July 14th - August 1, 2026 Water Fun - Wally B's - Sun Shade - Magic House - Lake Perry - Dinosaur Museum - Graduation Dinner - Trip Home

My Blog Reflection

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.

Yogi Berra 

July 14, 2026:

Erin and the boys flew in from California for a two week visit. We picked them up at the airport and once home just relaxed after their trip. Erin will be working online everyday except Fridays so we will be entertaining the boys a lot.

July 16, 2026:

It has been REALLY hot. Erin says it is hotter here than in the desert where she lives. We gave Free the hose and he cooled himself off for over an hour. He had strict instructions not to squirt Grandma or Grandpa and fortunately he headed that warning.

July 17, 2026:

For my birthday and Father's Day, Erin bought me a gift card at "Wally B's", which is a restaurant/bar near Sam A. Baker State Park. This purchase was a mistake. She intended to get it at a place we had already been. We knew nothing about the place but since it was a nice day we invited Bob and Ronnie along for lunch. We all loaded up for the hour and a half drive to the "Wally B's". We all had a good meal and enjoyed the place. It was a pleasant surprise.

After lunch we drove a few miles to Sam A. Baker State Park to see the damage caused by the recent flooding. It wiped out the entire campground. We couldn't get close enough to get pictures. We stopped at a little parking area nearby so Free and Kellen, and a few of the ladies, could get out and throw some rocks.

July 19, 2026:

I took down the sun shade and repaired it again. This time, in addition to gluing it on the seam, I put rivets on the end where it starts to pull apart. The seam should now hold together better. I hope to get one more year out of it.

July 20, 2026:

Free has a major head of hair. Here he is showing me his hair in the middle of getting it washed.

July 21, 2026:

We took Free to the Magic House in St. Louis. It has been greatly expanded since we were there last. He was kept busy for over two hours. One of the displays is that of static electricity. You touch a ball and your hair stands out. Here is a picture of Free and Alexa. It didn't work so well on Free because his hair sticks out all of the time. It worked on Alexa though. Then there is a picture of me. It really worked on my straight, flat hair.

July 22, 2026: 

While I cut the grass Alexa and Kelly took Free out to Lake Perry to swim in the pool. I would have gone along and cut the grass on the lake lot but Kellen has the truck in St. Louis for the day.

July 23, 2026:

I loaded the lawn mower on the trailer to cut the grass at the lake. Alexa loaded her kayak on the trailer as well. We got to the lake and Alexa took Free out on the lake in the kayak. He enjoyed it after he figured out it wasn't going to turn over. They came back in and played in the water for a while.

July 24, 2026:

I took Free to lunch and then to see "Toy Story 5" at the Perry Park Center. I don't think there was enough action for him. After the movie we got an ice cream cone at "Whirl-a-Burger. He wanted a cone. I should have made him get a cup. He was a mess with ice cream running everywhere.

July 25, 2026:

Alexa and Erin went to the movie in Cape. Kellen took Free to the Science Center in St. Louis. Kelly and I had a little respite. LOL

July 30, 2026:

Kelly and Alexa took Free to the Dinosaur Museum in Ste. Genevieve. He really enjoyed it. Here are a couple of pictures. One of him next to a leg bone and one of him holding a piece of petrified dinosaur skin. 

July 31, 2026:

We had a graduation dinner for Kellen. We had ribs, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and fresh tomatoes. Here is a picture of Free helping Grandma put rub on the ribs. He is definitely a little ham bone.

There weren't any leftovers. After dinner Kellen received a few gifts and more importantly some major money. He is busy applying online for jobs. It is a much different process than when I was interviewing fifty plus years ago. After an hour break we all had ice cream cake from Dairy Queen, which was delicious.

August 1, 2026:

Freedom was busy playing. At one point he put a bucket on his head and marched around the living room. He made a great soldier. According to him he is great at everything.

Erin and the boys spent much of the day getting their laundry done and packing for the trip home. At 4:00 p.m. we loaded the truck and headed to the airport. They had an hour and half drive to the airport from our house, then an hour and half Uber ride from the San Francisco Airport to Tracey, California. They had a good trip but were exhausted by the time they made it home. 

Free starts kindergarten on Monday. I had him promise to send a picture in the morning before school and call me in the evening to tell me how the first day went. He is good at remembering things so we will see if he follows through.

It was great seeing the three of them for two weeks. There is talk of all of getting together at Christmas like last year. We will see.