Midwestern Tour

Last week we got back from a journey in the midwest.  We first went to Dayton, Ohio for 4 days to visit our amazing friends the Southards who moved from the house next door to ours in the fall.  Although they are technically friends, they were like family in Olathe and we know that even though there are miles between us that can't keep us from staying like family.  We had lots of time to catch up, let the kids play together, visit the children's museum, and take in the Columbus Zoo.  It was fantastic!

After leaving Dayton we headed back to Illinois to visit family for a week.  We had a wonderful time with family.  The girls of course were showered with attention and got to do lots of fun things like visit Discovery Depot (the children's museum), go swimming a couple times, ride on a John Deere just their size, take pictures at PeePaw's memorial bench at the golf course, and eat at some yummy restaurants.  Mommy and daddy even got to sneak away for a day and go to a Cubs game!

As you can tell below, there were plenty of "Kodak moments."

The journey begins...Dayton here we come!!

                                      

                                      

 

And now for Galesburg, Illinois...

One Year of Preschool Under Our Belts

Where does time go?  I can't believe that Ava and Reese had their last day of preschool Thursday.  They had such a wonderful year, always asking "Is tomorrow school?"  Their teachers were awesome and both girls really showed growth in multiple ways...socially, academically, etc.  While just going on Tuesdays and Thursdays this year, they will get to go all five days of the week next year.  It will still be just mornings but they will LOVE getting to go every day!

Taking a picture of Ava and Reese on the last day of school with their teachers prompted me to look back at the pictures from the first day of school.  It might just be my "mommy glasses" but haven't they lost their baby faces?!  Oh how I'll miss those baby faces.



First day of preschool...

Last day of preschool...

Center of Attention

There are pros and cons to almost everything.  Having grandparents that live 6 hours away has its drawbacks but the biggest perk is that when they visit the grandkids are the center of attention.  That is exactly how it played out when Nana and Pappy came to visit last weekend...

Playing in the back yard...

Building with the new Lincoln Logs Nana and Pappy bought...

Everyone needs a clown nose....

Along with big red lips...

Brushing teeth in Nana's shower cap...

A little baking...

Stacking and making words with scrabble letters...

Adventures on the trail in our neighborhood...

Outdoor time with sidewalk chalk...

Balance bike time...

Putting on performances...

And don't forget Cosmic Jump...

And then Nana and Pappy's car pulls away and it's back to reality!  (Don't worry...the girls don't have it too hard!)

Easter

For Easter weekend we had Grammy and Larry visit.  Of course any time Grammy and Larry come it means a trip to IHOP and Bass Pro.  Not only did we see the Easter Bunny at Bass Pro, we also checked out the boats and four-wheelers!  Easter Sunday was celebrated at church, focused on the real meaning of Easter and being thankful for Jesus dying on the cross for all of us and for God's power in showing how a man who was dead for three days can live again.  Truly awesome.

This past Saturday our family also had the opportunity to pack food for the hungry through a service day at our church.  This dehydrated food will be used to feed individuals right here in Kansas City and in Africa.  It was a wonderful experience.  And let me add, the girls really pulled off the look of hairnets and aprons!