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Good morning gang. We are getting a reprieve from the heat today but it will begin its return tomorrow & will be excessive from Wed on. Really need some rain as what we haver gotten has been just minimal at best.
Maw, I would love to visit Switzerland but don't think that is going to happen. When my mother was alive & living in Arkansas she took us to Eureka Springs which I think some refer to as a "little Switzerland" so that is as close as I will ever get.
With DD along to drive & help with the grandkids, we made the trip to Brookfield Zoo near Chicago. After a nearly 3 hr drive, they were raring to go when we got there. It was busy but not overly crowded & although warm, there was a nice breeze. We really had a great time. Think the 2 yr old was the most fascinated with the otters. The 5 yr old was thrilled with the polar bears & the ant eater. After a full day at the zoo we headed to the Rainforest Cafe & then the 3 hr drive home. Didn't get home til 12:30 Sat eve & put the kids to bed clothes & all. GD was good to grandma & slept til almost 7:30 yesterday morning (better than her usual 6 a.m.)! We were all exhausted but the memories are worth well worth it.
At the young age of 36 with 4 very young children, I went into the hospital for a routine surgery (actually ended up with 3 surgeries in 6 wks) & during the 2nd surgery there were major complications & I nearly died on the operating table. Up to that point we had been living our lives but we had done very little as far as "memory makers" with our kids. It took me 8 mo to fully recover & the drs said I was well ahead of schedule as they predicted at least a yr. They attributed it to the fact that I had 4 kids & no extra family around to assist so I was up & forcing myself to get things done. When I recovered, I told Mike we had to do more with the kids as I didn't want either of us to die without the kids having some great family memories. And so it was that we went out & bought a Coleman pop-up camper & began our camping adventures. We found a great campground located right on the banks of the Mississippi about 30 miles from home. Every weekend all summer the kids & I would camp & Mike would come out to us after his night shift at the PD. After we got a little experience camping, we took the kids to Disney & stayed at Fort Wilderness. We spent many yrs doing things that the kids would enjoy & thought that "our time" would come when Mike retired. He retired from the PD & had a 2nd job with the city & extra $$ so we did manage to get in a few trips. And then Mike got sick. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for people to follow their dreams now, as best they can, before life sends you a curve ball & then your dreams are simply that, dreams. Travel while you are still healthy & can truly enjoy it. That is why when DS#3, who has given us 2 beautiful grandkids, says they can't get away to do these little trips we are making arrangements to do it anyway (DD is so good to me with helping) so we can enjoy our little ones before they are all grown up.
That is about it from here. Have a nice day.
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