Turkey Run - 2015

We arrived at site 257 around 2:30 on Monday, October 5.  It was a nice day to travel and set up.  We took our time to set up.  This site is the one we have been wanting for two or three years.  We had to reserve for a Monday to get it but so far we really like it.  We are very close to water and the restroom and can see the play area and canyon that the boys play in from our dining room window.  The nights have been cool but in the 70's during the day.  The leaves haven't changed much.  Each morning has been very foggy but usually by 10:00 the fog has lifted.  We have taken several long walks in the campground which Sandy likes.

Today, Wednesday, we went into Indy which accounts for Internet service.  We went to Camping World to shop and look.  The last two years our visit has included looking at motorhomes.  I think we may be getting closer to the big decision of whether to go from a pull trailer to a motorhome.  We can't afford a new one so we look at used ones.  We found one that we could be interested in but it is older with more mileage than we thought we wanted.  It is a Winnabago with many, many upgrades (window covers, inside day/night shades, washer/dryer, basement air conditioner).   It was owned by a retired Navy man who kept meticulous service records so we know the complete history of the motorhome.  We decided to go back to camp and discuss the pros and cons.  Right now I don't know what decision we will make. In the meantime, here are a few pictures of the trip so far.

Sandy waiting patiently for the trip to begin.  This will be the first time she had riden in our new car.

From this picture you can see how close we are to the play area and the canyon beyond.  You can also see that the leaves haven't changed much.

A foggy picture of the site in the morning.

Tomorrow we plan to relax around the site.  Friday we drive back to Decatur to pick up Hunter and Keegan for the weekend.  Next week we will be at the Covered Bridge Festival.  I hope the weather continues to be as good.

September 2015

Keegan is playing soccer this year.  He is the youngest one on his team.  The coaches are wonderful.  Score is not kept and it is a good thing because most of the time the wrong teams scores in the wrong net.  They are having fun trying to learn the basics of soccer.

The game is always followed by breakfast at MacDonalds.

Summer Fun - 2015 (Also August)

The last week before the boys went back to school we took a mini trip to the Wildlife Prairie Park near Peoria, Illinois.  Many years ago we had visited the park with their mother, Kara.   The park has animals that were native to Illinois in its early statehood years.  It is a nice little zoo but needs a little TLC.  We tried to ride the train but it ran "out of steam" and we had to walk back to the visitor's center without finishing the ride.

There was a one-roon schoolhouse at the park.  Hunter couldn't believe wearing a dunce hat was be a punishment.  He has always had to "pull cards" as a punishment.

Hunter and Keegan

Summer Fun - 2015 (August)

This month we took Hunter to the Abraham Lincoln Library.  We think he learned something about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

We ate breakfast at Charlie Parker's.  It was not much to look at, but the food was great.  The pancakes were as big as a dinner plate!

Papaw and Hunter joined the Lincoln Family for a quick picture.

This area was about Lincoln from boyhood through young adult in Illinois.  

Of course, the museum gift shop was one of the highlights of the visit.  Hunter struck a Lincoln pose with his famous black, stovepipe hat and posed as a Civil War soldier.  His final choice and purchase was a set of drum sticks.  

Summer Fun - 2015 (July)

In July we met family at a park in Effingham.  My sister, Betty, provided the picnic supper and we enjoyed catching up with she and Mark and their son, Nathan, and family.  Nathan and Heather work for The State Department and had been stationed in Kuwait.  They were in the states for a few weeks before returning to their new station in Jordan.  It was good talking to them about their experiences in the Middle East and watching the cousins play together.

Keegan and Hunter

The cousins:  Keegan, Caleb, Heather, Nathan, Ben, Kara, Hunter

Hunter

Summer Fun - 2015 (June)

Because the I-Pad refuses to let me post and comment on more than 4 or 5 pictures, I am going to group the pictures according to the activity.  The activities of the summer will be in four separate posts.

One day we took a picnic lunch and the boys to Fort Daniel Conservation Area.  There are several short trails and this was the one we chose to explore.

We had had a lot of rain but I think this low spot on the drive is probably always covered with water.

Hunter enjoyed wading in the water.

Keegan always tries to keep up with Hunter.

It was a fun way to spent a warm June day.

Sibling Photos

I wanted these pictures to be a part of my blog.  Thanks to Kimberly for taking them.

Kimberly is a great photographer because she had done something no one else has done in years...taken a picture of me that I like.

The siblings:  (left to right, bottom to top)

Jean, Carolyn, Don, Darrell, Carol

(Top clockwise)

Peggy and Don, Darrell,  Carol and I, Carolyn, Jean

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