Tent Camping at the Meramec River

So, who takes a 16 month old tent camping?  We do.  It has been blistering hot all summer long with temperatures consistently near 100 degrees.  Put that with the fact that taking a toddler anywhere is a large undertaking and you get a big case of cabin fever in the summertime.  Well, I couldn't take it anymore, so I made an executive decision that we were going to find some nice, cool, running water in the form of a river.  The Current River would have been the most ideal for being cool and clean, but the Meramec River is also spring fed and is much closer.  

We fill the back of a full size truck with supplies and take off.  Paul, Brandon, Samantha & I leave the house around Samantha's nap time thinking that she could sleep during that 2 hour drive.  Think again.  She did not because she knew something new was going on.  We arrive at the campground and took one of Paul's favorite spots along the river where the water curves around the bend.  Normally, we would have set up right next to the river, but for safety's sake, we backed off a bit to give Samantha some running room.

Setting up was a sweat inducing event as it was at least in the mid 90's.  Samantha had a few cool down sessions with the truck's A/C before sunset cooled everything down for us.  Between those sessions, we all took turns playing in the water.  Paul took Brandon & I in turn up river with an inner tube, so we could float back down to the site.  Brandon and Paul played in the water near the site skipping rocks and splashing each other.  They were having so much fun out there that Samantha and I just had to join in.  We got into our swimsuits.  Hers had life jacket built in.  I aired up her little water seat and we got wet.  She didn't know what to make of all that water.  Her daddy and I put her in the seat and held on tight while she fussed and decided if she liked it or not.  It really didn't take her long to start splashing and having fun.  Paul and I even pushed her between us to create her first float trip.  

After that, it was time to eat.  We all came in to dry off and change clothes.  We went up to the campground restaurant to eat and soak up some A/C.  The restaurant is adjacent to the cave entrance, so after dinner, we walked over to look at cave artifacts and souveniers  for sale.  
In front of the restaurant we came across Jesse James and his brother along with 2 more outlaws Badlands Brandon and Samantha "the Panther" Price.  Samantha "the Panther" is well known for stealing the show wherever she goes, while Badlands Brandon keeps watch over her.

Playing in the water

You need just a few ingredients to have some summer fun.

Step 1:  Turn on the water sprinkler and add a plastic bowl.

Step 2:  Grab a coffee can and some rocks

Now you're having fun!

5th Year Anniversary

Mom and Dad came over to watch Samantha so Paul and I could go out. We went to Columbia to a Japanese restaurant-Osaka. The food was very good , but the atmosphere left something to be desired. Our chef was a 20-something white guy. The floor was carpet and industrial tile. It wasn't very Japanese.
It was still a different experience and a wonderful time with my hubby. Afterward, we walked off some of the food at Shelter Gardens. It was a very nice 85 outside and beautiful there.

Remembering

We have returned from Farmington after Janet's funeral. It's still so unreal that she is gone. We will never see her again or hear her voice. She was only 42. One of my own brothers is 43. I can not imagine the pain Paul and his family feel. Her widowed husband is also so hurt and lost that I can't describe the emotion. He was so in love with her. That was always so clear to me.


Her mother and sister held strong during the service, but they must be torn apart inside.  How can you not be.  They are such a close group.  There are so many pictures at family get togethers of Kathy, Robin and Janet.  They were 3 of a kind.  

L to R:  Eric, Mitchell, Janet & Taylor
Janet and her sons

I remember meeting Janet and Mike when Paul and I first started dating.  He and his kids were living with her and her 3 boys.  Talk about a crowded house, but they all seemed to get along well with the situation.  The house only had 3 bedrooms but they made another bedroom using some ingenuity.  Paul and his kids all slept in the same room.  Amber and Brandon were young enough that it was more of a game.  Janet's 3 boys were old enough as teenagers that they weren't at the house much anyway.  Janet and Mike had their own room.  


I remember getting asked plenty of screening questions from Janet at her dining room table.  She didn't hesitate to give me a hard time about everything, but once I was finished with phase 1 of interrogation, she was sweet and generous.  

Harold and Janet
Father and Daughter

Janet was the first of Paul's family that I met, so I was closest to her.  She's gone.....so young......so full of life and love.  How do you have a heart attack at 42?  I will miss her.  Paul is in terrible shape.  The loss of his father still cause great pain for him, and now with his sister gone, I hope he can stay sane and cope with his loss as positively as one can.  He's so angry with the world right now.  I pray for him and all the Price family.  They are in great pain.

Our Wedding - 5 years ago today

Our Loss of Janet

Today, around 5:30 pm, we found out that Paul's sister, Janet, had passed away.  She had been struggling with some chronic medical issues for years now, but I didn't think it was life threatening.  What a sad time.  Paul left for his mother's house immediately after getting home from work.  Samantha, the kids and I stayed behind until the arrangements have been made.  We'll go down for the services.  Paul's family has lost his father and now his sister.  It hasn't sunk in yet for anyone.  I pray for strength to share.  I pray that they may all cope well with this loss.  I pray for them. 


Janet was 42 years old.  A few years ago she married a great man, Mike.  Her 3 boys had just moved out on their own into a junky old house that they were remodeling as part of the rent.  Life for Janet was good.  Paul says that her illness had been easing for the last few months.  She even made it to Samantha's 1st birthday party.  I was surprised to see her.  Her illness caused her great pain that was exaggerated during car rides, and since she lived 3 hours from us, I didn't expect her to attend.  


Janet was a wonderful, loving, giving, hard-ass who did not hesitate to tell you what she thought.  Spunky and funny.  Loud and obnoxious.  Would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.  I loved her greatly.  

This pic is from Samantha's birthday party about 3 months ago.

This pic was from our wedding, which was 5 years ago.

Update:  The doctors said that it looked like she had a massive heart attack in her sleep.