Time to Explore

As my favorite season approaches, I figure it's time to get out and start exploring this fabulous city we live in (ok, so we're in the burbs, but you get the point).

Aaron and I haven't lived here since we were in high school, and really I only lived here for a little over a year. We've talked about how we wouldn't live here if it weren't for the kids, and we came 'home' so the kids could have relationships with their family. There are so many other places that we have truly LOVED, and I never really felt that Kansas City had much to offer. Upon further Internet research lately, I have been proven wrong. There really is a lot to see and do here, it is just a matter of discovering it. So today, I loaded up the kids and decided it was time to explore. So, where do you explore first in the "City of Fountains"? Well the Country Club Plaza of course, to see the fun statues and fountains!!

(Love this statue btw. The mother protecting the child.... and a "real" woman, with pudge and all.)

The main fountain that I had in mind was the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain. We headed there, and saw a couple other statues and fountains along the way, but Lucas was ready to go home and eat lunch, so we didn't stay too long.

While we were hanging out at the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain, I started taking pictures of the kiddos. Do you realize how hard it is to take pictures of a baby who is strong enough to squirm around, but not strong enough to sit up, while her two-year old brother runs in circles around you? Poor Jilly kept doing face plants in the grass and Lucas kept scaring me because he would run behind me, toward the very busy street. There was a homeless man, taking cover under a big tree, resting on his green military issue duffel bag, watching us. He's watching as I'm trying to catch Jillian everytime she topples over, trying to set her back up to get a picture, just so she can topple over again, and Lucas running around and around and around.... and throwing sticks in the fountain. At one point I stood up, looked up to the sky and took a very deep breath. I looked over at him and he had this "You poor thing" expression with a very understanding smile on his face.

His expression reminded me that I just need to have patience. I then thought of my neighbor's facebook post this morning and that I need to enjoy this moment and soak it all in because we are in this beautiful place, surrounded by people from all walks of life, and I have two of the three best things that have ever happened to me that are experiencing it with me.

All in all, it was great! I want to go back and look for more fountains, because there is no way I can see all of the 200 fountains in KC in one day with two little ones in tow. Now, what to explore next?

The busy life

We have been so busy lately. I guess it's that whole two kid thing. It seems like I can't keep up with anything lately. We are going to enroll Lucas in preschool three days a week. Three days a week is really longer than I wanted, but I think it will be really good for us right now. I'm planning to homeschool the kids, but right now Lucas and I both need a break from each other and kids can't go to drop-off classes until they are three. When they are homeschooling, they will both be involved in outside classes like music and sports, but since Lucas isn't old enough for that yet, he will go to preschool to get some outside interaction. I'm touring the school today that I'm pretty sure I'm going to enroll him in. In my opinion, it seems to be the best in the area, and it is really close to our house. Hopefully it all goes over seamlessly when he starts going.


Jillian has been such a wonderful baby. She is so happy. She coos and smiles all the time. She has been kicking her legs up a lot lately and she is trying to roll over already. She went to her two-month well baby visit last week and I asked the doctor about the bump on her eyebrow. (See picture below)

The doc said it looks like a cyst, and we went to get an ultrasound done. The ultrasound technician said it looks like it is just fluid, so hopefully it isn't that big of a deal. I changed my phone number, and forgot to tell the doctor's office, so they haven't been able to get ahold of me with the results. I need to call them today once they open to see what the results are.

Aaron has been really busy with work. He has been putting in a LOT of hours. He spent the weekend recovering from his "family planning" procedure. He tried giving me a little grief about "the things he does for me", and I quickly reminded him that I carried and birthed his two children so I'm pretty sure he can handle this. I think the poor guy just wanted a little sympathy, lol.

All in all, we have been crazy busy. I'm just trying to keep up with the day to day.

Signs from the birds

This is the window at the top of our stairs, looking out to the street. Ever since we moved in, there has been this annoying Cardinal that always flies into this window and the window around the corner on the other side of the stairs. We have kinda grown used to it, even though I would still like the bird to disappear. My sister jokes that if my windows weren't so clean, the bird wouldn't fly into it...... Well Hollie, they aren't clean... and check this out.


As I was walking by this morning I noticed something kinda creepy.

Upon further investigation, I realized it was a very eerie smily face, left by the birds..... or at least I hope it was by the birds. I'm a little freaked out by it.

Jillian's new pictures

Yesterday my friend Valerie came over and took Jillian's pictures. Valerie is starting her photography business, so of course I was willing to lend out my beautiful daughter for her to photograph. She did such an amazing job! I was telling Aaron this morning that Valerie is starting to inspire me to get back into photography, but it just hasn't been a high enough priority to me yet. These images are a little small, but you get the idea.


Lucas had fun playing with Valerie's daughter Kate. He wouldn't pose with Jillian, because he is two and likes to be difficult, but Valerie still snuck in a couple while he was laying on the floor.