No New News

We haven't been up to much around here. Just settling into the groove of the fall schedule. Luckily the fall schedule has been pretty chill. We're taking advantage of our free afternoons and evenings with Matt before practice and conditioning gets under way. Let me bring you up to speed...

Cader got a haircut...I'm finally getting brave enough to go a little shorter. He looks like quite the little man!

Spending plenty of time driving (AKA getting pushed around) in the car

We're trying to spend as much time outside as possible! It was a little warm this week so we took one last dip in our whale pool.

Running errands...as long as you keep Cader's tunes cranked up he's fine to ride around

He's blowing lots of kisses these days

The Utz girls taught Cade-Man how to summersault...

Kinda...


Needs a little help from Dad

Cade has never been a big eater. He's very picky and meal time can be a very unpleasant battle.

Now I'm not saying we've turned the corner or anything...but this week he's been eating much better. Hopefully he's putting on some weight too! He's fallen off into the third percentile so we have a weight-check at the doctor next month. I promise I feed him...he just apparently isn't that hungry. He's always been more like his dad than his mom!

Where's your mouth?

Where's your spaghetti beard?


I'm loving my free evenings and weekends with my boys! Lately I'm also loving Chick-Fil-A restaurant and the new Pioneer Woman show on Food Network. I'd never been to the Chick-Fil-A in Olathe. Can you believe that? Seems like I only think about going on a Sunday when they're closed. I can respect that they're closed on Sundays...but it has kept me from eating there. Last Saturday we braved the craziness and tried it out. Love, love, love it. It's kid-friendly but still clean and yummy. Cade also made his first play-place debut. We were hilarious helicopter parents fearing he'd get run over by older kids or stuck up in the upper part until we came to rescue him. He held his own and made it out alive, and loved every second of it. I started DVRing the new Pioneer Woman show. I've always enjoyed her blog and look forward to her show. She's real. I like blogs, shows, recipes, etc from people who are REAL. You know? Okay, this has been real random so I'll let you get on with your day. Thanks for stopping by!

Bring It On

11-12 School Year...we are ready. My pretty friends from MT (who are all pretty pregnant this year!) and our annual "First day of school" pic.

Guess I'll be the only one serving a full school year for the 11-12 year!

S-wing Batta' Batta'

Cade loves him some T-ball. Inside, outside, wherever, whenever. He's always trying to make everything into a bat and his grandparents swear he's fashioned several make-shift t's in GB as well.

So far he's a pretty gentle hitter so it's fine that this somehow evolved into an indoor game.

But, yes, I do see how it will present a few problems in the future...

Oh yes, how could I not reference that huge WT tent in the background of the pics? Cade's play area in the living room has somehow grown to include the Cars Adventure Hut as well. Take a stab at who purchased it.

Round and round we go...

Showdown at the Merry-Go-Round.

Cade 1, Mom 0

Riding the horse is always a great idea just up until approaching the actual horse.

We compromised by settling on the carriage

Here I'm explaining to Cade how cool it would be to be riding the horse next to us instead.

Here Cade decides he'd rather not sit with me.

Here I'm wondering how many more times we have to go around.

And here is Cade's actual favorite ride at the mall. Who knew?

Social Butterfly

In an effort to soak up the last few moments of summer we've been getting in all those last get-togethers and playdates before "life" sets in again. It's been a lot of fun catching up with some of our favorite people.
We met Jessica and Reegan at a church playplace and coffee shop for some afternoon fun. Jessica always knows the inside scoop on where to go, what to do, what to buy, etc for the little ones! Cade loved the change of pace from our drab old toys at home and watching he and Reegan interact was priceless!





My boys are ball players through and through. Luckily the rain subsided so we could get some outdoor time with our favorite family of boys, the McCulley's.


Even though school is beginning, our evenings of fun surely don't have to come to an end! I can't believe the relief I feel from choosing not to coach cheerleading this year. I signed Cade and I up for an (indoor) Parent/Tot swim class for September & October and just keep thinking about how nice it will be to have little else to plan around! Yea!

