Kansas City Zoo

Our good friend Lorie Strassburg invited us to the zoo! We hadn't been before, so we were pretty excited to check it out. The weather was absolutely perfect as well - we couldn't have chosen a better day if we'd tried!

We had a lot of fun! Some of our favorite things were: the carousel ride, seeing the penguins, the polar bear and baby gorilla; riding the tram and the train (Hunter would've been happy riding it around the zoo over and over again...); eating lunch in Africa as we watched the zebras and giraffes below; and not to be overlooked, the napping children on the way home :)

An August Weekend

Last weekend was F.U.N. Just fun. No real work, no regular naps, no early nights...just fun.

The Walk

Every Sunday, Hunter asks if we can go for a walk. Although it was a Friday rather than a Sunday, we went for a walk. The kids were in heaven! They love nothing more than collecting acorns, running ahead, spying the moon somewhere in the sky, and pushing Dallas in the stroller.

The Campfire

Steve set up the fire pit in the driveway shortly before sunset. We had just enough s'mores stuff left for a little treat. The kids loved every moment so much that they ran around the driveway yelling, "Best Day EVER!!" We watched the sun set, got sticky with s'mores, and even inspired our neighbor and his 4-year-old to set up a campfire in their driveway :)

Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites

Crown Center in downtown Kansas City has a different kids' exhibit come periodically. A few months ago, we went to Fairy Tale Village. Right now it's Storyland. I'd been wanting to take the kids, so Saturday morning, we gathered everyone up and went downtown. No surprise - the kids thought it was the funnest thing ever. They were bouncing off the walls as we walked through the "tunnel" (covered parking), rode the escalator and elevator at the mall, and then to the actual exhibit we'd come to see.

The exhibit featured seven award-winning picture books - since we'd read five of the seven books, I knew the kids would recognize the stories and enjoy the activities that went along with them. The books were:

"The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter, "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats, "Where's Spot?" by Eric Hill, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff, "Chicka Chika Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, "Abuela" by Arthur Dorros, and "Tuesday" by David Wiesner.

Black Bob Bay

We had a raincheck pool pass from the beginning of July yet to use, so we spent the afternoon at the pool. It was so nice to have no obligations or meetings to be back for. The kids were able to swim and enjoy without us hurrying anyone along. They played until they were tired and hungry. The weather was perfect and the pool wasn't too crowded, which just makes it even more enjoyable!

The Temple

Occasionally we take the kids up to the temple - we walk around it and take photos. The best ones are framed and put in the kids' bedrooms. We hadn't been since October, right after Dallas was born, so everyone was bigger and more independent this time. 

And that concludes an amazing weekend!

Back-To-School

Ellie is in Pre-K this year. Like last year, four friends and I are doing a preschool co-op. Because the co-op officially started last week, we held a back-to-school feast the night before school started. Prior to the feast, the kids helped plan the menu. They also decorated their own crowns. Together Steve and I decided on a theme for the year.  Here's how it all went down:

 Decorating their crowns

 The table, ready for the feast

 Modeling their crowns before the feast

Posing during the feast

We had a really fun feast! The kids couldn't wait for Daddy to open his present (the framed theme); the meal was a success; and the kids have worn their crowns nearly every day since.

The kids were also really excited for school to start. Here's Ellie on the first day.

Ellie and her friends in the preschool co-op

I hosted and taught school the second week. Some of the highlights included the B crowns and making a square with the kids.

So excited to be back to school :)

More Farm Fun

The week school started, we headed to the farm with our friend Lorie and her three little boys - her oldest, Andrew, was starting kindergarten the next day, and we will miss playing with him during the day! So as a last hurrah, we played at the farm together.

Picnic on the kitchen floor after we got home

We love the Deanna Rose Farmstead!