Texas!

After a loooong day of travel, we're here in Texas. We're happy to find this nice rest stop, too. On to Tamara's and then the farm!

Santa

We got to see Santa today. The kids list was pretty long and they wanted to know where the reindeer were. Santa said they were at the lake. So cool!

Gingerbread House!

Logan's masterpiece...an architect in the making.

Punkins in KC

Smashing Pumpkins came to KC for a two night engagement at the newly opened Midland theater. The pictures do not do it justice - they're just the best phone pictures I could get from our balcony seats. Chase, my prince, got us tickets for the first night's show. We made a whole date night out of it and we were NOT disappointed. It was a great show even though Billy was clearly under the weather. The performance was better than expected and overall I can only complain about the meandering Pink Floyd tribute that they did at the end. And I LOVE the Floyd.

This is one of the girls waiting at the back of the theater trying to get an autograph. She's a die-hard fan, that's for sure. We didn't get to meet them back there - I think they escaped through another exit since there were 4 of us out there waiting for a glimpse of Billy & Jimmy.

I read that Tuesday's performance was even better - I have to admit, I'm disappointed. I wish I had been able to go to both performances. Oh well.

And take a look at this theater. The Midland was closed for 2 years for extensive update and remodeling. This theater originally opened in 1927 - very ornate Rococo in design. First in the country to have air-conditioning and first in the country to feature a true cantilevered loge (no columns in the way under the balcony). Although it's hard to see, but the pipe organ was flanking the stage in this shot stage left for in-house organ music to accompany performances. Pretty darn cool. The original chandeliers remain, huge and beautiful. I was looking up and around the whole night taking it all in. What a great venue for the new Power & Light district.

Gas in KC

WOW.
Now this is really hurting my efforts to drive less and carpool more. I haven't carpooled in months...am I sad that the price of gas is so low? Well, no. I just really don't want our gas saving to backslide and lets face it - the prices take us back to 2005 when we weren't all looking to invest in those gas-sipping cars.

The Nelson in November

Feeling melancholy, I snuck away for a decadent, lonely lunch at Rozelle court today. Quiet and inspiring. Easily one of the most peaceful and beautiful landscapes in the city any day of the year. Today, she was shining in a pale yellow ginko dress. Gorgeous. I am healed.

Tooth Fairy...bring it!

Sydney lost another top-front tooth last night. Wow. I have to keep telling myself that she's seven. The tooth fairy brought her some quarters-she was very pleased. She's finding a work-around for saying the "th" words. Pretty funny!

Halloween 2008

Trick or Treat!

We are loving the mild weather for trick-or-treating. We had some freaky 70 degree days at the end of last week and a really lovely night for being out without jackets or coats!

Sydney is a fairy, Logan is Obi Wan, and Charlie is Spiderman. Charlie does NOT want to wear the face mask - thank you very much.

Halloween is a special experience in our neighborhood. There are tons of trick-or-treaters just our ages and we all go together on the hay ride behind an old tractor. So, we hit them hard and we hit them fast.

(part of) The River Ridge clan.

Maggie in Kansas

Little Miss Maggie's first big out-of-state trip! She brought her mom and dad up to see me! Thanks, Maggie!

Maggie is such a good girl. The weather was frigid on some days and nice on others. We got to have our first fire of the season. And the visit was the BEST! The boys played football...

And we got to all be together! AWESOME!

Scarecrow at the Cider Mill

The scarecrow design competition happened in October at the Cider Mill. There were a ton of scarecrows and some with a political motif!

The best part? I was the judge this year! Me and Mr. Dunn handed out the big $100 prize to first place...this one-

a beauty!

Kansas Speedway

Let me just preface by saying - it's for the boys, it's for the boys.

We did, we went to a Nascar event at the Speedway sunday & it was, well, LOUD. We had great seats - Thanks, Purdum Construction!

There weren't any deadly crashes or really any other danger that day. They went fast & they turned left. Fun!

Pumpkins!

The Dunn Cider Mill is always the best place for the best pumpkins. The kids got pumpkins Saturday, they're excited to get them carved. Soon!

House Progress!

Ok, it's been a while since I've shared any house images. Progress is slow, I'm not gonna lie. BUT! The sunroom is looking very grown up. It's always been one of my favorite spots, (the view 180 degrees of trees), but now....well, take a look.

Blue Springs BBQ

Chase's favorite fundraiser....the Blue Springs BBQ. It's 72 hours of cooking and feeding the masses. We went on Friday night & hung out with everybody.

First Day of 2nd Grade

Sydney's a second grader! We have lots of new faces at the bus stop, too - our neighborhood girl count is up to 8, I think!

