Headed to visit KC

The first weekend in Augsut the girls and I started on our journey to Arkansas with a stop over in Olathe to visit the family.  We timed it to coincide with Andrew's leave from the Army.  He's been in Afghanistan since late February (or is it March, can't remember the exact date I just know it seems like forever) and had a two week leave starting the first of August.  We had a great time visiting with him and getting to know Claire, his Fiance, better.  We got to visit with lots of family and friends but unfortunatley didn't get to catch up with everybody.  However we are going to be that much closer to everyone so we can visit more frequently!

While on the road we saw the Brooks and Dunne tour truck, Kauffman Stadium, a beautiful sunset  and my two sons' faces as arrived at my Mom's house.  A winner of a day!

We spent Saturday morning with some friends, the Barry's, at Old Shawnee Town.  I haven't been there in years and it's about time the girls saw Shawnee's history!  So the six kiddos (Dave and Jenifer's four and the two tinkerbells) wandered around enjoying the company and the fresh air.  It all lasted less than an hour when we all decided it was just too hot!  We headed to Pizza Street!

After all that fun we headed back to Grandma's house for a break only to find Grandpa Ray and Nick, plus all the animals, snoring loudly.  We thought about joinging them but didn't.  Instead we headed out to do some school supply shopping.



 
 Tigger has decided he really likes Jazzie's new bed.  Which is maybe a good thing since Jazzie doesn't seem to like it much!

We had a pizza night before we left at Zepe's Pizza and one of Nick's friends/co-workers joined us.



A good visit and great memories!  And then on to Arkansas...

Pet Portraits

Or at least my attempt at pet portraits.  I have this lovely chair that the animals are always sleeping in so I thought I'd take a couple of pictures with the intention of sending them to my Mother who paints portraits (her website if you are interested).  I think I got a couple of nice ones of Dean, the Siamese, but not such good ones of Sarah, the Golden Retreiver.  Angus, the Rat Terrier, wanted his picture taken too...

This is Dean - a very typical Siamese even if he is a mix


You really can't tell how blue his eyes are here!




Sarah says, "Are you done yet 'cause I am!"

"I want my picture taken too!", says Angus

I'll let you guys fill in what Sarah is saying here...

I also took some pictures of our baby Cichlids and the inhabitants of the pond.  Not using the big fancy camera with any of these just the silly little Canon that I detest so much.  I'm trying to like it more by using it more but it hasn't happened yet...

A mama Cichlid and a couple of the babies

Not a very good picture but these are three Goldfish and a couple of Koi

There are several frogs who live in the pond.  They are really actuall kinda pretty!

My special flowers...

The Amaryllis that decided to finally bloom, after three years of pampering...
Got the bulb from a fellow freecycler inn 2006 and all it ever did was grow green stalks.  I thought I killed it last winter when the green stalks didn't even appear so I put it in the garage.  Well in May the green stalks came back so I put it on a table by a window in our room.  Evidently that was the magic needed and low and behold a lovely flower bloomed.  Go figure...

Then the tree in the pond started flowering...

I bought a couple of trees for the pond last Spring that had lovely blooms.  I thought I killed them by bringing them inside over the Winter (put them in the fish tank with the fish).  They did grow lovely leaves this Spring but nothing that looked like blooms, until June.  I waited patiently and then mid July on opened up.  WooHoo!!  The roofers knocked that bloom off the day after it opened.  Very sad!!!  Then the other opened a couple of days later.  Two days after that the tree trimmers for ComEd knocked that one off!  Couldn't believe it!  Evidently they are very delicate blooms and should be well guarded... in other words probably not meant for my yard.

A Very Special Announcement

“Our house, is a very, very, very fine house.
With two cats in the yard,
Life used to be so hard,
Now everything is easy 'cause of you.

Come to me now, and rest your head for just five minutes,
Everything is done.
Such a cozy room, the windows are illuminated
By the evening sunshine through them,
Fiery gems for you, only for you…”

Our house is now for sale!

1105 Monroe Avenue

Wauconda IL 60084





Visit our property detail page for more info!  Or you can see more pictures here

Yup we have decided to move... a big family decision so that we can be closer to family!
We are headed Southward towards Northwestern Arkansas or the Kansas City area.  As of right now we've packed up tons of stuff, gotten rid of even more (nothing like the thought of moving it to incite purging), and living in an almost empty shell so we can SELL THIS HOUSE!!  ;)  Know anybody who would want a great house! 

We'll keep you posted on our progress - wish us luck!!

A Little Excursion

The end of May we took a little excursion to

Bentonville, AR for a couple of different reasons.

We explored and got to know the area in just four days.

We had lots of fun and can't wait to go back!

A few pictures below of our adventure with more at http://picasaweb.google.com/PrincesRealm/ALittleExcursion

The girls waiting for food after a long day of exploring.

We were eating at The Whole Hog, an award winning BBQ. 

The WalMart Museum downtown Bentownville

My Monkeys...

A fabulous treat shop!  Bliss Cupcake Cafe

Lunch at The Station Cafe, also on the square in downtown Bentonville

We stopped at the Meramac Caverns on the way home

A sign we are half home - The St Louis Arch!

Happy 4th of July

Wishing you the best on this day of celebration for our freedom

and remember those who have fought for that right!

Enjoy your day with family and friends, stay safe and free of bug bites!

The Prince and Thornton Family