The End

...of summer that is. I head back to school tomorrow. It's over. Summer 2011 is in the books. A very busy weekend finished 'er off.
Holly and I attended the Sugarland Concert

This was my second time to see them in concert. They always put on a great show, playing all their good songs.

They're pretty simple, not a lot of frills, no outfit changes. I can appreciate the simplicity, but I'm pretty sure if I was a performer I would have at least 37 outfit changes. I guess that's how I roll.

Today was very much an "if not me than who, if not now than when" kind of day. I did all the things I hate to do that had to be done. Deep cleaned the bathrooms, dusted (even baseboards), and plucked my eyebrows. In my opinion, there's nothing worse than deep cleaning and eyebrow maintenance. And I just can't bring myself to pay someone else to take care of either of those things. I'm too cheap. I know I should just buck up and do it. So I did. Surely we're good 'til at least Thanksgiving now.
I love my job and I'm so thankful for the flexibility it brings...AKA summer. But somehow I feel the need to brace myself (and Cade) for our re-entry into the working world. Buckle up, buddy, 'cuz tomorrow you're gonna have to be up well before 10:30!

Remember the Alamo

Matt and I decided we wanted to get away for a few days before school so we shopped for cheap flights and decided on San Antonio, you know, because it's just not hot enough here in KC. Cade headed off to the Bend to be spoiled by grandparents while we packed up and headed south.
A hot little rental car for the hot couple? Well, this one was $70 a day while a Dodge Caravan was $17. We took no shame in rockin' the mini for the week...but we didn't get photographic evidence.

Upon our arrival we did everything San Antonio tourists should do. Remember the Alamo! (But actually Matt will remember a bit more clearly than I as I did fall asleep during the video).

Sweating my face off on the Riverboat tour.

This part of the Riverwalk was the backdrop in the swimwear competition in the movie Miss Congeniality. Seeing this might have been the highlight of the boat ride for me. Hey, I love that movie.

My studly hubby posing amongst the Riverwalk nightlife

Dining on the Riverwalk.

We took in a movie...which apparently is not what tourists do in San Antonio. Notice the completely empty theater?

Our hotel was right on the Riverwalk.

View from the balcony.

Another exciting bonus, Cowboys training camp was taking place at the Alamo Dome and they were staying at a nearby hotel. We didn't see anyone famous, but I was impressed just to see the bus!

We each planned a day. I chose a glorious day at the outlet malls in nearby San Marcos. Matt was an excellent shopper. Matt chose a day at Schlitterbahn. I wasn't quite the trooper that he was for me on shopping day.

I must be getting a little too old for water park fun. I desperately wished for water socks and did not enjoy riding a tram across the park barefoot and donning just a swimsuit. Have you ever ridden a school bus half-naked?! Matt said I've become a little too Johnson County...once I got over the initial WT-ness of the water park...it was fun.
Some innocent swim suit model floating down one of the tube slides.

There was a new part and an "Original" part of the park. This was the original.

The new part did have some really great slides. We hopped in line for the most popular slide and after about 20 minutes we came upon a sign that read "In approximately 2 Hours or less you will be experiencing the Master Blaster." We thought surely this was a joke. It was not. And we waited in the line. For two hours. I can't even remember the Master Blaster. I think I blacked out after waiting in line for 2 hours. We are crazy.

It was a very relaxing trip and a lot of fun getting to spend so much time with Matt! I couldn't help snapping this pic of Matt...and his infamous book bag. He has taken this bag on every vacation for at least the last 6 years. Probably more than that. I don't even know where he keeps it at home come to think of it. Every vacation, he bust it out from it's secret hiding place. Work it, Matt.

Our journey ended with some up close encounters with several planes as they flew in for a landing over the economy parking lot. Cade would've loved this!

We had about 10 "fly-bys" as we searched for our car...for about 15 minutes. Note to self: make more specific note of where the car is left...


Thanks Matt for being a great travel agent and for letting me be your travel buddy! (Along with your lucky back pack that is!)