October 2009

We did minimal Trick-or-Treat-ing this year, as normal.

We spent maybe 30 minutes going to the neighbors and friends houses in our neighborhood.

It was just long enough, and there was still too much candy in the end. Another successful outing.

The kids Trick-or-Treat-ing at our house

After getting and eating a lot of candy
(notice the big smiles!)

For the second year now, we took part in the Longmont Halloween parade, walking with other members of the Boulder County Parents of Twins and More club (our Twins Club).

The kids have a great time walking in the parade, and Nona and PaPa John showed up at several points along the route.

All three kids in their costumes

Drew is ready for the parade

Lexi is looking good

Our Brie princess

Twins Club Group

Mommy pulling the kids in the parade

Happy as can be

Smitty the Imagination Mover

Today we carved our Halloween pumpkin, but it was a bit more special than normal.

For the first year ever, we carved a pumpkin that we grew in our very own garden in the back yard.

It wasn't the biggest pumpkin ever, but we sure were proud of it.

Sizing it up

Drew focused on his grand design

Andrew working hard as Mommy gets choked

Scooping out the insides

The Finished Product!

It seemed like we just arrived and already it was time to leave.

Instead of taking the same way home, through Kansas, we planned to drive a bit North through Lincoln, Nebraska to see Grandma and Grandpa O and Great Aunt Vi. A somewhat-surprise for the kids was the Nona and PaPa John drove to Lincoln to meet us there, too. When we parked and got out of the car, Drew saw them and said: "What are you doing here?" He was very excited.

It was a very short (by comparison) four-hour drive from Kansas City to Lincoln. There, we met everyone at a local mall, which turned out to be the perfect way to visit. There was a LOT to do for the kids, plenty of space for the adults to sit down, and a variety of food to eat for lunch.

Vi brought cousin Vicky (2nd cousin once removed???) with her, and Drew loves to play with her, and the girls had a lot of fun with her too.

The highlight of the mall was the carousel, which was ridden by the kids several times.

Before long it was time to say goodbye. We only had a few hours, but they were great hours and we were very happy that we chose to head home this way.

Our final destination for today was Kearney, Nebraska, which is about 90 minutes East of Lincoln. There we stayed at the Holiday Inn with the mini water park, and the kids had a great time. We only had one room here, which was a bit different, but we made the best of it, and it worked out just fine.

Tomorrow will be nothing but the drive home. It has been a great trip. We plan to try to take this, or the reverse, route again in the not-too-distant future.

The Whole Gang, minus Nona and Papa who were taking the picture and getting the kids to look at the camera

Drew with Grandma and Grandpa O
(with 2Wa² riding the truck Grandpa O gave him last visit)

The Whole Gang, minus Vi and Vicky.
Hey, someone has to take the photo!

All the kiddos

Vicky and Drew jumping off a log

Grandpa O walking with Lexity
(how great is this picture???)

On the carousel

On the carousel for the fourth (maybe fifth) time

Jamie teaching the kids to spin coins on the table
(Vicky and Drew got the hang of it!)

Our hotel in Kansas City had an attached water park called Coco Key. This was the major activity scheduled for today.

This was more fun that we thought it was going to be. Most of the water park was geared toward smaller children, and there was a great area that the girls could even enjoy without direct arms-length supervision.

We rented one of their cabanas, which was perfect. It had a TV, was a lot quieter than the rest of the place, and there was a comfy couch, nice chairs and a table to eat lunch. This worked perfect for us, and the girls even took a short nap, allowing us to extend our time at the water park.

After a VERY full day playing in the water, we walked back to our hotel rooms, changed out of our swimming attire and headed out to meet Great Aunt Darlene, who lives in Kansas City. This was a really fun part of our trip, even though we only had a couple hours. It was great to see her (and not just because she paid for dinner!), the kids interacted with her as if they saw her daily, and we really enjoyed some genuine Kansas City BBQ.

Snacks in the Cabana

Drew playing in the water jets

Brie at the top of the kiddie slide

Lexi playing in the pool

Lexi wore herself out

Brie also takes a nap in the cabana

Drew on the lilipads

Brie and Daddy in the pool

Drew and Daddy wrestling a giant water snake

Brie splashing on the slide

Lexi loved the water toys that Mommy brought

Dinner with Aunt Darlene after a fun day in the water

Today was all about the Movers concert.

