APRIL 26, 2015 Decision Made

The decision on Saturday was to NOT go to any of the games.  The weather didn't cooperate.  

The decision today, Sunday, was to go to the final game of the tournament.  Zade plus the All-Star Soccer Team won second in their age division at the Farmington MO soccer tournament.

Mind you, the weather this morning was miserable.  I wore four layers of shirt/jacket/vest/and coat, plus gloves and used a lap-robe.  It was in the upper forties, with a mist in the air.  Just as the game ended, the sun popped out!

Here's Zade with the team medal!
The next all-star soccer tournament will be Mother's Day week end.
But, wait, baseball will start before then!

We had a good rest this afternoon; then spent the evening with Darin/Sarah, Ashlynn and Zade.  Darin grilled "surf and turn" for supper/dinner.  It was delicious!

APRIL 24, 2015 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR TANNER!

Today is Tanner's birthday; he is 15.  My grandsons are getting so grown-up.  Time is flying.

Glen and I were talking about 15 years ago when he was born.  April 23 was Easter Sunday.  His mom, Trisha, wanted to go to church but just didn't feel like it.  We did a family picture that Sunday afternoon. She definitely was pregnant!  

The next day, Monday the 24th, Tanner arrived.  The night after he was born, Trisha had a dream about his name.  The next day Trisha announced that his middle name had changed.  He would be and still is Tanner Jacob----which are Trisha's initials!

Here's the birthday boy!

Big decisions in the morning.

Zade has an all-star soccer tournament tomorrow at Farmington MO, which is about 75 minutes from here.  The first game is at 9  a.m.; the next game is at 4 p.m.  And, the weather is Iffy!  I think we have decided not to make the nine o'clock game; and to see what the weather is later in the afternoon before making the decision about the four o'clock game.

Have a good Saturday.

APRIL 23, 3015 Work Going On

There was a whole lot of workin' going on today.  Maybe it wasn't work for us, but there was a lot accomplished.

The motorhome now has six, count them, 1-2-3-4-5-6, new tires! The front end has been aligned; the original shocks replaced with new ones.  

Glen mowed Darin's yard.  Darin is busy, it is supposed rain; and Glen enjoys getting on the riding mower.  

Now, I know this isn't exciting or interesting to you fellows, but for all the 'girls' out there--I bought new make up; and got a haircut.  It puts a smile on a girl's face!

And, we stopped at the Thursday local Farmer's Market.  It is still early in the season.  There were lots of gardening plants and flowers to buy to replant in a garden or flower bed.  But the vendor with the best product was there--the Mennonite family that sells freshly-made and cooked doughnuts!  still warm.  It is a dangerous place to linger.  Those doughnuts just seem to jump into one's hands!

The day ended with Glen and me taking Ashlynn to her swim lesson.  Darin went with Zade to baeball practice.  Sarah was still at the office.

Are you getting ready for the week-end?  Have a great one!

APRIL 22, 2015 Local Sightseeing with pictures

WE played tour guide for Marcella (Glen's just younger sister) and husband Jeff today.

Jeff and Marcella are volunteers for the Missouri State Park system this month as hosts for the campground at Trail of Tears State Park, just 15 miles north of Cape Girardeau.  Trail of Tears sits on the banks of the Mississippi River .  

Today we went to Pinecrest Azelea Gardens, Oak Ridge MO; and Bollinger Mill/Burfordville Covered Bridge, Burfordville, MO.

We were at the azelea garden a week ago.  There were very few azeleas in bloom.  We decided a week later--today--would be a good time to come back.  There were more in bloom, but not yet a full array.  There needs to be a few more warm days.

It is a pretty drive to the gardens, located in the rolling hills of Bollinger County.

This is an Ohio buckeye in bloom.

This is the Bollinger Mill on the left with the Burfordville Covered Bridge on the right spanning the Whitewater River.

This mill was built with an interior turbine to grind the grains rather than the normal water wheel on the outside of the building.

Glen Hickey, Marcella and Jeff Schnakenberg 

The covered bridge is the oldest in Missouri.  There are four other covered bridges in Missouri.

We ended our time together at "Shogun" a Japanese restaurant.  Um-m, delicious.  

APRIL 20, 2015 Friends

We saw and visited with friends today in our "old" hometown of Poplar Bluff, where we lived for 37 years.

First stop was at the dentist's office.  Dr. Gary and Pat happen also to be very good friends.  It was a short but sweet visit with them.

