Kansas City - Part 2

The weekend was great in Kansas City and Monday we hit Deanna Rose Farm.  It is free and you can see every kind of farm animal - feed them, pet them, play, fish, etc.  It was a very cool place and the kids seemed to really enjoy it.











Monday night we went to Oklahoma Joe's, a BBQ place.  Apparently it is pretty famous and Anthony Bourdain (No Reservations TV show) said it is one of the top 13 places you must in the world before you die.  I had the ribs and they were very good.  Kate even nibbled on a few, that's my girl!



Tuesday we went to Crown Center.  Hallmark is based in KC and they have a shopping/eating center.  We ate at a restaurant called Fritz's.  A train chugs around the edge of the ceiling and drops the food at your table.  It is truly about ambiance, because the food is not bringing people back.  Oh well, it was fun and the kids loved it.  You call in your order on a phone and they give you conductor hats!  After that, they have those giant fountains across the street and we let the kids run around in them.  We brought a change of clothes and just let them run topless around.  That was not the plan for Kate, but once Jack's shirt came off, she wanted hers off.  She is still young enough, right?

















Final, Part 3 Next!

Confession and Kansas City - Part 1

Are you a "blog stalker"?  I am.  I love reading other peoples blogs and seeing their highlights and details of their lives.  I was reading a few blogs last week and I caught myself thinking, "man, I wish I could do that" or "I want that".    What I tend to forget that is in reality, blogs are snippets of peoples lives.  Some are fake and some are real, but most people are going to blog about them yelling at their kids, their laundry piling up or having a someone hurt their feelings.  We blog about the exciting, "cool" things that happen.  I do the same thing.  I do write truth, but this is NOT EVERYDAY LIFE.  Just wanted to put that disclaimer out there.  Yes, there are funny little things that happen during the day, but we live life and it is full of ups and downs.  I don't know if this is a confession or an observation, but in any case, please read my blog and enjoy it, but do realize I sin, all the time, make mistakes and live a pretty normal life.  For that I can't complain.  Normal feels blessed.

In totally non-normal life, I wanted to share some about our trip to Kansas City.  We decided a few months back to take the plunge and put the kids and ourselves on a plane and visit Craig's mom.  I mentally prepared for the flight and had some anxiety about how the kids would be.  I was totally one of those people who when I saw a toddler or baby get on a plane I would say, "please don't sit by me" so I don't have to hear you scream.  Don't deny it, you do it too.  I do however, have a new perspective on it and would not fly a lot with the kids, but would do it again.  We left Thursday night before our Friday morning flight and spent the night in a hotel.

Friday, we got up and headed the airport in plenty of time.  The flights went well.  Jack was a champ and was very occupied the whole time.  Kate cried a bit our second flight, but I think she was tired.  When we got into KC, we went to the TRex Restaurant which in true dinosaur form, has a huge TRex inside.  The food was decent, but the place was pretty cool.  Every 30 minutes there was an asteroid shower with lights and booms.









Saturday, Craig and Brian went to Omaha for the day to catch the first game of the College World Series and  see the new stadium.  Debby, the kids and I went to a local shopping center that had fountains.  I shopped a bit solo and Debby told me to get the kids some extra clothes because they were wet.  Oh man.  I was in Gap, they walked in and I turned around to see two wet rats!  Needless to say, we left immediately with new clothes on them.  I guess they had fun.  That night we hunted lightening bugs or as they say in the Midwest, fireflies.  That was fun and the kids really enjoyed it.  Jack actually caught one with his hands.  He was so proud.  We put the few we caught in the jar, but they never lit up in there.









Sunday was church, relaxing and then we went to Debby and Brian's friends house, the Shraders.  We ate pizza and then we had S'mores.  YUM.  The kids loved them.  We even put some Reese Cups in a few.  That was really a great night.  Great fellowship, food and felt like good summertime fun.    That was probably my most favorite thing we did in Kansas City.  I am about just chillin'.  I don't have to do tons of stuff to be happy.  The other things were great, but sweets, people and food - that is what I like.













And, this one because it is FUNNY!



Part 2, coming next.

Triplets Farm Birthday Party

The Big 3 turned 3!  We celebrated and we celebrated big.  Knowing Kimberly was delivering just three weeks shy of the triplets birthday, I took on the task of throwing the party.  I planned and plotted as I am party thrower and love doing it.  The theme was Farm, since we had all the farm stuff at their place and sent out the invites.  We decided since most of the kids were young, we needed to keep them busy, so we had 4 stations - pony rides, courtesy of Apple Jack, Haystack Hunt to find toys and candy, decorate your flower pot and plant a flower.  We rotated stations and each child was an animal, either a pig, horse, cow or sheep.  It went over well and everyone seemed to enjoy it and stay busy.