Sydney's Birthday Party

Sydney's Birthday party this year was an all-night, all-girls, all-fun party. There was a pinata, cupcakes, a pillow fight (or two), and lots of High School Musical soundtrack! Until 2am.

Starlight theater

Summer's not over yet!
Mom and I are here to see Fiddler on the Roof. And eat popcorn...

Summer Fun

What a busy and fun summer. I have to say - it is the best ever!
More pictures to come...of the remodel progress, the kids that grow bigger daily, the cool places we've gone...golly!

Twilight Camp

What a group! We are grouped up with other girls from other troops. They are on the bus and on their way to Twilight camp. It's all week from 3 to 8. And they do outdoor campy stuff all evening! How cool!

The Mangler

Here's the mangler that lives at Schutte Lumber. No kidding. Good name, I think. The mill at the lumberyard has been operational since the 1880s. And I bet this is original. We went on a tour Friday. They have started to carry FSC lumber and they're the first in town!

Baby Margaret Adele

She's here!
Margeret Adele is born today at 5:50. She's nearly 8 lbs and absolutely gorgeous. Way to go, Tamara and Scott- you made a beautiful daughter! I can't wait to get my hands on her! Smoochy!

Thanks for growing it, Mom!

Our first garden bounty! We had our swiss chard in a salad tonight and everyone ate it! Shocker!
Spreouts will be next and then soon it will be Tomato Time.

The pool is OPEN!

Yay!
The pool opened this weekend and we all got to go play. It was fun even though Logan's lips really were blue. He did not want to leave...none of them did. Come on summer!

Sunroom

Here's the latest project happening at home. This is a beautiful porcelain slate that's made here in the U.S. A good value, and a major improvement.

Texas

Sydney & I are back home safely after our big adventure to Houston. It was sooo much fun. We got to see just about everybody. Really. That's the best part. And Tamara's about to pop. Literally. That baby could come just anytime. She's excited and nervous, and the air is charged with power of everyone waiting for the big event. Wow! It really was great to be all together for three whole days.

We had some girlie time, too. Mom & Tamara & Sydney & I went for pedicures together and we had a nice lunch out on Friday. And the weather was lovely!

Mother's day was big for us. We got all packed up and ready to leave early and gave ourselves a bit of time to swing by Ikea on the way to the airport. An hour at Ikea isn't enough and if you've been without an Ikea shopping trip for 10 years like me, it's REALLY not enough time. I was a kid in a candy store. If I had more space in the suitcase, it would have been easier. Oh well. It's a great place to shop, but I've noticed that their products are more often sporting the 'Made in China' stamp that I see on everything. And they've proudly posted that their 2008 prices are lower than their 2007 prices. Hmmm...wonder why. What can I say? I'm a sucker for the goofy-named products they have - all of them. LOVE IT!

And how did Sydney enjoy the flight? She's a great traveller, who knew?! I know where she gets that from. When the plane lifted off, she just giggled & giggled & threw up her arms. It was the best thrill ride ever!

First time flyer!

Let me just say, the tickets weren't cheap, but that smile was priceless!
We're on our way to Houston!

Geological relocation

These rocks have a better home today. They get to be part of our back walk. Gorgeous!
Chase and John went and got them from a nearby construction site under cover of tornado. All are well! We'll muscle them into place ths weekend.

Our Garden

After a long year without, it's a good feeling to have a garden again. It's tiny. And it will never be in full sun all day. But we'll see what we get.
There are two rows of tomato (3 types), a row of swiss chard, a row of brussels sprouts, some radishes, and a single eggplant plant. I also have some herbs in a container by the kitchen door. I know they'll do well.
The big question is: How much of my garden will I have to share with the deer, the bunnies and everything else out here?
We'll see!

Recycled Church

Wow! I love it! This old empty church in the neighborhood has new life as an Irish pub.
Gorgeous through and through.
Here are the irish blessings seen on faux stained glass windows. Well done!
I wish I had bought that building first!

Logan's Got Game!

We're happy to report that Logan is a pretty good player and he's only had two games so far. We had three games altogether this weekend. Logan played first - and it was a 42 degree morning up on the hill in the wind. They were great little soccer players - the mud was flying! Then it warmed up into the 70s for Sydney's game.

Sunday was the warmest so far & we had a lovely sunny day in which to take in some more soccer. Here is the whole team lined up:

Take a look at that poor child on the end with his shirt pulled up over his head...you guessed it, that's our boy.

Even Charlie wants in on the action. Very soon, young man.

Project o' the weekend

For some reason, we think that this beast just might work with a little TLC. Chase has started taking it apart and we seem to be pretty lucky so far. He's been able to fix the leaks he's found so far.
It's not the lovliest hot tub, but if it holds water and actuall gets hot...we can be friends.