I’ve been going home to Missouri with Andrew for 8 years now, so you wouldn’t expect me to have a lot of Missouri firsts anymore. However this trip, we encountered a few.
This was our first time to stop mid-way on the drive up and stay in a hotel. We left home at 6:30 on Thursday and drove 3 hours into Oklahoma. We stopped in Muskogee and stayed in a brand new little hotel for the night. The next morning (this photo), we slept late, ate at IHOP and watched cartoons in our room before heading out to Joplin. It was very, very nice!
Doesn’t she look comfy!
When we first arrived in Joplin, we ran into their mall to look around a bit. Kensington saw these sweat pants at Old Navy and HAD TO HAVE THEM! They are random red lounge pants but as soon as she saw them, she began carrying them around loving them. Please pay attention to how many photos below feature these red pants…
Friday night, we headed to PawPaw and Nanny’s farm for a weenie roast with s’mores!
Kensington LOVES her big cousin Brode (and her Daddy).
The cows hung around us for a bit.
What is Smith saying???? This is me and G :).
All 4 grandkids on the farm: Kensington (2), Sylvia (11 months), Brode (4) and Smith (8 months)
This was my first time to have a toasted coconut marshmallow! Helloooooooo!!!! They are WONDERFUL! Aunt Vicki brought them and I ate half the bag. I will NEVER be happy with another s’more unless it has a toasted coconut marshmallows on top.
Eating s’mores
Paw Paw, Nanny and the two babies
She’s a mess :).
Ok, Smith Shull cracks me up. He is “talking” to me non-stop these days. He looks at me and starts talking louder and louder (like he’s really trying to get his point across). Kensington never did this (perhaps because she used real words at an early age), but I think this form of communication is super cuter. These next pictures are of my son telling me something…apparently really important…
He’s happy now that I know what he is saying :).
…red pants…
She is cuddling them.
She wouldn’t let me take them off the hanger. This is how she watched Saturday morning cartoons.
For all of you Disney Cars fans out there, we drove over to Kansas on Saturday for lunch at the original location of the tow truck, Tow Mater. Yes. Tow Mater really exists and I’ve seen him!
Brode and Kensington waiting on lunch at Tow Mater’s place.
Tow Mater’s place
The original Tow Mater
Right now you’re going, what the heck is this? This is Big Brutus. Another Missouri (Kansas really) first. Big Brutus is the worlds largest shovel. Up until the late 70s, it actually moved and worked. Andrew has been talking about Big Brutus since we first met. He has gone on and on and on and on about how huge Brutus is. Soooo, we had to go see him this trip. And let me tell you, this thing is freakin’ huge!
Gretchen is 5’9″…she’s standing next to the wheel thing. Look at how big it is!
Andrew and Kensington up in the cab.
The 7 “real” Shulls standing in the bucket of Brutus.
My sister-in-law is an endocrinologist…a super smart doctor who deals with a ton of diabetes patients…however, she often encourages me to eat super sugary things like this pecan-pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting. G knows my love affair with cake and ordered this beauty for me (and the others…I did share). It was YUMMY!
We finished off the night with Japanese food. Here is my crew awaiting their dinner.
Me and Brode (we have a very special bond)
Smith is cautiously watching the man prepare the food in front on him.
Kensington is holding her daddy’s hand during the food prep time…the huge flames made her nervous.
Wow…I’m tired. Thank you Jonathan and Gretchen for hosting us this trip! We love our Missouri family!!!
G says
Brode is currently enjoying his first ever candy apple (not the whole thing). Thank you for going with me to pick those up! We had a blast with you guys doing some of our firsts too….shocking I had never seen Big Brutus before, yes, I know. Love to you guys!
The Gleasons says
Love the RED PANTS! 🙂 That is so cute. And Smith….adorable.
Sheaffer, Chris, Scout, and baby Carter says
Okay…so I was wondering why in the world you didn't take the pants off of the hanger. Then, you mentioned how she wouldn't allow it. SO funny!
Amber Massey says
I LOVE the coconut marshmallows! Try making rice krispie treats with them, oh my.. that will be another thing you wont eat again unless they are the coconut version.
Allison says
OK, so I just hopped on over to your blog from Pinterest told me to. First off, I live in Joplin. Secondly, is Gretchen you SIL? My husband is a doctor and I think he knows her. Small world!!!!
-Allison