Firing Squad

Grandpa Joe gave shooting lessons to David, Audrey and Jamie. Below are a few photos of target practice.

David means business...watch out!

cousins Audrey and Jamie pose with their weapons

Jamie... doesn't she look menacing and dangerous?

Lotus Blossom

Meet the newest addition to the family... Lotus Blossom. On Wednesday, Carrie presented Joe with a tiny Shih-tzu puppy. It was a total surprise to Joe. Carrie and Lou and spent the day shopping and Carrie had been wanting to buy a gift for her dad and when she saw puppies for sale she talked it over with her mom and it was agreed this would be a great gift. The puppy was the most loved on little thing at the reunion. She is soooo precious! Joe named her Lotus Blossom. She waddles when she walks and runs and she loved carrying sticks in her mouth and eathing grass. She is a snuggler too. Lou was carrying her in a purse when she and Carrie arrived back at the pavillion where we all met for dinner each night. At first no one realized she had a puppy until Carrie told Joe she had a gift for him. What a darling addition to the family!

Lotus

Joe's expression caught on camera when the puppy was revealed to him

Joe loving on his new baby

Branson

On Thursday, David, Jamie and I took a day trip to Branson, MO. We had never been before and since we were only an hour away decided to check it out. Glad we went but doubt we'll ever go back again. It is a tourist trap sort of town with lots of touristy places. I imagine if you want to go for the shows at night it would be more fun but we didn't see anything there we just had to see. We ate lunch, stopped at a few shops then headed back home. Just before arriving in Branson we came to the town of Hollister, MO. We all needed a pee break so stopped into a McDonald's only to find the bathrooms closed and an employee telling us they had no water. She also said there was no water in the entire town of Hollister so we would have to go on to Branson, a few miles further to find a bathroom. Oh dear! My bladder was about to bust already and there was no way I could hold it for another few miles. We were heading to a gas station nearby when Jamie spotted just what I needed... an outhouse in a little construction area. I jumped out of the car and used it. Talk about your needs being provided for! Whew!

That's me with a smile on my face AFTER using the port-a-john

Scenery

The Buffalo National River. These photos were taken from the deck of one of the cabins the family had this week.