Oglepalooza

We went to Leslie's hometown in northeast Missouri this past weekend, for the annual Ogle family reunion. We didn't go last year (because Leslie was eight months pregnant with Landon) and we hadn't been to Monroe City since May, so we were looking forward to it.

We got there Friday evening and stayed with Leslie's aunt and uncle, Joe & Debbie.


Saylor, Dusty and Skyler — Joe & Debbie's three sons and Leslie's first cousins. Oh my gosh, they've grown up! Saylor and Skyler were the little ringbearers in our wedding, but now at 15 and 16, respectvely, they seem even older than that.

They took me up to the shop to show me the new race car they're working on, the truck they drive to school and to tell me about other adventures they've recently gotten away with.



Jackson was excited to jump up on the little trapeeze bar and hang upside down by his knees with no hands. So Skyler showed us that he could do it, too.


Tiffany and her son Tanner.


Brothers roughhousing in the kitchen.

Late Saturday morning, we all went into town to tour the new daycare that Mechele has started.



After lunch, back out on the farm, we walked up to the 70-year-old barn that Leslie's dad (who used to be a butcher) is converting to his own meat-processing locker. It'll be called White Barn Meats.



Jackson exploring the hay loft.

A Coke and a smile.










We hung out at Greg & Mechele's house the rest of the afternoon and evening; quite a few relatives from out of town came over for a family reunion pre-party. It was great weather, the kids loved running around together and we made s'mores over the bon fire.

Then, all day Sunday was the family reunion.




As you can see, Landon got held quite a bit.



When it was time to eat lunch, Leslie's grandpa made a few announcements and led us all in The Lord's Prayer.




Siblings


The youngest person there was baby Bryce, at just 21 days old. Here he is with his grandma and great-grandpa.





At the end of the afternoon, it was time for us to head home. Here's a house that we always pass ... and always say we're going to take a picture.

We had picked up these huge mums for the front of our house from a guy that Leslie worked with when they were in high school. For several years now, he's run a great florist shop/nursery out of his historic home on Main Street — and they were only $4.50 each!

We made a pit stop at Subway in Brookfield, Mo., but the men's bathroom was so gross, I had to use the women's instead. Besides wanting to call the health department hotline, I also wanted to say "There IS a paper towel dispenser, too."

But we did get the pleasure of seeing the Pershing Balloon Derby. I think Jackson counted 13 hot-air balloons in the sky, that we could see all at one time.

Happy Labor Day!