Apology/explanation for lack of posts & Miami/Afton/Route 66 Vinita-Catoosa

Over the last year, D and I have continued our "adventures" although they are not always monthly and not always out of town. Sometimes it is just an adventure to go to Home Depot or Hobby Lobby together other days it is an adventure to paint our nails and watch "Once Upon a Time". I am planning on getting the blog up to speed, tomorrow (and possibly the next few days).

But the real reason I logged in tonight was because the hubby and I went to Miami for the night as a quick getaway. We stayed at Buffalo Run, which was really nice. The way there was mostly uneventful, except we got to Buffalo Run get ready to go into the casino and I realized I forgot my purse at my MIL's house. UGH!!! So back to Catoosa we went to get my purse and then we returned to Miami. 

We ate dinner at Montana Mike's, serolin is good and not over cooked. The broccoli was perfect!

Today, we decided to take the "long way" home. Mainly because I begged the hubby to stop in Afton to get a picture of Tripper the Penguin. He has never understood D and my's obsession with the penguins and buffalo so I was super excited when he got off the turnpike to go to Afton. Laurel was super nice and let me take a picture of Tripper. I explained why I was taking a picture of a 6 foot tall penguin. The male that was working (I didn't catch his name, ooopppps) took a picture of me and Tripper and I was told that my story would be on her blog for the day. So go check it out, read some of the past post, it is pretty awesome to see where all these people come from to travel a road I drive on everyday. (Afton Station Blog)

When we left Afton Station, the hubby surprised me more by stopping at Buffalo Ranch to let me get a picture of the buffalo statue and the real buffalo. I didn't get a picture, but the plaque on the flag pole said something to the effect of "At this location on April ??, 18?? absolutely nothing spectacular happened" (I know that probably was not even close so if someone has a picture of this plaque please send it to me). And then we hoped back on the turnpike and right as I was about to doze off, I got another surprise. 

For the hubby's 3rd surprising decision of the day, he got back off the turnpike so we could take route 66 back to Catoosa. We had picked up one of the free books at Afton Station, so I had reading material for the drive. We went through Vinita, and into Chelsea. Here we took a small detour to see where the hubby used to live and to find the 1926 Steel Truss Bridge that was mentioned in our reading material. From there we continued on to Foyil to see the Totem Pole Park. I remember coming here as a kid but it was totally different as an adult. I wanted to stop and see the information on the first Bunion Derby but we were out of time. So we headed on home but not before driving past The Big Blue Whale and the elaborate old bridge entrance of Molly's Landing (Sorry no pictures, did I mention we were out of time because we had to go get our kids who my sister was awesome enough to take for the night).

After picking up the kids with dinner at my MIL's house for my SIL's birthday. All around is has been an awesome weekend, a night of no laundry, kids screaming, cooking etc, being able to watch an entire movie with the hubby without having to pause because one of the kids needs something, new friends, family time, and tacos. Tomorrow the hubby and I are decorating graves and then going to take the kids fishing and grill out. Please take some time out of your day to remember what this holiday is actually about. 

Night All

K

Check back tomorrow for all the pictures I did manage to take.
Pictures are up: HERE