Midwest Tour, Days 3-4 and 5

And we're back.  I've gone back to work since "Midwest Tour, Days 1 and 2".  If you would like more blog posts, please start an early retirement fund for me.  :)

Day 3 we found ourselves making a trip to Oswego, Kansas!  A trip that I've made hundreds of time, but this was the first time that I've actually driven.  I am happy to say that I did not need a map.  The kids and I made a pitstop in Fort Scott at some ball fields that I've always seen and always wanted to stop at on our family trips.  I guess I can cross that off my bucket list now!

My Grandma Ruth, as always, had lots to talk about with us.  It was great to see her!  Tessa wondered why she didn't have toys at her house  :)  Just like me, she and James soon found lots of things to do outside (with a little help from Aunt Nancy, too).

Claire was along for the trip, too; but like any 8 month old she preferred Mom and Dad!  Katie has a picture of all 4 of them together with their Great Grandma.  Maybe when someone starts an early retirement fund for her she will put it on her blog :)

Tessa was able to play her favorite game with James - Campfire!  And the silly kids actually ate their "marshmallows".  Gross.

After a long drive back and another pit stop for us at the Louisburg Cider Mill (Yum!) we made it make to Overland Park.  Even though it was 6 hours of driving, and we had crying babies in the car, I am more than happy to make that same trip again - because I don't know how many opportunities I'll have to visit Oswego again.

The next day we woke up to COLD weather!  But that didn't stop us from going to the Farmstead.

The geese were obviously used to running, screaming 3 foot tall humans.  I think if Tessa wasn't as hesitant as she was, she would have caught them.  Thank goodness she didn't, because I don't think they would be as friendly as our chickens are when caught.

Pony rides for all!

Followed by the old school playground that Katie and I used to (and still - see below) play on.

Even though there were 12 other people at the entire Farmstead that day, the usual activities were still going on, including a special school session that was obviously geared toward people older than 3 and 4.  Both kids soon got bored.

A little more playtime and then it started to rain.  And rain some more.  The only ones who were warm were Claire and Asher, and so we soon left - running!

On day 5 we had to part ways.  Scott had flown in from Phoenix early that morning and we were leaving to head to St. Louis, while Katie and Chris headed to Valley Falls to see his family.  Claire showed off her impressive crawling and standing skills.

While James will always be taller than Tessa (hopefully - and there is a 1.5 year age difference), I think Asher will catch up to Claire at some point in the next 2 years (they are 6 months apart).  But for this trip Asher was most definitely the little guy!

James and Tessa are best buddies.  They have so much fun together and act just like cousins!  This morning they build a very cool fort and decorated it themselves with stickers. 

GROUP SHOT!  I love all these kids sooooo much!

Midwestern Tour, Days 1 and 2

Let me first say that WE WERE BUSY!

It was wonderful to see everyone though.  And I would do it all over again in a heartbeat (minus locking baby in the car... ugh.  Thanks again to the OPFD)

Tessa was a great traveler!  She carried her backpack and then wheeled her carseat once we got it off of baggage claim.  GoGoBabyz is a wonderful thing.  After the fire department rescued Asher from the car and we rushed out to the Arboretum for a sunset stroll.  Even though it was only for 30 minutes, we all loved enjoying the cool evening and being able to run around.  Plus it was beautiful.  It made me wish for green spaces again.

My two lovies the next morning.

We enjoyed the arboretum so much that the next morning we headed there again, this time spending close to 4 hours exploring everything.  Best baby slept the entire time in the wrap.

I taught Tessa an important life skill - catching tadpoles.  She was a natural.

After lunch, we were so excited to meet up with the cousins!  (And Katie and Chris of course)

Then we enjoyed dinner with the extended family.  I am happy to report that the kids fit right into the craziness :)  

We have a roller!

We're back!

We're back!  Despite locking babies in cars, locking babies out of hotel rooms, locking babies in hotel rooms, I would call the midwest tour a success!  Now we are trying to get everyone back into their routines.  Lots more pictures to come!

2 months

2 months

Can we say big belly?  There were other pictures where he was smiling, but this pic shows off his big belly the best!  I don't know how big he has gotten, and it will need to wait a week because Mr. Asher gets to ride in an airplane tomorrow!  Tessa, Asher and I are off to Kansas City.  Wish us luck!

Here's a reminder of what month 1 looked like:

1 month

8/52

Look Mom, I have hands!

7/52

Week seven was rough, not gonna lie (hence the late posting).  Asher has been great, it's just everything else: Tessa was sick for half the week, so we have been stuck in the house for the past 4 days, and no preschool or day with Taylor which means we've had no break from each other.  My work informed me that they need me back sooner than I was planning on returning.  Returning to work means that I've had to start pumping.  I hate pumping.  It's been HOT (duh, it's Arizona in August) AND HUMID!

Humidity + 106 degrees = incompatible with life.

But with the lows there have been some great things happening, too.  Our chickens are great.  They are free range now and will return to the coop on their own when it gets dark.  We've been getting 4-5 eggs per day.  Humidity means monsoons, and we've had some big ones last week, which means much needed rain for the desert.  Asher went to the swimming pool twice in the past week.  He went swimming in Honey and Papas pool for the first time, and hung out with Mom in the bjorn at the public pool while Papa and Tessa had fun getting splashed by the big bucket.  And last night my parents watched both kids while Scott and I went out to Postinos to celebrate our wedding anniversary (6 years today!)  Babysitters = bottle, so Asher had his first bottle last night, although we got home before he needed it, so Scott got to fed him for the first time.

Here's hoping week 8 is better!