January 2017

I am going to do something new with the blog this year.  I am only going to post once a month and the pictures will be random day to day things from my I-phone.  I struggle with keeping up with the blog, but I love to look back at old posts and see what was happening in our life.  Some months will be full of pictures and events, and others not so much....

So here is January 2017:

We had lunch with Mark over Christmas break one afternoon.  We love going to lunch with Daddy every chance we get (which is not often enough.) 

I successfully completed the Whole 30 challenge this month.  If you don't know what it is, google it.  It was a lot of work, but totally worth it. 

We had lots of lazy days this month, Ginger included.  The old couch in the basement is the only one Ginger is allowed to be on...

We had a birthday party for Ginger.  She turned 1 on January 4th!  We celebrated with doggie ice cream and some new toys. 

The toys were destroyed within minutes. 

The girls had a snow day! 

It was so cold, they only lasted about 15 minutes outside sledding in the front yard. 

I found this awesome picture on my phone.  I love it! 

We traveled to Omaha to celebrate Christmas.  We tried to travel in December, but an ice/snow storm kept us at home. The girls had a blast with their cousins...they always do. 

Addison put together an awesome Daddy Daughter dance outfit. 

These two went to the Daddy Daughter dance together.  Mark even bought a new tie, at Addison's request.  The girl's dress and the boy's tie must match.  They had a great time together! 

The girls took about 20 selfies on my phone that all looked like this! 

We had a slumber party in the living room one Friday night.  Addison planned the event.  She even made me sign a contract so I would not forget that I had said yes to a sleep over many night ago.  Her contract said "Mommy had to be there.  We will have fun, talk, watch movies, and stay up late."  It was fun! 

We were shocked by the news of Yordana Ventura passing away.  It was so sad and still is. We watched a lot of coverage of the event and talked a lot about what happened.  We have become quite the Royals fans the last several years.  

Lauren's choir performed at the Mavericks hockey game.  Most of her class was there! They sang the National Anthem and enjoyed the game.  

I cooked a lot this month....

Because of this.  Now that the Whole 30 is over, I am planning on maintaining a paleo like lifestyle. There are so many foods that upset my stomach and effect my body overall.  This was a wonderful reset and an eye opening experience on how food effects our entire body, head to toe, physically and mentally.  

So there you have it.  January in a snapshot.  See you in February!  

A Glimpse of What the Girls Did all Week in Omaha

Thursday was our last day in paradise...but not really.  Our plane left before Noon and we had to be at the airport around 9:00, so it was an early morning.  

We were actually excited to get home and see the girls.  We enjoyed a huge breakfast buffet, walked around the resort one last time, then headed to the airport for the long travel home.  The Cancun airport was swarming with police officers (25+) with guns drawn and masks covering their face...OMG I was scared.  Thankfully that was not our terminal....when we arrived to our terminal it was completely fine.  Once we arrived back in the States I could finally relax and breath a little.  

The girls spent the week in Omaha at Aunt Chris and Uncle Jeff's house with all their cousins and Grandma Harding.  They had so much fun.  We left Mark's phone in Omaha so we could do face time (no I-phones in the family in Omaha) and Rae Ann (our oldest niece) took a ton of pictures of the girls all week and kept sending us pictures of what they were doing.  They went swimming, to the park, to the splash park, Children's Museum, Zoo, Uncle Pat's house, roller skating, mini golfing, fed the ducks, walked the dog, out for ice cream, root beer floats, and had a slumber party every night.  These girls had so much fun.  They hardly missed us!  We did face time every day for about 5 minutes and that was enough to say hello, catch up, and give kisses!  

In their jammies.  I assume it is close to bed time, but no one looks tired to me! 

Chris said the girls did great skating.  Seriously, look at little Addison.  I am not surprised at all.  And Lauren was all over the skating rink, skating by herself.  

Probably my favorite picture of the week, from the Children's Museum.  

The girls made signs for Mark's birthday at the Children's Museum and sent us pictures that afternoon.  Made his day.  

They went to the Zoo two separate times!  

They played cards. 

They went swimming at Uncle Pat's house...and Lauren lost her tooth.  

Apparently the kids had fun looking for it in the pool!  Kate found it...but Lauren saved it for the tooth fairy in Kansas City.  She did not want to leave it for the Omaha tooth fairy...

This picture totally cracks me up.  Poor Emma, squeezed in between car seats with Lauren using her as a pillow.  This was only Sunday, the 2nd day we were gone! 

The Durham Museum had a dinosaur display the girls enjoyed.  

They fed the ducks...or tried to at least.  They threw one handful of food to the ducks and the ducks "attacked" them and all the girls took of running and screaming.  

And this is one of Mark's favorite pictures.  Drying off at the splash park.  

Mark's sister sent me daily, detailed e-mails with what the girls did all day.  Mark and I enjoyed hearing all about their days, and were so glad to know they were having so much fun, despite us being away.  Chris said Lauren cried one night right before bed, when we had just finished up face time, but otherwise no tears from either one of them all week. I knew Addison would be fine....it would be Lauren that missed us.  

The girls were waiting for us at the airport and came running to us when we got off the plane.  BEST.MOMENT.EVER.  Addison jumped into my arms and Lauren into Mark's arms.  Man we missed those girls, but a week in paradise was well worth it.  

