Ed surprised us with a breakfast casserole that was so good I may have eyed and eaten the leftovers the next day too. While the kids excitedly waited to hear what was in store for the day they ate some breakfast.

Ed spoiled us at a brand new mini-golf center.  After some serious consultation on the best length golf club and color ball, the kids were ready to take on all the two courses had to offer.  One side was the International side with sites like the Egyptian pyramids and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  The other side was the United States side with the Statue of Liberty and even a Grand Canyon. The kids’ favorite holes were by far where you purposely aimed your ball for the water and it shot out of the shark’s mouth almost into the hole and a log that did the same.  There were definitely holes where the ball went into the drink unintentionally, but the kids enjoyed fishing their balls back out with the net.

The adults were able to get in almost eighteen holes.  The kids flew threw thirty-six plus holes. Cody gave me some mini golf advice, “Hit it like this mom.”  I did my best. “Not quite like that Mom!” Exasperated he went onto the next hole.  Looks like being a professional mini-golfer is not in my future.

The kids did a great job of taking turns and the course experts were willing to share their course secrets with us.  The course had interesting facts near most of the holes.  The plaque at the Statue of Liberty stated, “The seven points on the Statue of Liberty’s crown represent the seven continents and oceans of the world and the universal concept of liberty.”

Back at home base for lunch Ed treated us to the Lou’s Pizza we had just brought from home for him.  He baked it to crispy perfection.  The kids played together. I loved the creativity when they turned colored pencils into the game of Pick Up Sticks.

Lou’s was followed up with watermelon!  Brooke was really hoping to meet the three kitties hiding out somewhere in the house.  Ed shook and sprinkled kitty food so that they finally came out.  Brooke was loving rubbing on the kitties.

Kayla and I rode 15.7 miles and then ran 1.3 miles. Kayla is in training for an Ironman.  Someday.  Someday I’ll get there.

Speaking of energetic accomplishers, Scott kept biking after Kayla and I turned back to run.  He put in just a few more miles and rounded it out at thirty-nine miles. Although that is light mileage since he has been biking 60 miles back and forth to work at least twice a week lately.  While we were out biking Ed pulled Super Man duty and took all four kids to a pool.  And he came back in one piece still smiling too.

Home of the “throwed” rolls!  We love coming here when we are down in Springfield, MO.  Cody was making friends with the sorghum ladling lady so much that she suggested that we could purchase some in the gift store!  The kids were all expert hot roll catchers.  As usual we had way more food than we could ever eat, but it was so worth the over-full bellies.