While in the waiting room we also visited with a lady from our church (in Poplar Bluff).

On to lunch with Jim and Sandy, friends since the 1970's, "old"    long-time friends! lol! It was a good thing the Mexican restaurant didn't need our table as we visited for nearly three hours there!

We took the secenic route back to Cape Girardeau--all the back roads, enjoying the dogwood trees in bloom.

We arrived back in Cape Girardeau just in time to pick up the kids at their after-school location.  Ashlynn had a "family night" meeting at her school.  Darin took her and met Sarah at the school.  We stayed with Zade.  

Tuesday evening gets complicated as Darin has a "law enforcement appreciation" meeting; Zade has soccer practice; and Ashlynn has swim lessons.  Our part will be to get Zade to soccer practice at six.

APRIL 18, 2015 Zade's quotes! **Pictures Added

We picked up Ashlynn and Zade this morning at 8:30 to head to St. Louis to the Cardinals' baseball game.
Zade's descriptions of the day:

"This is the first game that we (he and Ashlynn) have got to go to Cardinals' game with just you (and Poppy).  This is AWESOME!"

As we were walking down the hall to find our seat, in a very solomn and serious voice:

"I am going to work here someday."

Later in the game and after some discussion, his observation:
"I could play for the Cardinals; then I could coach!"

Go for those dreams, Zade!

Southwest Baptist University hosted a group sales' event today.  Several of the Hickey clan took advantage of the reduced tickets in the high section above right field.  In addition to Glen, Ashlynn, Zade and I, there were Evelyn and Gary, Evelyn's daughter Suzanne and husband Ken; Suzanne's daughter Candice and her daughter Kendall were in attendance.

And, it was Yadier Molina BOBBLEHEAD Day!  The first 25,000 fans above the age of 15 received the bobblehead.  Zade was excited then sulky when he learned he wouldn't get one.  BUT, both our bobbleheads ended up with Ashlynn and Zade.

As the late Jack Buck would say at the end of the game "it's a winner, folks"  The score 5-2.

When we returned to Cape Girardeau Darin and Sarah were in attendance at a wedding reception.  We enjoyed even more time with Ashlynn and Zade until their parents returned.

Welcome to Busch Stadium

Ashlynn, Glen and Zade, waiting for the gates to open.

Zade

Ashlynn, Glen and Jeff (Schnakenberg)

Ashlynn: May I take your order? Steak N Shake after the game

Zade at Steak N Shake

APRIL 15, 2015 Spring has Sprung! with pictures

This is the reason, other than family and friends, that we come to Missouri/Arkansas in April@

Daffodils or jonquils!  What do you call them?

Redbuds and dogwood in full bloom.

Close up!

Azalea are just beginning to bloom.

Do you know what these are called?  something-bells?

We will be visiting a couple of gardens next week, catching the azaleas in full bloom.

We picked up Ashlynn and Zade, played with them at their home; listened to them read!  

APRIL 14, 2015 Settling In

We are settled in for the next several weeks.  There will be days where there won't be excitement, or travel, or much to write about.

Check on the upper right on this blog to sign up for "notification" by email whenever there is a new blog...or, go ahead and check every day; but, there may not be a blog every day.

Saturday we are taking Ashlynn and Zade to a St. Louis Cardinals' game.  Surely there will be some pictures to share at the end of the day.

Stay tuned.  Let us know what is happening in your life.  We like to hear from family and friends!

APRIL 12, 2015 We're Back! (The Landing Point RV Park, Cape Girardeau, MO )

Today we crossed west to east Arkansas, north on I-55 to Cape Girardeau.  

We unhooked (the truck), hooked up (the electricity, water, and sewer), leveled in record time.  

Why?  Zade had a soccer game at 3:00.  We made it.

Here's the soccer player:

Pictures of Ashlynn and Max, the dog, later!  

It was absolutely great seeing the (younger) grandchildren and their parents, Darin and Sarah.

There's one more soccer game for Zade; Ashlynn has swim lessons on Tuesday and Thursday.  I am sure we will find more to do! LOL

We have been in touch with friends tonight in Zapata.  There has been thunderstorms and high (60 mph+) winds and rain and lightning and thunder.  Praying that all will be all right in the light of day.

APRIL 11, 2015 Saturday Pancakes

The days spent with family are the days that fly by!  

