I love Kansas City

Weekend getaways are so refreshing!  And this family needed a break.  We planned our escape to Kansas City for the begining of November.  It was perfect timing as we avoided 2 showings and 1 open house.  Providing us the much needed relief from the constant cleaning that comes with having your home on the market.   And all the while, I had dreamed of taking the kids to Kalidescope to let their imagination run wild.  While Jeff craved some famous KC BBQ.  Kansas City was calling our name! Just one last time before we pack up and head north.

  We stayed at this fantastic boutique hotel.  I love Priceline, we got a steal on this sweet room.

  which looked like this... the very next morning.   

Do you see what I see?  One child in his undies! One child wearing no pants!  And one big husband hiding behind the blanket?  Yep.  That's my family and I couldn't love them more.

Kalidescope is an awesome arts and crafts center for kids.  I went there as a child myself and have longed to return someday.  It was every bit of what I remember and even more fun when  sharing it with your own children.

This is the giant kalidescope that projects on the wall.  Zachary could of stayed forever just watching it change.   Aweome.   

And this cool camera projects an image on movie screen.  In the pitch black.

Glow in the dark painting.  A favorite.

 Good 'ol fashion water colors.  Still cool. 

                                                                     Lovie Doves.

                                                                         How cute are they?

This picture speaks volumes. Ellie is showering Avery with hugs and smiles. While Zachary is keeping his eye on Ellie. Watching her every move and following her lead. Avery, front and center is thriving on the attention. These three were meant to be together.  

Red Ribbon Week

No one loves red ribbon week more than Avery.  This girl adores school... so any opportunity to show  school spirit is right up her alley.  Infact, I think going to school each day is the hightlight of her life.    Everyday of the week is a designated "dress up" day.  She was all over it. But, let's face it..it was her mom who got all the outfits ready for her.   The secret is out...I love red ribbon week as much as Avery.

Crazy hair day.  (Avery has been planning and looking forward to crazy hair day for at least a year)

 

Favorite Team Jersey day.  Who knew we would become Husker Fans?

Super Hero Day.  Avery is "Smart Power Girl". 

School Colors day.  Red, white, and blue. 

Ah, shucks.   We forgot to take a picture of jammie day.  Suffice it to say, she was cute and cozy all bundled up in her P.J's and robe.

It's the post party wrap up

OK.  I'm so over Halloween right now....but I need to post the pics of all of the parties around here. I know I will want to remember the festivities in years to come. So here is the wrap up Halloween 2010.

When the twins were 5 I had a Halloween party for them. So, it seems only fair that I should do the same for Avery. And,I love, love, love little kids in costume. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I know Avery did as well.   It was a simple and short get together with 5 of Avery's classmates. We ate spooky snacks, played scary games, and made an evil bat craft.  Ok, so it's not so evil....but very cute.

Zachary and Ellie were invited to a 6th grade Hallween party at Kadi's home. Zachary only stayed for a short while before Jeff picked him up for a "guys night out". As you know, for Zach this is better than any party with a room full of  loud girls.   The music blarred in the backround and the kids mingled with one another. Lots of laughing.  Ellie stayed until the end at 10:00. She had so much fun and was a little chatterbox on the ride home. I think she mostly liked the independance of staying out late. Alone. With 25 cute girls.

We had a blast at the annual Patterson/Keiser Halloween party. There were so many creative and downright Awesome costumes this year. Everyone went all out. Well, except us. This year we were preoccupied with selling our home and all that goes along with moving.  So, I just couldn't devote much time or attention to the costume (I guess I have a one track mind when our house is on the market.)  We went down the "easy " road and came up with Tacky Hawaiian Tourists. But, it worked.

Check out these costumes!  Bummer,  I didn't get a picture of everyone. Sorry.  I noticed I am missing Darren Keiser as Nacho Libre.  And, he was absolutetly hilarious.

Trunk or Treat

Each year we look forward to the church's Halloween party.  It is always loads of fun with buckets of candy.

We played games.

We played with friends.

We go inside for a chili cornbread dinner/contest.  It's usually chaotic.  Hard to convince the kids to sit down and eat. 

(Looks like Zachary has spotted Dave's lollipop and can't his eyes off it.) 

Finally, it's back outside to go trunk or treating.  Yeah.  Just what we have been waiting for...bags of candy.  A sugar high right before bedtime.  The kids love it and I love to see the kids so happy.

Of course everyone decorates their trunk festive and spooky.

oops...except us. 

(avery really wanted to help pass out candy.  So, after a couple of minutes of trunk or treating she sat with me and passed out the candy.

On the way home, most important part of the night.  Checkin' out the goods. Yummmmm. Candy.

Introducing...

my happy cheerleader

a mothers nightmare...I mean, a rebel rockstar.

a sweet toothfairy

What a great halloween we have had this year.  I should mention it was "sweater only" weather each night that we dressed up and partied.  I couldn't be happier with a Hallow Eve that stays in the high 50's.  Is it to much to ask for this weather to stay throughout the winter months. 

Oh, yes.  Lots more Halloween pics to come.  Uhg, I need to get them up soon before the life of Nov. takes me away.

Happy Halloween

To my favorite little rebel rockstar, toothfairy, and cheerleader.

Stay tuned to see them in full character and costume. 

