Trip to Omaha for our "benture"

Last weekend we went to Omaha to visit some friends and spend some time on a little mini-family vacation.  Omaha is perfect cause it's only a couple hours away and we have some old college friends that live there with kiddos the same age as Colin and Maggie.

We didn't tell the kids about the trip until a day before because neither one of them really understand the concept of "time" and what "one week" means.  So, they were pretty excited to learn that we were going on a special trip, which Maggie immediately began calling an adventure, and in 3 year old speak, that was a "benture".  

We left around noon on Friday and checked into our hotel and then made it to our friends, Nick and Gina's house around 4.  The kids played a while, we had dinner, and then made it back to our hotel by around 8:30 or so.  Nick and Gina's family are coming to KC in a few weeks, so we can return the favor and can hang out at our place soon!

Maggie refused to sit on the couch with all those boys (she was the only girl!), so we convinced her to sneak in the picture by standing behind the couch.  She is so funny!

There was Maggie, Bennett, Nolan, Colin, Colin (again), Sutton, and Jackson.

The kids table at dinner

Then we recruited the kids to take a picture of all of us adults - I think Colin did pretty darn good!

On Saturday, we spent all morning playing at Coco Key water park, made it to noon mass on Creighton's campus, ate some lunch and took a nap, and ended the day with more swimming.

We ordered pizza, jumped on the beds, ate some popcorn and watched Elf on TV.  

The kids thought they were in heaven.

We spent more time at the water park on Sunday before heading home around lunchtime.  

It was a quick, really busy few days, but we all had so much fun!

Out of all the things to do at the waterpark, this was one of the kid's favorites:

They would climb across this hanging rope ladder and just get right back in line again.

They were the smallest kids in line, by far, but both got really good at it.

Maggie even attempted jumping from pad to pad at one point, it was pretty funny to watch!

Colin loved doing all the slides - you can barely see his arm sticking out while going around the curve

Maggie liked the smaller slides - and especially liked going down them with Brian!

Mags and I held hands going down the smaller slides - she thought that was awesome!

I, on the other hand, got really good at sliding into about 12 inches of water without hurting myself.

Here we are eating pizza in bed!

Being silly and jumping on the beds

Colin took a video of Maggie and I going down the slides holding hands

Overall, we had a wonderful "benture"  :)

Ordinary Days

Decided to clear out some pictures on my phone

While decorating for Halloween, we stumbled across this witches' hat.

Colin immediately ran into the garage and came back with this broom.

Requesting a picture, I didn't have the heart to tell him he was about to fly backwards :)

We have been to a couple swimming birthday parties at the Gladstone Community Center

Colin and Maggie with their friends from school at Jeanelle's birthday party

Maggie and Colin are almost done with their gymnastics classes we enrolled for in the fall.

Maggie has especially liked it. Colin was in a class with MUCH bigger boys, so that has been a bit intimidating for him.  

And lastly, Maggie and I went to get our hair cut the other week.

Maggie wanted "medium" hair - so that's what she got. 

I'm so glad her curl came right back after we cut it - it's pretty cute right now!

My big girl - she's looking so grown up lately!

Pumpkin Patch 2014

We made our annual trip to the pumpkin patch this week.

The weather was perfect and the kids, once again, had such a great time.

Right when you first walk in, there is a huge bin full of corn that is usually a big hit for Colin and Maggie.  We let them play for a few minutes and then hurry them along to the next attraction.

But, I'm sure they'd play all day in there if we let them.

At least corn isn't quite as messy as sand :)

I always think these signs are so cute...

After feeding the goats and pigs, and checking out the donkey, there were lots of slides and play equipment to explore

Love this picture of Brian with the kids

And the huge rocking chair is always fun to sit in

We checked out the combine again

Kindof a dark picture, but Maggie loved 'driving' it and honking the non-existent horn

Then we rode on a tractor that pulled us out to a field to pick out pumpkins - we hadn't ever done that before and the kids thought it would be fun.  So we tried it.  Little did we know, the pumpkin patch was about 20 minutes away, so we immediately hopped on the next tractor to get back.  

But, I was able to ask someone to take our picture while we were waiting for the tractor to pull us along.  I think it turned out pretty cute!

Maggie was getting tired of me taking so many pictures :)

Now the kids are requesting we start some pumpkin carving.  We've had requests for batman, hello kitty, and princesses.  Wish us luck!

PhD

Well, I'm officially done with my terminal degree.

I successfully defended my dissertation on Monday and it went really well (minus the part where my advisor told me I was going to have to postpone my defense because of some logistical, paperwork issue).  But, I proceeded and managed to get out of there without any difficulty!

I am SOOOO glad to be finished and know that I don't have that stressor in my life any longer.

And, I'm kicking myself because I didn't even think to get a picture of my advisor and I.  

However, I did get a picture of my friend Ben, who just finished his degree a month ago.  We have taken pretty much all of our classes together since we started 3 years ago.

Ben and I holding our signed acceptance pages of our dissertation

But I did get a picture of Carole and I.

I lived with Carole while I was getting my masters and she has been one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout this whole process.

Sheesh, I remember the days when I first started, and I was still having to pump before class, and I would sit in Carole's office and just make small talk for 20 minutes.  Don't know what I would've done without her help!!!

After my defense, I met up with a girlfriend for lunch out at the Legends, came home and got myself a pedicure, and enjoyed a nice evening out to dinner with the family.

Brian and I are going to go out again on Friday night to spend some time just the two of us.

I think Brian's as excited as I am to be done.

Yipeeee!! No More School!!!!

Ordinary days

We went to see Cheeto again and practice taking him for walks.

Colin did awesome...Maggie, well, not so much.  She was pretty upset whenever Cheeto would try to smell her - We've got some work to do with that little one!

But, we had a great time hanging out with Cheeto for a bit and we can't wait until December!

Doggy kisses!

Maggie being her typical dramatic self :)

Sit, Cheeto!

Meemaw got Colin a book on how to draw dinosaurs.

His drew this one on his first try - pretty awesome!

Someone in our neighborhood was giving away this free dog crate - Never been used!

So, I swung by and picked it up, and the kids decided they needed to try it out.

Looks good to me! :)

And finally, a Maggie and Mommy selfie while watching a movie one night.

Love these ordinary days!

Postseason Baseball

The KC Royals have made it to postseason baseball for the first time in 29 years.

Brian has been waiting almost his entire life to see this day.

It finally happened, and we have been lucky enough to get to see the games in person!

We went to the stadium to watch the wildcard game last week, and then Brian went back this past weekend to watch the 3rd game of the series at home.

There have been some really exciting games - and so far, the Royals have come out on top.

I love this one of the guys

Caitlin and I represented the ladies for the group

I love this picture of Brian and I - it was a great night!

And Brian sent me this picture of all the Teson guys from the playoff game this past weekend...

What a good lookin group of men!

Hoping that Blue October continues with a World Series win!