Silver Dollar City

Last weekend we packed up the Excursion with what seemed like our whole house and headed down to Table Rock Lake and Silver Dollar City. We left Friday afternoon and the plan was to do Silver Dollar City on Saturday and the Fish Hatchery on Sunday. I found a great condo for us that overlooked the lake with the added bonus of free paddle boats. Needless the say the weather had different plans. It rained, rained and rained some more on Saturday. We basically just ended up driving around most of the day although we did make it to the Fish Hatchery. Madeleine enjoyed feeding the fish and seeing the turtles and snakes. Unfortunately we have no pictures from this because I didn't want to bring the camera out in the rain. We made a quick visit to Silver Dollar City on Sunday. We had talked it up to Madeleine so much that on Saturday when we went places she kept saying this is not Silver Dollar City. It was a fun trip even though we didn't get the nice fall weekend I was hoping for... maybe next year.

Enjoying the lake Friday night... as soon as Madeleine saw the lake from our room she told me she needed to get her life jacket on. She was ready to go for a swim!

Hadley kept pulling her socks off and people kept telling us "our little boy" was about to lose his sock. Apparently the blue striped pants trumped the pink socks and flower jacket.

Madeleine's first amusement park ride... the hopping frogs... and hop they did.

The train that Madeleine was so excited to go on. She kept telling us she was going to Silver Dollar City and was going to ride the train and wave to the people.

You know you have had fun when you fall asleep while be carried before you even leave the park.

ANOTHER New Bike!

No, not mine... Madeleine's!

Last summer when we were in Jackson, we witnessed a friend's son (a little over 2) bomb down a hill on one of these and were impressed. Then this year Chad sent a video of Owen riding a real bike without training wheels... shortly after he just turned 3. We were sold.

Chad and Rose swore by the Strider so we ordered one up, letting Madeleine choose the color. She was very excited when I picked her up at school today and told her we had her bike. She was on it as soon as we got home, and though she definitely required Dad (or Mom's) help to keep her steady, had a good time for sure. I promised her we will add stickers tomorrow... most likely smiley faces and Elmo's. Carbon bars will have to wait for the next bike.

Tour of Missouri

Yesterday brought the first stage of the Tour of Missouri to St. Louis. For all you non-cyclists... no Jim did not ride in it. There are only a handful of other races outside of Europe that are the same level as this race. The best sprinter in the world right now (although definitely not the nicest) is here in Missouri this week riding along with many other top cyclists. I am very excited that we got to watch yesterday and keeping my fingers crossed that somehow this race is able to come back next year. Many of my favorites were riding yesterday although I was only able to pick out Big George and Levi as they sped by.

Thanks to Sean and Nicole, we had an excellent spot to watch as the riders came down a hill and made a quick right turn. Their hospitality was great and I know everyone had a really good time. There was a great DRJ turnout... in fact everyone was joking it was a better turnout then at their actual races.

Madeleine was excited to go to a bike race and when I told her she would need to say "Go George", she responded "No, I say Go Daddy". She rang her cowbell like a champ but I think was most impressed by the all the motorcycles.

We didn't get to see the end but unfortunately Christian Vandevelde, last year's champ and probably my second favorite, crashed and broke his hand. The race continues this week accross Missouri to Kansas City. Hopefully the politicans in Jeff City will realize what a great event this is for the whole state and work together to bring it back next year. Since I don't see any chance of that happening, I better hope a corporation will decide to sponsor it as Amgen has the Tour of California. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but sad that this was probably my last chance to see this type of racing in my home state. Guess we will have to plan a July trip to France!

Madeleine and Jim started off the day with a 23 mile bike ride. Baby Madeline also went along for the ride.

Madeleine in her USPS jersey... I have been waiting for her to wear this since before she was born... Thanks Jim and Patty!
Here comes the peleton
The whole family... hard to tell but Hadley is sporting a Tour of MO shirt from the first race