But in the meantime, say hello to our little friends the jack-0-laterns.

and so it begins

The festivites of Halloween start early.  This year the spooktacular season was ushered in with a "pumpkin day" for the first graders.  I volunteered to help with the different stations throughtout the day.   I was assigned to the art station... the messy but fun table.  This year has been different for me because I haven't been volunteering as much as usual.  I think the whole "house on the market thing" has thrown me for a loop.  So it felt nice to be back in the mix of 6 year olds.  I love first graders! 

Gosh, I love it.

Suddenly I am thinking about all the things I love about Nebraska. I am big fan of Omaha... even when it's not cool to love Nebraska. I'll tell ya, it's not the humidity, or the lack of beauty (although, I have a strange love of cornfields). Nope.  It's not the icy winter wind. It all stems from the community.  And, family.  Most of all, the goodness that comes from being together. The midwest instills this notion and even encourages it in the hearts of the people here.

Fall happens to be our prized season. The sun shines bright and ignites the heartland.
There are so many family community activites to focus on the beauty of a simple life. This is the goodness.

 Kimmel Apple Orchard is among my favorites.  I love it.  How can you resist a day of  fresh apple cider, hot donuts, bags of packed apples, hayrack ride, and a huge pumpkin patch.   It just may be on my top 10!
                                These hot donuts are so delish.  We all craved  them from last year.

Just Chillin' on the hayrack ride

  Zachary was very choosy.  He wouldn't keep any apple with even the slightest imperfection.  He also ate many along the way.

 And, to this six year old catching butterflies was every bit as fun as picking apples.

  The fruit of our labors.                        

                               
 Lots of goofin' off.  Avery is always willing to capture us on camera.

On to the pumpkin patch.  Just a quick hayrack ride over.

 Here's a beauty

Until next year...  And, yes I hope to make it next year.  I don't think 3 hours is to far to drive for this kind of a day!

so now you know

This is the reason I am so behind on blogging. 

All because this cute guy works extra hard and got himself a BIG FAT PROMOTION!

with this company

and so we are moving our family to this state.

We are happy.  With a touch of sadness in leaving the goodness of Omaha behind.  Wish us luck!

summer wedding wrap up

The very last week of summer vacation we took off to a wedding. 
By way of San Fran.  Up the coast.  To Mendencino.  Finally to Fort Bragg for the nuptiuals. 

Jeff's brother, Ray married his long time girl friend, Althea.  And, lucky for all of us it was held on the cliffside overlooking the ocean.  With a beautiful lighthouse in the backdrop.  Weddings are such a joyous way to reconnect with family and spend time together.  The time was brief but we had a lovely visit.  Based on the giggles alone we know that the girls had a blast playing with their cousin, Kaylee.  Wish we could see them more often!

The wedding: Althea, the Minister, Ray during the vows.

The wedding party.  Dianne, Newell, Samantha, and Dusty (Althea's son)

This lighthouse was charming.  I just loved the atomosphere of this place.

Happy little girls.

  Watching the bride make her entrance.

Hand and hand.  Can you tell there is 100 ft drop off?

Beautiful Samantha.  All of our kids love to hang with Samantha.  She is so good to them.

I love to capture moments like this.

Although, this trip was not without a few "hiccups"  It was still a time wonderfully spent.


Like I said, we had a few "snags"  in our days.  I want to remember that even though it was hard to gain perspective at the time, these little details only make it more memorable in the long run.  And, remind me of the many smooth travels we have had. 

1.  An error in travel times.  Booked on a flight leaving at 7:00 pm, instead of 7:00 am.
2.  pay a fee to change 3 of the flights.
3.  We fly on separate flights and airlines in order to save money. 
4.  A four hour delay for 1/2 the family in Phoniex.   (Although, this actually worked out in our favor as the other 1/2 of the family was due in at the same time as the "new" scheduled arrival.)
5.  The airlines lost Jeff's bag.  It was scheduled to arrive at our hotel at midnight.  It's a no show. 
6.  Canceled and re-booked new hotel closer to the airport (due to a hiccup, explained later)
7.  Wake up early on the first day to Zach having a seizure. 
8.  Throwing up, sleeping Zach.  Skip all the plans we had scheduled for this day.
9.  Drive back to the airport to pick up Jeff's lost bag.
10.  Zach throws up in the car.  On Ellie.
11.   Get on the road for Mendencino.  We think we have 3 hours ahead of us.  WRONG.
12.  Jeff has the worse miagrain of his life.  I have to drive.
13.  6 hours later we arrive.
14.  Miss the scheduled dinner.
15.  Jeff was asked to fly to Denver and back  in the middle of our vacation.   Which should explain why we changed our hotel.  An hour closer to the airport which we will take him to and fro all within 36 hours.
16.  The kids and I get lost on the San Franscio highway. Yes,  I had the GPS.  Still.
17.  The kids and I tour San Fran Gherdelli square without Jeff.  Big fat bummer.
18.  The kids and I get lost again on the San Fran. highway.  I had the GSP.  But, still.
19.  We pay the 20.oo fare to ride the trolley.  Nobody cares about the trolley, later take a cab.
20.  Jeff left his phone on the seat of his drivers car.  No cell phone; no direct communicating with him.
21.  Jeff's flight was delayed. He arrives in at midnight.
22.  The next morning Ellie and I depart for Omaha.
23.  All 5 of us meet up in Phoniex, just in time for the worst "dust storm" in years.
All flights grounded till 1:00 AM
24.  Finally,  arrive back in Omaha at 4:00 in the morning. 
And, the kids never knew any better.  They had a great time.

Stay tuned for more of our San Fransico treat.