Kansas City Trip

Two weekends ago I decided to brave a solo trip with the kids to KC.  Bryan needed to stay and work and I didn't want to miss the opportunity before school started back up.  We left Thursday evening and headed West!

We stopped in Springfield for dinner and since Bryan wasn't there, I decided on Long John Silvers for dinner.  I told Jackson it was a special pirate restaurant.  He loved it!  I changed the kids into pajamas and we drive all the way to KC.

Friday morning we got up and met Grandpa, Robin, and Cole for breakfast and then did some shopping.  The kids were tired and therefore pretty naughty for my visit with my friend Julie that evening.

Saturday we went to Worlds of Fun.  My dad and I got to ride a couple roller coasters and my mom and the kids enjoyed the rides in Planet Snoopy.

Jackson's favorite part was Dinosaurs Alive.  It put the traveling exhibit that was at our zoo to shame.  It was great and JJ learned so much.

Charley slept through the whole dinosaur walk.

Saturday night we went to our friends' house and the kids LOVED playing in the dirt with their friends.

Sunday morning we woke up to a rainstorm!  The radar looked like it would move out by mid morning so we headed to the donut shop! So, so good!

The girl loves her donuts.

The weather didn't cooperate until around 1:00 but when it did, it was perfect.  Everyone else had moved on with other plans which left Oceans of Fun  with no crowds at all!!

The kids had a blast!  Jackson loved the wave pool and the lazy river.  He just paddled and paddled all over and was grinning from ear to ear the whole time.  Charley liked splashing too and was happy to go wherever we took her.  Jackson even went on a couple water slides in the kids part. 

We were there for 4 hours and then we HAD to go.  The kids were completely exhausted.  I woke her up somewhat panicking because she was SO unresponsive.  She was up with a few good shakes.

Monday was our trip back and the beginning of the recovery.  We were so, so tired after our awesome trip!! We'll see you in a couple months, Kansas City!

This is What Eight Looks Like

Today Bryan and I have been married 8 years.  We dated for 5 years before that.  Making this collage was such a fun way to look back.  We have moved three times, added a dog and two kids, and lost an incredible father and three grandparents.  The transition to parenthood is hard but I can't imagine a better partner on the journey. 

Bryan and I met at Summer Welcome at Mizzou.  He had some cheesy pick up line about marching band but it did get us talking.  We had so much fun the first day and said goodbye at the end of the night.  The next morning I got up early to take my Spanish placement test and I looked up and he was sitting at the computer across from me.  We laughed about it and said bye again.  A couple hours later I arrived to the bookstore to get my ID to find that Bryan and his parents were the last people in line.  We talked some more in line and said goodbye again.  After some other stops along campus and lunch we went to the dorm I would be living in to see the sample room.  Guess who was in there!!  We walked in the dorm room and there he was again.  We said goodbye for the final time and he went back to Cincinnati and I went to Blue Springs.  On Move In Day in August we were waiting for the elevator to check in the dorm and, of course, Bryan and his parents were in there when the doors open.  Needless to say, I knew there was something special there.  We were officially dating a couple months later.  I love that part of our story!

We have been so blessed as a couple and we are looking forward to so many more years together.  I love you, Bryan!

Caroline Jane ~ Twenty Four Months

I'm not really sure why I never posted Charley's final monthly update.  This is the last of FOUR years of monthly updates between the two kids.  I know I will be so glad to have these to look back on in several years when all of this is a blur.  Now it's just updates every 6 months.

 

Caroline Jane, at twenty four months you:

• weigh 28 pounds and 9 ounces which is the 83rd percentile.
• are 34.5 inches tall which is the 62nd percentile.
• wear a size 6 shoe, 2T clothes, and a size 4 diaper.
• have developed quite the personality.  You let everyone know if you aren't happy and have developed quite high standards for what makes you happy.
• love playing with Jackson and copying him.  You don't love sharing with him and have no shame in blaming him for every little thing.
• call Jackson "shaksie."
• have become a much better communicator after your tubes were placed. 
• wake up talking about your friends at school, Holly and Thaddeus.  You said, "Holly,  Fun.  Thaddeus, Fun."
• are still an incredible eater.  You eat so many fruits and vegetables.  You really aren't much for sweets which is okay with mommy.
• mostly want white milk and water.  You don't like most juices or chocolate milk.
• have started showing a lot of interested in potty training.  You have even had several successes in the toilet.  You like watching everyone and you want to be fully naked to sit on your little frog potty.
• are such a snuggler and have the squishiest, most kissable cheeks!

HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY, CHARLEY JANE!!

Zoo Day

Last Tuesday was a perfect day for a zoo trip. It was only going to be 63 degrees at noon so we even got to take cozy sweatshirts!  The kids had a blast!

We went with our friends Andrea, Jacob, and Tessa.   Jackson and Jacob loved running around together.

It was a fun day at the Sea Lion exhibit because the trainers were there.  The kids thought it was great to watch the sea lions play with their ball and eat fish from the pail.

The boys were excited to ride the wolf.

All of the animals were so active because of the cool weather.  The kids were exhausted by this point and were happy to have the rail to lean against.

We have season passes so I am hoping to get to the zoo at least a couple more times before school starts.  The summer will be over before we know it.

Birthdays For Both!

Summer has been busy, busy, busy!  In the nearly 3 weeks it's been since the last post, both kids had their birthdays.  Charley turned two on June 22 but that day was spent in the car driving home from Nebraska.  Since the kids birthdays are only a couple weeks apart we to do a combo birthday party.  Throw the Fourth of July in there and we had a busy weekend!  We have gone to the pool every Fourth since I was pregnant with Jackson so it's a fun tradition to continue.  It was great to have an extra set (or three) of hands so Bryan and I could ride some slides.

 The kids both love their Puddle Jumpers.  These are so great because there is more support than just arm floaties give but it's not as cumbersome as a life jacket. 

 Even with sunscreen this girl started getting a little pink so we headed home for naps.

 After nap time we had our neighbors over for a practice run with our new inflatable water slide before we used it for the birthday party.  We had hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill as well. 

 The next day was party time.  We had about 10 families over and the kids had a blast.

 This is as excited as the kids got for their cakes.  I was so excited for them and even during the whole song, these were their faces.  Oh kids.

 On Jackson's actual birthday we had a packed day.  I felt bad about spending Charley's whole birthday in the car so we went all out for Jackson's.  We got donuts when we woke up, then met friends at the small zoo near our house, and after naps we went to the pool.  They were exhausted by the end of the day.

As I was sitting across from them as we ate at "the restaurant" I couldn't believe how big my kids are now.  I have a TWO and FOUR year old.  Whaaaat?? 

Rain, Rain

We had our Naperville Area Moms play date at the Splash Park on Wednesday until this storm rolled in. Luckily my kids were bone dry since they don't want to actually play IN the water so when 20+ moms made a mass exodus at the first thunder, we were back to our car before the first raindrops.

We drove home in the pouring rain and by the time we got home it was just a light drizzle.  Of course the kids decided it would be fun to get drenched in the rain.  Luckily our suits were still.

Charley's bike has been a huge hit and she's happy as can be just walking around with it like this.

But, big brother pushing her is way more fun!

Even Claire was out enjoying some new front yard scenery.

These days home with the kids have been so fun.  I was a little worried I would miss being with them and not want to go back to school!  So far it's been a fantastic balance.  Teaching really is the best job for moms!

Summer Days

We are loving our summer days together!  These kids exhaust me though.  It was a beautiful day on Friday so we made a short stop at a tiny zoo by us.

It's free to get in and takes about 20 minutes to walk through but it's a great little detour on the way to the grocery store.

The favorite for Jackson was this tortoise and the bald eagles.  "Look, mom!  He's coming close to me because he likes me!"

Charley loved the reptile house. She ran in circles the whole time and stopped to say hi to the turtles after each lap.

Then we found this.  Gross.

It's just so fun watching the kids play together.  It's a fun and tiring age.