KC Mini Vacation

(6/8-6/10/12) On the spur of the moment, we decided to head to Kansas City for a mini vacation away.  And I mean last minute....I made reservations the day we left.  That is nothing like me...but hey, gotta live life, right!!

We originally wanted to go to see the new SeaLife Aquarium at Crown Center but found other things to do as well.  We picked up Chase early from preschool and were on our way to KC.  It was a pretty good ride, Chase slept for an hour or so but we still heard "are we there yet" about 15 times.  I hate to see what happens when we drive to Florida or something!!

We got to the hotel at Country Club Plaza around 3:30 and quickly changed into our swim stuff to hit the pool.  It was an indoor pool so it was a little chilly and Chase just decided he would swim in the hot tub....only my child!!  We cleaned up after the pool and decided to head down to CCP to have dinner and walk around.  We rode a shuttle down and honestly, that had to almost be the highlight of Chase's trip....he got to ride next to us and with no seatbelt.  He thought it was pretty cool.  So cool that everytime we went somewhere the rest of the weekend, he kept asking if we could have the shuttle come and pick us up!  We had dinner at Winstead's, a little old school dinner.  Good comfort food!  Then headed over to the Plaza to walk around and take some pictures of the fountains.  We had to stop for ice cream of course too!  Called the shuttle and headed back to the hotel.

The next morning, we all slept til 8am...that never happens.  Got up and got ready and headed to SeaLife Aquarium.  Our review.....neat, but way too short of a tour for the $60 we paid.  I swear we went through it in 45 minutes tops!  Big disappointment there.  I expected to spend 1/2 the day there....oh well....onto something else.  Went to Crown Center where they had a fun dinosaur exhibit.....I think Chase enjoyed that more than the aquarium and it was free!!!  Then to Fritz's for lunch.  We had to show Famous what it was like since we had been there with Gavin and Beth last year. 

So...what to do next....I begin googling "what to do with kids in KC" and found the Lakeside Nature Center....free....good!  Headed there and it was kind of like the Runge Center in JC.  One hour down...now what???  Googled again...KC Children's Museum...NOT free....oh well!  Headed that way...the drive took about 20 minutes thankfully!!  It was a really neat place...they had lots of interactive and roleplaying rooms...reminded me a lot of the PAT school in JC too.  Chase had lots of fun there.  So finally....it was getting around 3PM and we decided to head back and get a little nap in hopefully...it was tough but we finally all fell asleep!  

Wake up again and we are heading to the TRex Cafe!!!  He was so excited....all while potty training we bribed Chase with going to the TRex Cafe when he didn't have to wear diapers or pullups anymore and we finally got there!  What a neat place!!  Oh...it wasn't free either :).  Dinner was really good though and of course, we had to make a stop at the gift shop and pick up a couple trex tshirts, dinosaur hunting light and a Dino chomper!  

Back to the hotel for a good nights rest and headed home on Sunday.  Stopped at Bob Evans for breakfast and made it home finally around 12:30.  We were all pooped but had a blast.  Chase loved it all and wants to know when we are going back...he asked Famous what we could do when we went back and he told Chase they had a zoo and Worlds of Fun....hmmm, wonder how long before we are back!
 

SeaLife Aquarium

Love this picture...the look of amazement!

Huge green eel!!

Dinosaur exhibit at Crown Center

Lakeside Nature Center

KC Children's Museum

 

Gathering eggs...doesn't that dog look real??

Pretending to be a vet

Aquarium next to our table

TRex greeted us at the door

Huge aquarium and bar

 

Kidsfest - Downtown JC

We went to Kidsfest again this year the first week of June...Chase always has a good time.  They have emergency vehicles to climb around in, bounce houses (which he doesn't like again), sports stuff, petting zoo and games to play.  This year he got to try out some hockey and tennis...he was pretty good at hockey.  We got to see some animals...goats, pigs, a huge turtle and a llama.  He got to pet a snake (and actually wanted to!) at the Conservation tent and got a tattoo.  But the best part of the day.....playing video games at the bar (which he told several people!!).  Make us sound like great parents, huh??  We actually went to JPfennys for lunch and I think Famous called it a bar and Chase ran with it.:)

Chase in his spiderman pajammies as he calls them!

