Kansas City

July 13-17:  Kansas City (National YMCA Summit)... so this trip might not seem super exciting, I was tagging along on Marc's Y trip (he is the current board chair of our local YMCA board of directors) AND it's Kansas City... I mean KC is a cool city, but probably not at the top of anyone's vacation bucket list.... BUUUUUUT I couldn't have been more excited!!!  1-I was getting to fly somewhere for the first time in about 10 years.  2-Marc and I were getting a 4 night stay in a cool hotel that we didn't have to pay for.  3-Exploring a new city (I love travel, so anywhere is good with me!) 4-I had LOTS of free time to kill while Marc was in sessions... aka--shopping, coffee, lunch, READING, even a NAP!!!  5-The trip fell over our anniversary so it was fun to get away without our kids and celebrate US.  6-We've met some really great Y people who are pretty fun to hang out with.

Anyway--we spent a fun 5 days in Kansas City--we ate at several great restaurants, we  rode the free trolly (ALOT), we got coffee, we checked out Union Station, we did some shopping, we ate delicious BBQ, we enjoyed some live country music, I wore my cowboy boots (many times!), I finished a book, we loved shopping in the city market (HUGE outdoor farmers market with so much yummy food!), I enjoyed shopping and a girls lunch at Cooper's Hawk with some of the other wives, I did some solo exploring and enjoyed an afternoon in the coolest coffee shop, we found a local grocery store that we LOVED (and walked to each day for something), we walked around the Y expo and picked up lots of freebies, we attended the Y bash, I ran a 5K, we heard Viola Davis speak (she was fantastic), and we celebrated our anniversary with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries delivered to our Hotel room by sweet friends.  It was such a fun trip... and so good to be away from our kiddos for a few days! 

Starbucks stop before our limo ride to the airport!

Picking out Candy  for the kids

I got my haircut the night before we left and was LOVING it!

Our Hotel was really old, and SO cool!  (And rumored to be haunted!)

Awesome Coffee Shop (Thou Mayest) with a gorgeous courtyard!

11th Anniversary!

I loved spending time with this amazing lady!  Jim & Marge have 4 kiddos (and some grandkids).  They have lived an adventurous life--we love hearing about their family and experiences!

Waiting in our room... EEEEEEEEEK!!!

Jim, Marge, and I ran the Y's 5K on the last morning of our trip.

Spring Miscellaneous

March/April 2016:

Kids had a day off school and enjoyed hanging out with Callen!

Happy Hour Milkshakes... Just because

JCA Spring Jubilee:  "Under the Boardwalk"

Two Sickies = Lazy Day of Movies

MOPS Paint Night!

Primary Voting with my Sidekicks

Spring Break Treat--TCBY!

Spring Break Camp-Out!

The kids made Breakfast in Bed for Marc and Me

Lunch Date--Trying a New Restaurant:  "Little Saigon"

Dress like your favorite Book Character at School:  McKenna (AGD), Shaggy (Scooby Doo), Hermione

Sadie's Book Sale to raise Money for supplies for our Africa Trip.  She made $60!

  

Mother's Day Weekend

May 7-8, 2016:  We had such a great Mother's Day Weekend.  We got to spend Mother's Day with BOTH of our Moms (first time this has happened!)  Marc's parents had planned to stay for the weekend and then my parents asked to come the same weekend.  We all had fun together.  Saturday morning started off with a couple of baseball games--we got ot watch Macey & Kinnick play.  We spent Saturday afternoon relaxing and Marc & I had an event to attend Saturday night.  My parents took the kids out to dinner and swimming at their hotel and Marc's parents helped get them to bed that evening.  It was fun having a night out and knowing our kids were getting spoiled by their grandparents! 

Once we know that both of our parents (and sisters) were coming, we called around to a few different places to see about getting reservations for brunch.  We couldn't find any place to accomodate our large group for a lunch-time meal so Marc offered to cook brunch for everybody.  He did an AMAZING job planning and executing this meal.  He wouldn't let me help at all.  (I eventaully talked him into letting me make a coffee cake to contribute to the feast!)  We enjoyed church, beautiful weather, and an incredible meal.  After brunch all  the parents took off.  Marc let me relax while he cleaned up everything.  Later in the afternoon we went to the forest preserve for some hiking/bike riding.  We ended our night with "supper" at TCBY (one of my favs!)  This worked out great since we were all still stuffed from brunch.  It wasn't our traditional Mother's Day of Starved Rock hiking and R Grotto pizza but it couldn't have been more perfect!

Baseball:

The kids decorated some extra cookies I had!

Swimming at Grandpa & Grandma's Hotel

Morning Star Mission Gala:

Mother's Day Pictures:

Aunt NeeNee

Aunt Kassie

Grandma & Grandpa Henry

Grandma & Grandpa Gorsch

Brunch:  Cinnamon Roll Waffles w/ Cream Cheese Icing, Strawberry Cream Cheese CoffeeCake, Cheesy Eggs w/ Peppers & Onions, Bacon, Spinach Salad, Watermelon, BBQ Ribs, Mac & Cheese, Cheesy Broccoli Casserole, Corn, & Party Potatoes

Chillin' with my Baby:

Hiking & TCBY:

Sadie surprised me with this cute earring holder--I love it!