Missouri in Photos: Days 1-3

Our Missouri trip started out with a full day of travel, with a flight out of John Wayne Airport and a short layover in Denver. We landed in Kansas City around 8pm. I'm sure most of you could take a guess at where the family went first. Yup. Cracker Barrel. We sat in Cracker Barrel and ordered what we could of what they had left. They were out of meatloaf, roast beef, pot roast, hash brown casserole, and a few other items. Never the less, I ordered the "wholesome" breakfast meal, although I wasn't so sure it how "wholesome" it really was! We ate and watched the most amazing lightning storm I had ever seen. Day two was a nice day of relaxing and swimming in Terry and Jan's pool. In the evening, we headed over to Liberty, Missouri's old town and ate Mexican Food. It wasn't bad for Mexican food in Missouri. On Day three, I woke up to the news that Robyn's water broke. We were so bummed that miss Ivy was deciding to come early, when all the family was away!!!! With Robyn heading to the hospital in California, we headed to Kansas City for a day out. I got my first look at the Missouri river. Very muddy and murky. We went to Union Station and walked around. Word has it that there was a shoot out there to free a mob criminal that was being transported to a prison. The mob guy was killed on accident during the shoot out. Bummer. Next, we headed over to the Hallmark Center and walked around there. (This is when we found out that Ivy was born!) Jackson and Madelyn got to play in a Clifford exhibit they had there. We finished off the day with BBQ that was just okay and a walk around the shops in the heart of Kansas City. Stay tuned for the next few days in Missouri...

Jackson, our little traveler! This was his 5 time flying and he did great! He even carried his own luggage!

Firsts: Madelyn's first Cracker Barrel buttermilk biscuit and her first time in a bathing suit!

Liberty, Missouri....the bank where Jesse James and his gang robbed a bank in broad daylight for the first time.

Our sweet set-up in Terry and Jan's basement, complete with beds for our family of four!

Union Station, Kansas City, MO (Where's Jackson?)

The clock @ Union Station

Jackson's interview w/ Daddy.

The fam @ Union Station

Clifford, The Big Red Dog, with Big Jackson and Little Madelyn

Jackson's first "Build-a-Dino"...he named him "Roar." :)

Madelyn sporting Build-a-Bear sunglasses, which fit her perfectly.


Kansas City, AKA, the City of Fountains

Dinner and Shopping...



Me and my guy. :)

5 Wonderful Years!

5 years...Then and Now

A few weeks ago, on July 2, Troy and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary. Seriously, I have no idea where the time has gone! I in no way deserve the amazing husband that God has blessed me with, but I so extremely thankful for him! I remember when our wedding day was drawing near and a few people would say to us, "Oh! You are getting married. (Insert snide laugh here) Just wait. Your lives will NEVER be the same!" or they would say something a long the lines of, "Get ready...the 'ol ball and chain!" To those folks who gave us that "advice," I beg to differ! Yes, marriage is hard work, but the pleasure and joy that comes from a good marriage is WELL worth the "work!" We don't tie each other down (or weigh each other down, like a ball and chain would), we strive to lift each other up---spiritually, emotionally, and even physically---i.e. keeping each other from eating that extra scoop of ice cream! :) When we first started dating, we had one goal in mind, namely, to strive glorify God more together than we could apart. I still am reminded of how good of a goal that is to keep! Sometimes, when we are in the midst of sleepless night with kids, mounds of laundry, a sink full of dishes, bills to pay, and a social life to balance, its hard to keep that perspective. But, in the end, it pays off!

I love my wonderful husband. God has given him a such a caring spirit, a tender heart, a keen sense of humor, and an amazing ability to communicate (which helps in the marriage!). Troy has an incredible sense of joy, rooted in Christ, and he has such an immense love for the kids and myself. I am so thankful for these last 5 years, and look forward to many, many more years of marital bliss! I'm sure, with God's grace, it will only get better from here!

For our anniversary get away, we left the kids with my mom and sister (THANKS A MILLION!) and headed to our favorite place---the beach. We got an unbelievable deal on an ocean front hotel room in Huntington Beach at The Shorebreak Hotel. The room was amazing. We just had to open our sliding door and there was the pier and the Pacific ocean staring back at us. The people at the hotel were very friendly. They even gave us a homemade card with the staff's signature and chocolate covered strawberries for our anniversary. They also gave us free Chardonnay, made a wine cooler for me, and gave us free water (the nice kind---in a glass bottle!). Seriously, folks. This is the place to stay! It was extremely relaxing, just the rejuvenation I've been needing for quite some time! We also went to Duke's and shared a Hula Pie for desert (YUM!). After spending a night at the beach, we headed to lunch and to see Knight and Day. All in all, we had a wonderful time! We need to do that more often!

