We are working on the main wall in our kitchen...the ants liked the taste of the wood that it was made out of, so we are fixing it. It actually is going to be really nice when it is done and once we mud and tape it, and put primer on it, and paint it. It is a process...here are some things I have learned in the last few weeks:
1. sometimes, a messy house for a few weeks is worth it in the end
2. I know a lot more about sheetrock than the average housewife.
3. For as much as I know about sheetrock, I can't figure out if it is two words or one...sheet rock?
4. Doug does a good job in the kitchen when the microwave is the only option for cooking.
5. measurements matter
6. paint colors matter, but not as much as you might think
7. Industrial strength vacuum cleaners are WAY more fun to use than regular vacuums.
I am sure there are many more to come...I would advise everyone to do a home improvement project with your spouse/family, it is really fun!
Boy was I pleased when it was my turn to drive and we headed straight into St. Louis...Doug did a good job taking pictures though:
That evening we got to Hannibal and got to visit with John, Sue and Joel...and see some of the town, it is fun and has cool old buildings. Here is a statue of Mark Twain and Huck Finn...not sure if those are spelled right!
We took some pictures in a pretty little garden in the middle of town, here we are with Joel...
And later that evening at the ball game...Joel really dressed out for the game!!! (j/k, that's not really him)
We had a really good time...
Doug and Uncle John...
After church, we went out to a yummy Mexican place and enjoyed time with family before we had to drive south again...
Doug enjoyed the hats...
Back at Doug's dad's house, he was able to finish up with one of the projects they had started...here they are building some stairs and trying to kill each other...
After it was done, it seems they made up... 
It was such a wonderful trip, we are looking forward to next year when we will have more time to visit with everyone!
That evening we went to see 
Kara and I went for a swim...it was freezing!
A Tennessee sunset...
and we were off to Kentucky!
We stopped at the Brady's for lunch and got to see Todd, Amy and the boys, Jack...
William...
Isaac...
And we played outside for a while before we left, here are Doug and Jack on the play set.
Me and the crew on the trampoline...
and off through Illinois...
Next post I will finish off the trip with pictures from our return into Missouri!!!
Doug and I were facinated with the legos in the airport...he entertained himself for a while building with them...
Off we go...
Once we were there, we enjoyed a couple of days with his Dad and Jan, here is Doug and his Dad checking out all the plants and things in the yard...
We enjoyed some beautiful Missouri sunsets...
And a few card games...
Here we all are...
Doug in front of Lambert's, home of the throwed rolls...we couldn't pass this up!!
Wow, that is a ton of food!
Doug and his pork chops...yummmy!
I realize now that none of these pictures show the rolls...they were there I promise, we ate SO many of them!!!
Full and happy, we headed off to Tennessee...
In the afternoon, we walked over to our nephew's house for a bar-b-que with Doug's side of the family. Once we realized, after walking a few blocks past his house that we had gone to far, we were pretty tired! (The picture above was taken right about where we were supposed to turn...but I guess we were distracted) We were hot from all that walking, so we broke out the water guns...
Our M.I.B. picture...
And finally, the fireworks...