We had the whole day to wait before the concert, so what better way to pass the time than going to the T-REX restaurant in Kansas City?

We all loved T-REX in Downtown Disney in January, and this is the only other one in the world. Somehow Tracy remembered this, and it was only about 30 minutes away from our hotel.

After a fun lunch, we headed back to the hotel to change into our Mover Gear and we headed to the concert.

Drew, in his full Mover Suit, was completely mesmerized. At one point Tracy told him he could get up and dance, and his response was that he just wanted to sit there to take it all in.

We were sure that Drew was the biggest Mover fan there, evidenced by what we had to do to get there.

After the show, it took us our usual very long time to pack us all up, and it really paid off this time.

As we were about to leave, we noticed that Rich had come out into the theatre seating. Jamie immediately scooped up Drew and took him over there.

Drew was about as happy as could be to meet Rich, and he got to tell him where he lives and how long we had to drive to see the Movers.

Happy for sure to meet Rich, Drew's first comment afterward was if he could also meet Smitty. It must be hard to understand at five years old that we were really luck to have met one of them. Rich immediately became Drew's second favorite Mover after Smitty. There's no changing his love for Smitty!

Brie and Daddy at T-REX

Andrew happy to be at T-REX

Mommy and Lexity at T-REX

Matching at T-REX

Would you pay almost $15.00 for a dessert?
We splurged this one time, and we loved the Chocolate Extinction.

Drew about to get eaten by a T-REX!

Arriving at the Midland for the Movers concert

In our seats, waiting . . .

The show has begun!

Dave, Rich and Smitty

Mitty's favorite Mover: Smitty!

Drew dancing with the Movers

Collecting confetti near the end of the show

Using Drew's birthday as an excuse, we headed out the door early this morning, heading to Kansas City, Missouri to see the Imagination Movers in concert!

It was a good thing we left when we did, because soon after we (barely) got through the snow on I-70, it was shut down.

What should have been a nine-hour drive took over 13 hours. There was snow, then ice, then rain all the way across Kansas.

If it were not to see the Movers, we definitely would not have made this trek in this weather!

The hotel was a VERY welcome sight, and we settled in quickly and got the kids to bed.

We had two connecting rooms. The kids had one and we had the other. This worked really well, and the kids really liked having their own place to sleep. Mommy and Daddy like having a place to put the kids to bed and then be able to stay up to prepare for the next day without sneaking around.

Getting settled into bed

Excited to see the Movers tomorrow

Sleepy Lexi

What a perfect day to have a fifth birthday party for Drew!

We had many, many friends and family over to help Drew celebrate.

This was Drew's first party where some of his friends came by themselves, marking a milestone for Drew and making for a crazy time for Mommy and Daddy.

The party was a lot of fun, with a Fantasia theme. We had Sorcerer Mickey party hats (homemade), an amazing Fantasia TracyCake, Fantasia-themed games, and plenty of pizza for everyone.

One of the most amazing TracyCakes yet

Lexi & Brie donning their party hats

Fantasia Hullabaloo

Pinata Time!

Costume Contest

Blowing out the candles

Presents!!!

Today was Drew's fifth birthday. We can't believe that he is already five years old.

We had a small party for him on his actual birthday, as we usually do. His big party will be in a few days.

Drew with his presents wearing his preschool birthday hat

Excited about a Fantasia music CD set

Nona, Alexia, Aunt Shelly, Drew and Nini

Phineas and Ferb Cake
(A TracyCake of course)

Our whole family

Daddy got the chance to dress the girls today, and somehow he found some of Tracy's outfits from when she was very young.

Recognizing that these outfits were already a bit too small, he jumped at the chance to get the girls into them while they still could fit.

The results were adorable, and when he took the kids to Nona and PaPa John's house for their usual Friday night, the outfits were instantly recognized, after almost 30 years of not being seen.

Alexia and Brielle

Looking Good!

The kids have always loved playing with Drew's doctor kit, but now they have even more fun with the new, expanded doctor kit Tracy found at a consignment sale.

And, of course, playing doctor turned into a puppet show.

Doctor Brielle

Brie's Puppet Show

Ready for the doctor to visit

Doctor Drew

Simultaneous puppet show and house call

Giving a shot to "Cinderalla Blue One"