Superheros and Memorial Day

What a title, huh?  The first is a super cute picture of Chase I have to share.  He is very into the Avengers and superheroes in general right now.  Gammaw got a pair of Green Lantern googles from a McD's happy meal and Chase was in love! He of course had to have a cape too...so we got him all fixed up...love when he pretend plays!!

Memorial Day was a lazy weekend too.  We stayed around town and didn't have a whole lot to do. On Saturday, we finally had family pictures taken...it had almost been two years since the last time...so it was long over due.  Famous' family came down from Columbia and came over on Sunday to have some yummy BBQ.  And we had to play some frisbee in the front yard too. Monday, Chase and I headed to the park for picnic and some fun.  He got some new tennis shoes from Nana and he swears they make him super fast!!  Later on to Gammaw and Papaw's for dinner.

Love the lazy days!!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a nice and relaxing weekend spent mostly at home.  Chase and Famous got me sweet cards and a Joann's gift card and Chase made me some fun stuff at school.  On Mother's Day, Chase and Famous headed out to Nana's and gave me a little "me" time...boy was it nice.  Just some time to do nothing...but that never happens!! I think I worked on some etsy orders and did some decorating stuff...if I recall. Then dinner at Gammaw and Papaw's.  We played outside and enjoyed a delicious dinner as always!


A few pics from the day..........

Our first try at organized sports!

So mister man started Start Smart Soccer with Parks and Rec in April.  It has been an experience...that is for sure.  While I think he enjoys it....the first weeks are drills which are pretty tedious.  And tedious is not something this boy does well.  To be fair, the majority of the other kids are just like him....he likes to act up, sit and lay on the ground and tell the other kids what to do!!  But at least it has been fun for us to watch!  First practice game is this week, so that should be a sight!!  Big props to Daddy for taking him each week....the parent works with the child one and one...so you can imagine how that goes :)

Actions shots :)

 

Time to rest

 

This is what goes on most of the time!

Just chillaxing :)

Goal!

Son's Day

Have to post this before I forget....we have the best conversations on the way to school!

Chase had to borrow my sunglasses because the sun was in his eyes, but quickly decided he didn't need them anymore...so he gave them back.

C: Mom, if I give you something (as he takes off the sunglasses), it's called a present.
M: Oh, well thank you for the present Chase.  You know, Mother's Day is this weekend, so you and Daddy have to get mama a present (good hint there, huh)!
C: Well what do you want?
M: What stuff do you think Mommy likes? (just grooming him for his wife some day!)
C: Umm...candy?
M: No...no candy.  What else do you think I like?
C: Makeup? (as I am putting on my powder). Dresses?
M: Yep, that's pretty good.  What other things do I like doing?  Like in my office?
C: Etsy stuff or something?
M:  You do pay attention...huh?
C:  Do you like dinosaurs?
M: I guess so...
C: What kind? Like stegosaurus, t-rex, diploducus.....
M:  I like dinosaurs, but I don't really want to play with them.  
C: You know Mom, after Mommy's Day and Daddy's Day, it's Son's Day.....
M:  Really?
C: What are you getting me?
M:  It has to be a surprise.
C: But you have to ask me what I like.
M: Oh, okay...what do you like?
C:  Dinosaurs, balls, flags (pretty sure he saw a flag at that moment!), cars, construction team.
M:  Oh....good now I know what you want for Son's Day.
C:  Okay.

Coloring Eggs and Happy Easter

Our easter bunny crafts for all the g-parents!

We had a great time coloring easter eggs this year...even if we did it the night before!!  Oops...oh well, they were there for the Easter Bunny and that is all that counts right??  Chase loved doing them this year...but didn't want to stop with one color...he wanted to dip every egg in every color...some were starting to look brown! Ick! 

Mr Harper

Attempt at a great grandkids picture!

Ms Daphne

The boys were chasing Papaw with a broom...of course, he started it!

The race is on!

His bag got to heavy to carry.

Sweet Gracelynn!

Easter was a fun day spent with family.  The morning started with waking up to find that the Easter Bunny had left a basket and hid eggs.  The Easter Bunny was a little late though and Chase just missed him by a few minutes of stopping by our house....close call! :)  Then Nana and Herman came by to bring fun stuff, later to Gammaw and Papaw's house for another basket full of goodies.  Then around lunch time we headed to Big Grandma's house for lunch and an egg hunt.  The kid had more candy from Easter than he did for Halloween!  Oh well, he loved playing with all his cousins!!