Derrick's Grandma was hosting, but also to spend time with family.

Derrick was such a trooper for the trip... He drove us down one Saturday, then drove back Sunday. He attended school during the week, then drove back down to Missouri Friday in order to drive us home Sunday. What a man!

This post ended up being really long because I wanted to include everything we did that was fun, and everything my kids did that was funny. Bear with me...

Animals
Possibly Dayton and Daphne's favorite part of the trip was all the animals! We stayed at Aunt Lauralie's house, which is also a zoo. They have 7 chickens, a horse, 5 dogs, a pig, a turtle, 2 rabbits, many cows, and several cats with litters of kittens (including newborns). My kids loved petting the cats and dogs, but typically preferred to keep their distance from the other animals.

Fresh Eggs
Dayton liked going to get the fresh eggs that the chickens left behind.

Dayton was timid his first time because
a chicken was sitting on the shelf above him
(you can see it's head poking out)

The kids carried eggs around for a while each time.

Cheridyn, Dayton, Peyton, and Derrick- showing off more eggs! Daphne licked them; she also broke 2 eggs!

Wiener Roast
A tradition in Derrick's family is roasting hot dogs over a campfire. We were lucky enough to attend 2 of these special events during the week! Dayton LOVED the roasting part.

Grandma and Dayton roasting a wiener
Too far from the fire to even get the hot dog luke-warm.

Grandma, Dayton, and Beth

Grandma 'showing' Dayton how to eat a hot dog

Michelle and kids wading in a stream

Dayton enjoying a s'more very much!

S'more buddies Dayton and Grandma
Dayton dropped the marshmallow stick in the grass

Baby Shower Games
We went to a baby shower for 2 of Derrick's cousins, and the games were tons of fun.

The first game presented 2 prepared training potties:

Cousins Jake and Spencer had to eat the 'contents' without their hands!

Then the same two fun-loving cousins had to change babies' diapers.

Daphne just gazed at Spencer in awe/confusion.

I'm not going to lie... he put her diaper on backwards.

Gram's Cooking Camp
I was able to go to a cooking class on Danish Pastries, which involves some special dough-rolling techniques, as well as shaping the pastries to bake. They were so delicious!! She also showed us some creative ways to use leftovers, and how to make gravy from grease or stock. Grandma Donna's grand-daughter made us all AMAZING scrapbooks to remember our camp experiences.

All the girl cousins at camp

Fun with Family

Daphne fell in love with this doll rocking chair.
It was too small for her bum, but she sat in it constantly!

Daphne showing off her nose-picking skills to Aunt Elaine

Auntie Beth and Dayton

Grandma Donna and Grandpa Blaine with Dayton

At a wading pool with Auntie Beth and Aunt Dee's familyEnjoying FREE root-bear floats at A&W

Daphne eating pizza with Beth

Silly faces: Dayton and Michelle

Grandma, Bryce, Beth, and Cheridyn
Beth convinced her mom to play Mario Kart Wii

Cousins Hannah, Dayton, and Shane

Daphne modeling her new favorite purse

Cousin Cheridyn: an amazing babysitter & playmate for my kids
She took Dayton outside to play with the animals daily

Cousins: Bryce, Dayton, Cheridyn, Peyton, and Nollie
These kids all played SO NICE with my toddlers.
They were wonderful! Dayton misses his buddies.
These boys got Dayton hooked on Spongebob Squarepants.

Laura, Bryce, Cindy, Beth
Cheridyn, Nollie, Peyton, and Dayton
Doing some fireworks one morning

Day at the Lake
Derrick spent his only day in Missouri at the lake with everyone.

Derrick and his Grandpa Blaine

Daphne loved eating, or rather
SQUISHING watermelon all over both of us.

Our family and Cheridyn in the lake
We all had fun swimming in the warm water

This picture of Daphne cracks me up!
Do you think she looks like me or Derrick?

Mommy and Daphne

My kids were friends with anyone who fed them junk food.
Daphne got Oreos from cousin Sydney.

Dayton got Red Vines from Grandma.

Derrick took Dayton out on the boat with his cousins.
Dayton enjoyed the ride, but didn't like the life-jacket.

Drive Home

Dayton watched movies the whole trip.

Daphne enjoyed the constant supply of junk food.