Gotta Love Family

Memorial Weekend Ernest and I went to visit my family down south. We visited with Dad & Mom for a couple of days and then headed over to see Trebor's family. Nicholann is talking non-stop now, and will tell you story after story. She is also very cuddly. Ernest and I slept on an air mattress in their living room. Nicholann wanted to come sleep with us, and when she couldn't do that, she came and jumped into bed with me each morning we were there. She is definitely Trebor's daughter! She's got a stubborn streak a mile wide. We really had a lot of fun visiting and playing with her. Aleana is almost a year old (June!) and cute as a bug's ear. She looks like both Trebor and Liz, but every time I see her I see my Mom. Kind of funny, since I wasn't around when my Mom was a baby and I haven't seen many pictures. But my impression is that Aleana looks just like her. Aleana isn't talking yet, but she does like to interact with people. My favorite game to play with her was just to get her to smile. She has the same expression on her face most of the time, so it is a challenge to get her to crack a smile.

Anyway. While we were visiting we went fishing. I caught 3 branches, a whole tree, and Ernest. I'm still not sure how I caught him, but luckily it was just his shirt. Liz caught several bluegill which were promptly used as bait for bigger fish (unsuccessfully). Ernest was the only other person to catch something. He also caught a bluegill. The picture has NOT been photoshopped (though Ernest really wishes I did something to it).

Also saw a new form of entertainment while we were there. The spokes attached to this tree spin freely, and each spoke has an ear of corn on it. The idea is that a squirrel comes to try and get the corn. He climbs up the spoke, balances precariously for a moment, and then his added weight makes the spoke cycle down to the bottom, and he falls off. Unfortunately we didn't get to see this thing in action, but Trebor swears that the squirrels fall for it. I just think it is hilarious. Trebor also showed Ernest how easy (yeah, right) it is to split wood with a single blow. Ernest never did quite get the hang of it, while Trebor made it look like the axe was going through melted butter. I've got a video of it on Facebook if you want to see (both Ernest AND Trebor).

We also went to Mammoth Spring in Arkansas (beautiful!) and then on down to Hardy, AR to go through their historic downtown. We got some locally made fudge - very good but still not as good as Nauvoo Fudge - and visited some antique stores.

It was so much fun to see everyone again and relax a bit. Oh, to top off our visit, on our last night, there was a spectacular rainbow. It was a double rainbow, and I've never seen one so bright. It was stunning.

Go look at my other pictures and videos on my facebook site!

Worlds of Fun

So, Lori managed to snag us a couple of tickets to her company picnic - at Worlds of Fun - a couple of weeks ago. It is amazing how different amusement parks seem between childhood and adulthood. I still enjoy going, but on this trip I managed to ride only one ride - the train that takes you around the park. Ernest rode the roller coaster - in the kids section. Before you think that he's a chicken, it's okay - he was riding it with Sydney. We wandered around with Lori, Lucas, and Sydney, letting the cutie pie ride some rides. Ernest stopped at one of the carnival games. You got three golf balls and you tried to get a hole-in-one. The hole that you made it in determined what size prize you got. His first shot he made it in the most difficult one, so got a huge stuffed caterpillar for Syd. So this trip was nothing like how I remember trips to Worlds of Fun being (we actually left before the park closed!) but it was still a great time. I love spring time evenings in Kansas.

Springtime in Kansas!

I love it here! We've had some cooler days, some warmer days, some windy days (hello tornado warnings), and some rainy days. But they are all so nice. We've had the chance to watch Morgan several times. She is such a good little girl. Several months we ended up watching her unexpectedly and I was in the middle of cleaning the bathroom. I told her she could help: took over he shoes/socks, rolled up her pants and sleeves, gave her a sponge, and stuck her in the tub. She helped me wash the tub and the tile walls. So, now when she comes over, I usually her (in a very serious voice), "I need to clean your bathroom." Anyway, so you don't think I'm a task master, let me explain that she doesn't usually do this :) We'll take her for walks in the park that is near our house or play in the yard.

Last week we went to the petting zoo, but I forgot my camera. She had so much fun though. I picked up Sophie, so it was the three of us girls. We met my friends Lori & Lucas with their little girl, Sydney, there as well. You know Kansas storms though....it threatened for a while and then all of a sudden the torrent let loose. We didn't get too wet (I'm pretending to be a Mom, and remembered to bring umbrellas) but it did cut our afternoon short.

A couple of weeks ago Ernest went to his first Major League baseball game. It was the Royals versus......someone. I enjoy baseball, but I don't follow it all that closely. We went to the game since some friends of mine were coming in from out of town to go to the game, and invited us to go as well. It was freezing! But so fun. Hot dogs never taste as good outside of a ball park. Anyway, the Royals ended up winning, and there were fireworks after the game. I can't wait to go again. Although I wouldn't mind it being a little warmer next time!

More pictures and a video on my facebook page!

Nauvoo the Beautiful

Ernest and I went to Nauvoo in April for a quick weekend getaway. We planned it on a Thursday and then left Friday after work. I misread the temple schedule, so it was closed for maintenance. That meant the entire town was incredibly quiet. I've never seen it quite that slow. But we had a great time. We walked around the downtown part and did some shopping. Hit the Nauvoo Fudge Factory (a MUST every time you go). My new favorite is either Peanut Butter Fudge or Mint Fudge. Both were incredibly good. We visited the Community of Christ section (RLDS) and toured their sites - the Red Brick Store, Nauvoo Hotel, Joseph Smith's Home, etc. Ernest really enjoyed it. We've been reading The Work and the Glory series when we go on road trips, so it fit in really well with what we've been reading about. We only got to see a few of the LDS historical sites since it was such a short trip. We did, however, make it Carthage, which was amazing. And we saw the Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo musical that the senior missionaries put on. It was so fun. We're heading back in August for the pageant, and a little bit longer of a stay so that we can go through more of the historical sites.

More pictures on my facebook page!

Easter!

Ernest and I went down to my parent's place the weekend before Easter. It also ended up that Rob's family and Gary's family also went down, so it was quite crowded! Mom's chihuahua had puppies so we got to play with them and just hang out with the family.

It was Nicholann's 4th birthday (I can't believe she is that old!!!) She was so excited for the cake and ice cream, and then, of course, the presents afterward. She blew out the candles with some help from Jane and then sat waiting for the cake to be brought back. She is so funny.

The same night as Nicholann's birthday celebration, we did an Easter egg hunt for all of the kids. Nicholann had never been to one before, so she was quite excited. She also was one of the best hunters! Jane was sitting in the living room and placed a bright pink egg on her head. No one but me seemed to notice, until Nicholann came in and looked up at Jane. She was very proud of herself.

Aleana is about 9 months old, so a bit small to do more than try to eat the plastic eggs. Kira is a bit older, but still didn't get very involved in the hunt. They both seemed to enjoy the excitement though.

It is absolutely beautiful in southern Missouri, and the place that my parents have is really secluded and quiet. Ernest went outside with Ashley and Eric to explore where the spring comes out. They had some mild adventures trying to cross the creek without falling in, but they stayed mostly dry.

It was great to see Dad and Mom and Trebor & Liz and the kids. We don't all get together very often since some of us are rather spread apart. I can't wait to spend some more time down there this summer!

There are more pictures and videos on my facebook page, so go check them out!