We have seen the remodeling/updating projects come to an end at Trisha/Jeff's home.

We have the old furniture leave the house (sold on Craig's List), and the new furniture delivered.  

We have watched two of Tanner's soccer games.  He is improving with each game.  We watched Natalie and Tanner, and Landon and Jeff practice soccer.

We have listened to Brady play his guitar for us.  Poppy Glen sang with him a couple of sessions. Brady's musical talent is exceptional.

We have soaked up the hugs (yes, even from the teen aged boys) and Trisha and Jeff.

There was a request for Saturday pancakes.  I quadrupled the pancake recipe, cooked a pound of bacon (in the oven), and 16 sausage links, and served breakfast to the three teen-aged grandsons and the rest of us.  

The truck is hooked up to the motor home. Some of the slide rooms are "in".  Loose objects are put away for travel.  It will be "up, up, and away" in the morning at six.

We want to make it to Cape Girardeau early enough to make a three o'clock soccer game for Zade tomorrow.  It is the last regular-season game.  

APRIL 8, 2015 The Oak Trees are Blooming! Aa-a--Cho-o-o

It is that time of year.

The yellow pollen piles up on all outdoor surfaces.
The oak trees (and other stuff) are blooming.

Brady is sniffing, sneezing, sniffing, eyes are watering, sneezing, and, oh, yes, sniffing. Aa-a--choo!  
All of this after taking a Zyrtec.
The box of tissues are at arm's reach.  

My eyes are itching and burning, with an occasional sneeze.

It needs to rain and wash everything clean.

Oh, yes!  We washed the motorhome this morning.  It IS gonna rain!

APRIL 7, 2015 Soccer Game

Tanner, ninth grader, is on a city soccer team.  Tonight was the second game of the season.  Tanner played defense first half, and offense second half.  There are seven on each team.  There is lots of running involved!

Tanner, #19, and the only one with green shoes.

Tanner is in a growth spurt and has reached 6"1", with no stopping in sight!

It was a good game to watch even if Tanner's team didn't win.  Tanner showed hustle and game savvy!

APRIL 5, 2015 He Is Risen! It's Easter (Parked at Greenwood Fairgrounds as of Friday April 3)

We celebrated Easter this morning with Trisha, Jeff and all four children.  The choir music was wonderful

Trisha prepared fettucini alfredo for dinner tonight.  She is a very good chef.  

There were no Easter baskets or hiding of Easter eggs this morning.  

Here's everyone in their Easter finery.

Natalie and Trisha

Jeff, Natalie, Landon

Tanner, Brady, Landon, and Natalie

Tanner, Trisha, Brady

Tanner, Gayla, Brady, Glen

Landon, Tanner, Brady, Natalie, Trisha, Jeff

4-4-15 It's Almost Easter

This is the sight that greeted us when we came outdoors after the basketball game.

A vivid and visible reminder this is the last night our Lord is in the tomb.

4-4-15 A Sporting Day!

First there was an outdoor sport: trap shooting.

Brady, Tanner, and Natalie are all on the Greenwood High School trap shooting team.  Brady and Tanner did very well today; Brady had a 19 out of 25; and Tanner had 18 out of 25.  Natalie's level of concentration was low today and her score reflected the distractions.

Brady, 11th grader, age 17 1/2

Brady

Brady

Tanner, 9th grader, age 15 in 20 more days

Natalie, 10th grader, age 15 and 11 months

Glen and Tanner

Natalie, 10th grader, 16 next month.

It was a beautiful afternoon to be outdoors.

The other sporting event of the day was, of course, NCAA basketball.  I didn't really have a favorite, but there might have been a team that I didn't want to win.

APRIL 2, 2015 On the Road (April 1--departed Zapata TX) (Lakeview RV Resort, Houston TX)

We only had to turn around once and go back to our place in Zapata.  Thankfully we were only four blocks away when we realized the electricity had not been turned off!  

A quick trip around the block back to our place, THEN we were on our way.

We spent last night and tonight in Houston TX, and will be on our way in the morning to Greenwood AR.  

It will be a one-day trip, arriving in Greenwood late in the afternoon.

Glen had an appointment this afternoon at MD Anderson for lab work and to see the doctor.  The white blood count level was virtually unchanged from four months ago, so GOOD NEWS.  Next lab work will be in six months.

Spring flowers are beautiful here in Houston.  Azaleas are in bloom.  Flower beds are beautiful.