We arrived to find this thoughtful card and these delicious chocolate covered strawberries!
The view from our bed.My complimentary wine cooler. Don't worry. I only had a few sips, so I avoided getting a migraine! Me and my guy relaxing!On the pier.
Our view from our table at Duke's. Beautiful!
Mmmm. Hula Pie!
Our breakfast on the balcony: Strawberry Kefir, Bagels with cream cheese, and fruit!
We loved our room!View from our balcony!

Mommy FAIL -Spoiled!-

The other day, I went to Costco and came back to drop off the food before the family headed back out for dinner. Troy asked me if I put everything that needed to be refrigerated away. I gave the kitchen table a quick glance and thought I saw only things that needed to be put in the pantry. When we can home later that night, I came home to discover a WHOLE BOX of hummus on the kitchen table. Oddly, it was the first thing I spotted when I looked at the table. Why didn't I see it before. Oh well. $6.99 right in the trash can! And to think---we are in a Recession! It seems I tend to do this a lot. Now, I think I've learned my lesson and will put ALL the groceries away no matter how much of a hurry I am in!

Ivy Mae is on her way!

Due to the fact that I am just terrible about updating my blog lately, I realized I did put up pictures of Robyn's shower, which was hosted at mi casa. Here are some of the highlights!The expectant mother!Candy Buffet. My favorite.Breakfast BuffetPink floating hippo in punch. :)The best lemon cake ever.Robyn and IWaiting to open gifts (I was writing the gifts down for Robyn, so I didn't get any pictures of her actually opening the gifts! :)Carolyn made this really adorable diaper cake for Robyn!

Overall, fun was had by all and little Ivy scored a lot of pretty gifts! Robyn is now only two and a half weeks from her due date, so keep her and David in your prayers as they prepare to become parents for the first time!

The Quotable Jackson

Tonight as we walked around the mall, Jackson asked his Nana to pick him up. As she picked him up he said to her, "Nana, when I get older, I will carry you." What a sweet boy!

The Quotable Jackson

Today while Jackson was laying in bed with me before a nap, he gently touched my eyelashes and said, "What are those, Mommy?" I said, "They are my eye-lashes." He replied, "But, what is on them?" I answered, "It's make-up called mascara." He then said inquisitively, "Oh! Are they scary?" :)

Madelyn @ 10 Months!

I can scarcely believe that my baby girl is two months shy of completing her first year of life. It seems as though it was just yesterday that I held her tiny 7.2lb body for the first time. I am striving to cherish this time with Madelyn because I see now how fast it goes. Jackson, after all, is 2 1/2 in what seemed like a blink of an eye!
Madelyn has accomplished a lot in her ninth month of life. She got her first tooth and began to crawl. Her first tooth came in a couple of weeks ago and started to crawl just this week. I knew she knew how to do it. She just had to be the one to make the decision to carry out the task of crawling. I must say that she is a lot happier now, and I can set her down to play more often, HOWEVER, she is in discovery mode and gets into everything within reach! We will need to put up all the child proofing stuff we never had to use with Jackson.

Along with crawling, Madelyn has also started to walk with assistance and pull herself up to a standing position. Its just a matter of time before she starts walking. She is determined to walk! Its been a busy month with several milestones and it leaves me scrambling to get used to these changes in Madelyn's life. Teething hasn't been a piece of cake for her. She has been a bit fussy. But, then again, WHO wouldn't be when you have teeth popping through your gums??? As a result of this fussiness, she wants me and only me most of the time. It is exhausting, but I understand. I do love the way she leans for me and cuddles her head into my neck. She has been very cuddly.Her curiosity has been sparked by the new mode of transportation she finds herself in. She has made it into the bathroom cabinets, the kitchen cabinets, and the TV cabinet. She has found her way to outlets, the fireplace, and will find anything that isn't supposed to be in her mouth. So, I am trying to be extra careful with things lying around like Jackson's smaller toys. Here's to an even more active lifestyle for both Madelyn and I!

As far as "talking" goes, her favorite sound right now is, "dada." She has the cutest little voice when she says that, too! :)

~Madelyn's Favorites~
Food: Black Bean Soup, Applesauce w/ Oatmeal & Cinnamon, Cheerios, Strawberries, Cantaloupe, Honeydew (pretty much any fruit), Graham Crackers
Toys: Any Remote, Georgie, Little People Farmer, Stacking Toy, Gymboree Rain Stick
Other Favorite: Her Mommy, Daddy, Jackson, Cassie, her Blankie (which was mine when I was little...so special!), being outside