Loose Park

About a week ago we visited Loose Park with Gigi, Sophie, Porter, and Aunt Val to play on the great playground, feed the ducks, and play in the spray park. The kids had a blast doing all three and we had one last rush of great summer weather! The kids were playing restaurant with Gigi on the playground. The kids gave all of us heart attacks as they had no fear getting so close to the water! We had lunch and cooled off in the sprayers! It was a great end of the summer play date!

Behavior Treasures

I have really been needing to find a behavior/ award system mainly for Bella. Benjamin will want to play along too. I've seen all different kinds and tried a couple, but this is my latest. Matthew 6:21 says " For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." The kids are obsessed with pretend pirate play and the pirate park that is nearby our house so I though this would be perfect! I got some coins and put them in a pirate's loot bag and hung it next to the Treasure Chart. When they earn a coin they put it in their little treasure chest bank that sits in front of the other treasure chest full of goodies. Bella can earn a coin for making her bed, obeying the first time, picking up toys, practicing her memory verse for Awana's, etc. Or she can lose coins from bad decisions. Then, if she wants gum, TV time, to invite a friend over, or to pick something out of the treasure chest she has to give her coins that she's earned back to me. There are a few different levels with the treasures getting bigger at each one. She has 2 or 3 choices for each level too. We are all set up and ready to go! We'll see how it works this week! Arrrrrrrg!

A Surprise Visit from Uncle Barry and Aunt Christie

We had a great surprise last weekend! Uncle Bear and Aunt Christie flew up last minute to watch her brother play in a golf tournament in Overland Park. Our visit was short but very very sweet! Saturday morning we had Christie and her sister-in-law Claire and her daughter Liz over to play. We went to First Watch for breakfast Sunday morning and visited Deanna Rose. I think the biggest hit was feeding the goats as usual! And we got lucky, it turned out that we happened to go on one of the two free weekends of the year!

Spray Park at Loose Park

This week we met some friends out at Loose park to play. The plan was to go to the spray park and eat lunch afterwards but our sweet friend Issac had a fall and needed to be checked out at Children's Mercy. Adria got to come with us to eat and play at the spray park, and the kids had a blast. This was our first time to come here and we're going to have to make an effort to come at least once or twice a summer from now on.

Bella's first day of preschool!

Bella has been excited for weeks now about going back to school. I think she got a little nervous the morning of though when she didn't want to get out of bed. That is not like her at all! I finally got her up and she dressed herself and ate breakfast. Benjamin and I went to drop her off and she was a little clingy. I made it through without any tears, a little teary eyed, but no breakdown! :) When Benjamin and I got home he was looking around for her. It was so sad and so sweet. He played with his truck for a little while by himself, then laid down on the floor like he was bored! He didn't have his playmate, his best friend, his Lella. When it was time to go pick her up I asked him, "are you ready to go get Bella?" He said Yes right away and practically ran towards the garage! He was ready to bring her home! So sweet!

Pizza 51

This weekend we had our pizza club at Pizza 51. It was so good! I had hawaiian and loved how big the slices were! We went to Glace artisan ice cream afterwards where I had their peanut butter and jelly ice cream. I know it sounds weird, but it was sooo good! Brandon and I also scoped out the new Trader Joe's on our way home! Great night out!


Mo and I enjoyed the beautiful weather and amazing ice cream!

The Zoo with Sammy and Andy

We were so excited to the Armstrongs this week! With the weather being a bit cooler we met at the zoo and a highlight was definitely the monkey house. There were in full swing and Benjamin was loving it! The two monkeys were chasing each other, swinging, and make their extremely loud noises!

We rode the train out to Australia!

We were lucky enough to be feet from a kangaroo! I had to hold Benjamin back, I'm sure he would have loved to run up and try to hug it!

We also love feeding the birds! Benjamin has gotten so brave!

And just look at this face! Where is my little girl go? I look at this and think she looks so grown up! Time must slow down!