Thunderstorms in Kansas City But Warm

Evie with Marlena and her friend, Ella

Playing Four Square in the Driveway

Mary and Bella

Nick Hangs!

Both Evie and I were up around 7:00, to gray skies, rain to come.  Marlena got up around 7:30 so she and Evie are playing various You Tube videos on the IPAD.  Bella, their dog, is sitting on my lap (she likes my long legs), contentedly chewing on a toy.  It's around 60 degrees outside, all the trees are in bloom, so everything is a vibrant spring green, the lawns a rich healthy dark green, the trees a lighter shade.  Most of the spring flowering trees are past their prime but the lilacs are still out, their smell intoxicating as we walk by them

Bella, Man's Best Friend

We arrived in Lee's Summit, a southwest suburb of KC, about 2:00. a little over 5 hours from Effingham.  Nick got home from school around 3:15, Marlena not till 4:10.  We all went to meet her at the bus, embarrassing her a bit as their was a crowd of six to greet her as she got off the bus.  We relaxed outside before dinner, a pleasant late afternoon to sit out side.  Evie played four square with Marlena and her friends and Tom and Nick played a couple of games of one on one, working up quite a sweat as it was easily in the 70's.  Nick seems to have grown quite a bit since Thanksgiving, like Mitchell.  He's catching up with Tom, about 5' 7", I would guess.  He's running track at school and playing both basketball and soccer on local teams, so he keeps quite busy.  Marlena plays soccer, takes piano lessons, to keep her busy.

Marlena with friends

Tom and Mary made us a great dinner.  Tommy grilled out New York strips with grilled sweet peppers and mushrooms.  Mary put together asparagus, wrapped in prosciutto with a spread of cream cheese. They were baked in the oven for about 35 minutes, coming out with the prosciutto crispy, the asparagus tender and tasty. We feasted on the steak and fix ins, with enough left over for a good steak and egg breakfast.

Since Nick had just read A. E, Hintons's THE OUTSIDER, in his Language Arts class, we watched the Francis Ford Coppola movie of the book, from 1983.  I remember seeing it when it came out and liked it well enough.  It was the start of great careers for many of the young stars of the film, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, and Emilio Estevez.  Evie made popcorn, after putting Marena to ed, so it was a good way to end the night.  We went to bed at 11:00, very tired after our drive and time with the kids and Tom and Mary.