Bazillion Picture Catch-Up

We have had a very busy couple of months around here! August was just insane followed by an equally insane September. Here's a bit of what's been going on around here...

(warning: VAST amounts of un-chronological pictures following)

Ezra's first day of preschool. As I'm sure you can tell, he was verrrry excited.

(ps-I made Georgia's dress this last August. Isn't it adorable? Thanks Grandma B and Mom for the material (circa 1971), pattern, and endless amounts of patience!)

My sister Stephanie and her lovely daughter Ella came to visit a few weeks back, followed by her sons Cooper and Greyson and husband Phillip a week or so later. We attempted to do and see as much as possible with so many kids running around.

We visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's Sculpture Park

(The giant shuttlecock is by the husband and wife team of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen)

There was much hill-rolling to be done there.

We couldn't resist the lure of the Crown Center...twice.

Fritz's


There was the giant Crayola Store

If you've ever spent time with Greyson, you know just how seriously the boy takes his mac and cheese.


They had the best Clifford (ya know, the big red dog) interactive exhibit going on.

Indoors or out, the girls always manage to find flowers to pick.

Ezra's treasures from the beach/sand table

Ella and Georgia as T-Bone and Cleo, respectively

Would you like germs with that?

The fountains are always a must-do.

Isn't this the sweetest picture ever?

There's the necessary Plaza visit


The boys just HAD to get a up-close look at this wicked Mystery Machine look-alike.


Church Sites!

Ezra and Spencer at Liberty Jail

The Boys
(man, Ezra has some bad hair in this picture...and bad outfit...and non-matching shoes. yeah, I didn't have much input on this one.)

The Girls

Scarlett thinks that Greyson pretty much walks on water. Every red-headed boy she sees is Greyson to her. It's adorable.

Giddy-up, Cowboys!


Cooper sweeping the hearth in his frontier cabin

In other news...

My little brother Jesse came home from his year-long visit to Japan (he was doing a college-level foreign exchange). I took the kids down for a weekend visit to see him. Jesse's practically my arm, he's so much a part of me, so I was very excited to have him home again.

A big THANK YOU to Hannah since I totally stole this picture. I was a loser and took not a single picture when I visited Oklahoma.

We had a super-fun (and full) visit from Spencer's little brother Eric and sister Heather. Heather recently returned from her mission in Bangkok, Thailand, so it was a great excuse to get them out here to see us. I was, predictably, a picture-taking slacker, so if someone wants to send me a few of theirs *cough*Heather*cough* I promise they'll make it up here.

Oh look, my children looking like un-loved ragamuffins again. shocker.



The End.

ps-I have an answer to post for one of my formspring questions (refer to previous post), so check back soon!

my life is like an open book

Throughout my life I've made it a point to let the world know who I am and what I think. Anyone who has known me, even for a little bit, knows that I'll pretty much talk about anything, whether I probably should or not. I've always claimed, and truly believe, that my life is like an open book for those who choose to read. I think that's one of the reasons I've taken to blogging so well...it allows me to express myself in full honesty. I've always believed that if we are truly willing to share our full selves with the world, we'll all be able to relate a little better, hold back the judgment and, at the risk of sounding cliche, just get along. My mistakes, my triumphs, my weaknesses, and my strengths...I own them. They are who I am.

That's why, when I saw that my friend, Megan, had created a Form Spring account, I knew it was my type of bandwagon to jump on. Basically, in the right-hand column you'll see a small box where you can ask me any question you'd like. As an added perk, it's completely anonymous, if you'd prefer. Feel free to ask whatever catches your fancy and I'll attempt to live up to my claim of honesty...and answer. The plan is to share some of the fun ones with y'all. So, ask away :)

I hear a guitar solo coming on...

You take some big, wig-like, mullet-shaped hair...

add in a Steven Tyler-esque mouth...

throw in a larger-then-life personality...

...and you've got yourself the makings of a great hair band, my friend.

Confession

Confession:


I


am


a


total


GLEEK.


One week, in counting, until the return of Glee. Be still, my heart, be still.




You might want to pause this last one for a few seconds at the beginning to give it a chance to load.



Please tell me I'm not the only one addicted to this show.

phew.

On his way to run some errands with the kids the other day, Spencer decided to swing by a park to let them play for a bit*. Immediately he realized his mistake of stopping in an uber-nice area of town. Looking around, there was a ratio of one kid per parent (with each parent closely following their small charge) and the place was flooded with massive amounts of khakis, tucked-in polos, and loafers.

As he sat around watching his bare-footed, crazy-haired, dirty-faced mowglis run around, he was approached by a mom who asked him incredulously if all three kids were his and if he actually came alone to the park. After he responded in the positive, she asked him how he did it as she had two small boys at home and couldn't even manage to leave the house when she was alone with them. At this time, the mom had a bit of a epiphany. She theoretically wiped her brow, telling Spencer that, "It must be because I have TWO boys, while two of your kids are GIRLS." phew, indeed.

With a chuckle, Spencer just gestured to our girls playing together, saying, "I don't know, that one there, she's a wild one."

So, next time Scarlett's standing on top of Georgia's dresser, chucking things off, or Georgia's painting herself, the house, and every window in sight with mud, I'll think to myself, "It's a darn good thing we have girls." [insert eye roll and dripping sarcasm here]


p.s.-Catch-up post a-comin', I promise.

*Yes, he was alone with all three kids on a Saturday morning, running errands, AND stopping at a park? Where does he keep his cape, right?