Harding Christmas

We spent the past weekend up in Omaha celebrating Christmas with the Harding's.  Like always, the girls had a blast with their cousins.  Grandma wanted a picture with all her grand kids ....well here ya go!  

We drove up Friday night after work, which is always exhausting, but worth it end the end when we get to spend all day Saturday in Omaha.  

We started our morning watching Nathan test for his blue belt in Tae Kwan Do.  He passed!  Way to go Nathan.  

 Saturday afternoon Addison and I took a nap.  I felt awful with a head cold that both girls had earlier in the week.  

 After dinner we opened presents.  Eve loved her vacuum we got her, Addison is always full of smiles, Nate loved his DS game, Lauren loved her kitty, Emma loved her Build a Bear clothes, Kate loved her  Barbie dog, Rae Ann loved her Charming Charley GC, Mark loved his golf bag, and I loved on Addison.  Love her smile...

We got the kids to play outside for a while since it was not really that cold.  Nathan is blurry in the picture because he insisted on jumping off the deck while I snapped the picture.  Crazy kid.

Lauren and Kate played together a lot this time.  I love this picture.  They both look so sweet and innocent...don't let it fool you!  

Lauren got some great gifts from Grandma Harding and her Aunts and Uncles.  Movies, Wii game, Novi Star doll, Fur Real Kitty, Amelia Bedelia books, Paradise Park Pass.  

This sweet one is always up for a picture.  She was also very excited about her gifts.  Cinderella the movie, Cinderella dress up clothes, Lalaloopsy dolls, princess dolls, Lego Friends, and a Paradise Park pass.  It was a great Christmas in Omaha.  

Uncle Pat made Santa milk shakes...yummy!  

And Grandma got a great picture with all her grand kids.  Too bad my girls were all ready out of their Christmas dresses and into comfy clothes...oh well.  It was a great start to the Christmas celebrations over the next week.  Happy Holidays everyone!  

4th of July Long Weekend

How was your 4th of July holiday?  Ours was great!  Mark and I took the rest of the week off and traveled to Omaha to celebrate the 4th of July with his family.  His brother always has a huge party and we always have a great time!  

We headed out Wednesday morning, with Zoe too!  We decided to bring her up to Omaha since she had just spent 10 days in the kennel.  We did not want to make her go back again!

The girls agreed to a few photos and we were off.  

We stopped in St. Joe so we could hit Chick fil A for lunch.  That is about the only fast food Mark and I really like.  I was attacked by ketchup...all over my purse, wallet, hair, shirt and white shorts.  I kid you not..and it was not because of me.  The lady sitting behind me opened her ketchup and then she said "Oh, it was like a volcano."  It was everywhere.  I basically stripped in the bathroom (in a stall of course) trying to get the ketchup off my clothes..white shorts...and all.  Lauren was a huge help pointing the ketchup stains out to me...and Mark found ketchup on the headrest of his car before we headed home Friday morning.  Gross.  

Once we arrived in Omaha we headed to Pat's house and tried to stay cool by sitting under the tents.  

The kids hit the water and they were fine.  Lauren is in the blue and white stripped suit, and Addison is sitting on Emma's lap! They had a good time in the water.  

I brought watermelon and it was a hit with everyone.  Especially the kids.  

The fireworks in Pat's neighborhood are amazing.  You can literally see hundreds of fireworks going off in all directions.  

The girls stayed up super late watching all the action.  

I played around with the settings on my camera and captured some cool fireworks.  

Thursday morning we hit the Omaha Zoo before it got too hot.  

This jellyfish was amazing. 

Addison was obsessed with the monkeys again like she was at the San Diego Zoo.  I have always loved the Omaha Zoo, but after being in San Diego just a week before it was a little bit of a let down.  But, it was still fun!  

We hung out at Aunt Chris's house Thursday afternoon and all the cousins played in Emma's room with her Polly Pockets.  They were very creative.  

After dinner we hit Orange Leaf for dessert.  What could be better than Orange Leaf with ALL your cousins?  Lauren and Addison were in heaven.  

Mark and Lauren went to see Brave Saturday morning...so Addison and I went here...

before we went to Kids Zone (an indoor bounce house place in Blue Springs.)  We figured Addison was a little young for Brave.  She did really well with Madagascar 3, but I don't think Brave would have kept her attention.  We had fun together and Mark and Lauren had fun together.  

Since we had so much fun at the first Sporting KC game we decided to go to another.  We headed out there Saturday night...

and at 8:00 at half time it was still....

Oh my word it was H-O-T.  We were not allowed to say it.  The girls know when we go somewhere and we KNOW it is going to be hot I don't want to hear them complain.  So it turns it into a game and makes it fun when they start to complain they catch themselves and stop and laugh. 

I don't think I have ever been outside for an extended period of time when it is over 100 degrees outside.  

We stayed cool with 2 of these and lots of bottled water.  

We had a ton of fun, even though the game ended in a tie.  

We really need to learn more about the sport of soccer because the Sporting KC games are the place to be in Kansas City.  If you have not been to a game you need to go.  They are exciting, family friendly, professional soccer and fun.  

It was an awesome long 4th of July break.  Now it is back to work and back to reality.  Summer vacations are all over.  I can't even believe school supplies are out already.  Thankfully we still have 5 weeks of summer left with lots of fun things planned.  I am looking forward to taking a day off to take Lauren back to school shopping, and of course the first day of school off as well.  But, let's not talk about that.  We need to enjoy what is left of summer!