Capitol city

The day after returning from our boy scouting adventure, I was scheduled to travel to our state Capitol: Jefferson City.

(Also: a lot of laundry had to be done and Amelia attended a birthday party in the afternoon- see why there is no time for journaling?)

I arrived in the evening and there wasn't much to see. I was excited about the next day as I was presenting just down the street from the Capitol building. As you can see by the first photo, there wasn't much to see on the way to my presentation! I was disappointed as fog covered the whole area!

Luckily, it cleared up by lunch time and I got a good view!

That is as close as I got as after I completed the presentation, it was on home for me to prepare for work the next day!

Gemma the Boy Scout

When the Boy Scouts camp, there are always a few item we had no idea existed. Gemma became enamored with a big vacuum and a plastic sword this time. The bug vacuum was to be used for collecting bug specimens. You would find an interesting item, turn on the vacuum and suck it up. It somehow emptied into another container where you could then examine your quarry more closely.


The look on her face here says it all!

Apple picking

The Boy Scout camp site was pretty close to our favorite apple picking place. We ate lunch on the way and went for some apple picking fun!

Trash collecting hike

The scouts were up with birds, so they were ready to hit the trail bright and early for a trash collecting mission.

John earned my everlasting love on this 3 ish mile hike by carrying Gemma almost the entire way. She said she wanted to walk and then changed her mind 0.0000002 miles into the trek. His back would pay for it the next day, but he was a trooper! The view from the top was amazing- that is the Mississippi River from the Illinois side within Pere Marquette state park.

September 19- camping with the Boy Scouts!

Are you keeping track? Camping with the Girl Scouts one weekend. To Minnesota for the long weekend the very next weekend. A week off and then camping with the Boy Scouts the next weekend. Craziness!


Gemma was very upset she was not included on the Girl Scout camp out weekend. Luckily, we were scheduled t camp out with the Boy Scouts just 2 weeks later! It was a family camp, which means the whole family is invited to come and camp!


Gemma was delighted to be included in the Boy Scout weekend!

A spot on the house

I noticed a spot on the house and spent several minutes trying to figure out what it was. The answer: a frog had found his way up there. I don't know how he got up there and I don't know how he got down!

Gemma's new shirt

I saw this shirt and couldn't pass it up! So fitting for my crazy haired girl!