We gave out some Cow Cookies in a Jar as favors and spent time talking with family and friends.  The cakes were a cow, a pig and a sheep.  There is a LONG story behind the cakes, as they were not the original intent,  but they were eaten and were good.  My mom and I will have many memories from the "Night of the Cakes".  

Reese

It was really a fun day and I am truly grateful I was able to be a part!  Thanks to my mom for her amazing help and to Kimberly for letting me "run the show".

*More photos can be found on my photography wesbite.

I Think I Remember June

I am back...mostly.  My brain is still mush and I am trying to remember where we left things before our vacation, but the kids and I settled in today at home with unpacking and laundry.  Before I disclose details about our trip, I wanted to recap a few things since last post.

First, I love rompers.  I know that at my age, they seem a tad inappropriate, ergo, I have a cutie girl toddler here that I can dress.  I found this great pattern on Sew Sweet Patterns (see tab to right for blog and purchasing information) called the Saffron Romper.  Actually pretty easy and very cute!  OH, and in other news, Kate got bangs.  She needed some face space and her hair was getting in the way...super cute, I think.

I also made this a few weeks back...Children's Corner Pattern - Hillary Dress.  I am already dreaming of reds and greens and monograms and piping for Christmas dresses with this pattern.  This fabric was a light blue with pink dots all over.

In between sewing and packing, our church had Adventure Week 2011!  This was my first year helping out and I loved it.  I was on the Registration/Dismissal team and helped in the kitchen during the lunch hours.  Our church had it M - TH, 9am - 2pm which meant I had to be there at 8am until about 2:30, so it was a long day for me and the kids, but definitely worth it.  The kids (my kids weren't quite old enough yet) in VBS seemed to really enjoy it and I heard stories and testimonies about how excited kids were getting about Jesus.  A huge thanks to everyone who helped and I will definitely be back next year.  We had a great time.  I met some new people, served where I could and saw God move in the lives of children...awesome.

Next post is the Triplets 3rd Birthday and then Kansas City!

The Three are Three!

Our family sure changed 3 years ago today.  My brother and sister-in-law would welcome three amazing, wonderful and very different children into their lives.  The first year was survival, the second year was settling in and this third year has probably been just plain nuts!  Blake Emory, Paige McKenzie and Claire Elizabeth are some the sweetest, funniest, cutest kids you'll ever meet and I am glad I get to be their Aunt JuJu!

Paige, Blake and Claire - Just Home

Claire, Blake and Paige - 1 Year Old

Claire, Blake and Paige - 2 Years Old (Jack sneaked into this one)

Blake, Paige and Claire - 3 Years Old

Since we are looking at old pictures, I like to do flashbacks sometimes.  Here were my two just a year ago!

Jack looks so much younger and Kate had no hair!

Time does fly, but it sure is fun!

Memorial Day Weekend

May was a blip on my radar.  It came and went so fast I can barely remember what happened except that there were birthdays, holidays, babies and so much more.  Friday I was home with the kids and I wanted to go out!  I called our favorite non-family babysitter and thankfully, she was available.  Craig and I went to a cool Asian-fusion place we like and saw Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.  I liked it, but it took me a while to warm up to the new cast.  I miss Orlando Bloom!  It was great to have a date night, though.
 
Saturday, was a first birthday pool party for our friend, Wren.  Sunday was church and its goodness.  We had a very nice Memorial Day service.  We have a General from WWII who served on Iwo Jima who attends our church and he read a prayer - he is the epitome history and honor rolled into a single man.   Sunday afternoon was a photo shoot of a CUTE little boy (see my photography website for more of his cuteness) and Monday was Jack's BFF, Kayleigh's 4th birthday!  It has been fun to see her grow with Jack.  From babies to big kids (tear for me and Lisa).  We then went to my parents for a little pool time and celebrated my dad's birthday.  I have to admit, I am thinking June is going to come and go just as quickly as May did - triplets birthday, Adventure Week at church, Father's Day, a trip to Kansas City.  I am now deciding July is the month of rest.  As for the pictures - Kate is NOT afraid of water at all.   Jack, on the other hand, barely got in and have several flotation devices on him.  My kids are funny.