Last Hurrah!!

Our dear friends, the Ws are leaving for the next 6mo, so we were excited to spend a final time with then at one of our favorite spots, The Fountains.  Granted, this was Plan C or D- I lost track....  Despite this, we had a great time!!

SO excited!!

Love this face!!

So sweet!!

What a monkey!!

Friends!!

Loving Each Other!

Lunch!!  Love that there is a CFA there now!!

Me and my sweetie!!

Random Happiness!

When we returned from the Mid-West, we found out some of our good friends would be leaving in 2 weeks, to relocate for the next 6 months!!  Yikes!!  We soaked up as much time as we could with them- doing all kinds of happy, fun things!!

You know that random ride in the middle of the mall?  Well, we rode it!

These two are such good friends, most of the time!  It's kinda funny to think that Alden is actually older....

Of course, we couldn't spend ALL our time with our friends, so we did do some other fun things as the beginning of school was looming closer and closer!!

Lots of time was spent at the pool!  I really to expect to find gills on the kids one morning they love the water so much!

Of course, you can't forget to do your summer reading!  We are blessed with a neighborhood full of brillant kids!  Winston and Addie love to share books!!

One other event that was on my Summer Bucket List was VBS- a local church does an amazing job- and the pastor actually worked with the pastor of the church Al attended in NY, the very pastor that married us!  The VBS feeds the kids dinner, teaches them the Bible, and Al and I get a week worth of date night- everyone wins!

Rockin' the VBS shirt and having a blast!  She is still walking around singing the songs and quoting the scripture!

He had a blast, too!  He still tells me stories from it and corrects Addie if she ever sings incorrect lyrics!

And another scratch off the Bucket List- bowling- REAL bowling!!  This was quite an adventure for the kids as it is drastically different from Wii bowling!  I waited until I had my 2 favorite Big Kids, and we went together- thank you for the free passes, AMF!   Elena taught them how to Granny Bowl, and since that didn't get them their desired results, she then showed them how to correctly hold the ball and they enjoyed that much more!  Addie only bowled 1 round- the ball was too heavy- but Alden loved it!

Thank goodness for bumpers!!  I often thought he was playing pin-ball....  He got better as he played and totally enjoyed it!

Can you see her concentration?  The tongue is out!

Park Time- aka Get Your Wiggles Out 'Cause We're Going To Be In The Car ALLL Day!

Our last day in KC we headed to a local park located on the Missouri River.  We wanted the kids to have a chance to get all kinds of wiggles out since they would literally be in the car for the next two days!  My sister and her sweet kiddos joined us as did my brother, and of course, Rebecca and Thomas were there as well!  It was hot, muggy and rather buggy, but we still managed to have fun!

Addie between two of her favorite men!

Cousins touring outer space together!

These two played so sweetly together the entire time!!  Since they are outnumbered, it's a good thing!!

Dad and some of his grandkids!

Girls hanging out where there was a teeny-tiny breeze!

Gasp!  Alden learned here, that babies can be fun!!  He actually enjoyed pushing N around and helped him fall asleep!!

Sunday Funday in KC

Sunday, our last full day in KC, was a blast!  We went to church and since there is no Children's Worship during July, the kids stayed with us....  It gave me a whole new appreciation for Children's Worship!!  After that we headed to my brother's house for left-overs from the party- and there was plenty of yummy KC bbq to go around!  The kids had a blast getting to play with their cousins- they played Wii and in a sprinkler while Rebecca, Annie and I had pedicures- so nice!  After that, my sister and her crew headed home while the rest of us headed for a local community water park.  Both Addie and Alden remembered it from last time- and they couldn't wait to freak out the lifeguards by jumping off the high-dive!!  It was great and I think everyone rested well after such a fun-filled day!

All the big kids playing Wii

My pretty girls!!  Addie was excited to see Rudo in her old swimsuit and promptly gave her her bow since it matched her swimsuit- as you can tell, Rudo LOVES bows!!

The girls getting pampered!

Pretty toes!!

1st thing Alden did- off the high dive!!  He did do it about 10 more times, and earned the respect of the group of high school boys who were doing the same thing!

Addie in mid-flight!  She only went a handful of times- she did enjoy shocking the lifeguards and impressing the same group of high school boys!  Love that the kids are such fish!!

The two big slides!  The kids were still sad that they aren't tall enough...  Maybe in a few years....

The kiddy play area- they did love the slides!  They also loved the lazy river, but I didn't get any pics of that!

Surprise!! Happy 60th Birthday, Dad

My Dad's birthday was in June and he turned 60.  We couldn't all get to KC at that time, so we threw him a surprise party when we could all be there!

Suprise!  Good friends were there- what fun! 

A whole group shot

Just family

Siblings 

The most important part- cake!

Fun with the kids- this is possibly my favorite!!

So sweet!

Not too bad!!  They are a pretty cute crew!

Crown Center- KC Day 2

Early Saturday we headed to Crown Center where there are a ton of fun, and free, things for the kids to do!  We met my sister, Emily, and her 4 kids at Kaleidoscope, a hands-on arts and crafts place sponsored by Hallmark.  The kids had a blast coloring, painting, gluing, and puzzle-making.

I love the concentration

Hard at creating...

The two girls had a blast together!

After our 40 session was over, we had to leave- sadness!  But happily there was a hands-on dinosaur exhibit!  The kids had a blast!!

The two eldest!

Attempt to get a pic with everyone!

Aren't they adorable even though they are trying to be fierce!

It was a super fun afternoon!  The kids had fun together and happy memories were made!

Sailing- KC Day 1

For as long as I can remember, my Dad has been passionate about sailing- and for most of my life, he has owned a sailboat.  We were super excited that the weather looked good for sailing on our first full day in KC- and since Al is smart, and he brought our trailer hitch, we took TWO boats out!!  My Dad, Young, Rebecca, Thomas and Alden started out in my Dad's boat, Mimi Too, while Ian (my brother), Al, Addie and myself took Elf, the smaller boat.  Addie didn't like how our boat tipped when we got wind, so we actually sailed close enough to my Dad's boat and passed her off!  Since everyone was busy either with a child or a boat, sadly, the event was not captured on film, but I promise you, it happened and she was much happier!

PopPop's Helper

Addie happy (for the moment) to be on the little boat....

Sailing by!  Addie is cowering in the front of the boat....

Just after the hand-off, she is SO happy to not be in the little boat that tipped.

He is STILL talking about getting to drive the big boat!!

We all dropped anchor and enjoyed a little swim!

And we made it back!!