Potter's Wheel Reunion

We got a call a week and a half ago from two of our favorite Potter's Wheel employees. They were back from traveling the world, visiting our German son Martin and wanted to hang out before they both headed back to school. The kids have spent a lot of time with Shannon and Brett and were excited to see them again. Actually, Lucas couldn't stop hugging Shannon and I don't think she minded one bit...

One of the great things about Shannon & Brett is that they have always played with the kids and let them work at the PW with them...it's a well known fact that you make better tips when you have your cutie pies deliver the goods!

The boys tag teamed Shannon in arm wrestling...but I think she still won.

Look at Lucas and Shannon in this one...poor duke...

Sissy was more of a thumbs war kind of girl...

I love our extended family...thanks for coming over guys! We had a great time!

Lady Bug Introductions

I have been meaning to share some of these photos with you for the past 2 weeks...can't imagine what I have been doing...oh, right, must be those pesky 4 hours of sleep I get every night...haha

Lucas is practicing gentleness when it comes to puppies. He told me that he loves Lady so much and his favorite things about her are her face and her cute baby noises.

I love this one...I bet Sissy is going to print it off of the computer too... :)

Photo shoot by the kids...Lady Bug...meet the Lady Bug. How adorable is that?

I know I have said it before, but isn't she cute?

Sissy, this is for you. Can you notice anything different about Lady?

Look at her left ear! It is floppy now...not sure why but it just makes her even cuter. Don't you think? :) I thought you would like that!

I will end with the pug tilted, boston terrier tough, floppy eared loving girl...

P.S. We didn't get a heads up beforehand, but the boys' other puppy came for a visit on Friday. The meeting went pretty well. They took turns freakin' out and sniffed accordingly...but I don't really see any play dates in their future. Too stressful I think...

4th Grade Strings & 5th Grade Band

School just started and already the kids are quickly filling up their calendars with extra curricular activities...I have a feeling it is only going to get busier as they get older. This year, Noah and Eli have both decided to start playing an instrument in the band/strings program. Eli chose the Cello and Noah chose the saxophone. The music teachers recommended that Noah start on the clarinet and then move to the saxophone next year. Even though Noah was told that the clarinet was a girls instrument, he persevered and is pretty excited about band class. I played the saxophone for 4 years and gave it up when I had to choose between Annual Staff or band but we have had it out several times for the kids to play. Lucas has also decided to play the saxophone (he tells me he wants to be my saxophone buddy) and he would like to practice this year on mine, while Noah learns the clarinet first. I can't tell you how happy daddy is to have 3 boys actively pursuing music! I think our band might be coming together at last! Now we will have a cello, clarinet, saxophone, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, keyboard, native american flutes and a ukulele to choose from. What fun!

We went to Lawrence today to get the instruments from Hume Music. Scott went to LLTI school with Mary Hume and we called her when the boys decided they wanted to play. She got us the instruments and the boys were so excited to pick them up today. Lucas was a little bummed that he wasn't getting his instrument today (it is at grandma's house) but I think he will be ok till I can pick it up. :) I didn't get a pic. of Noah with the Clarinet but I got a cute one of Eli with the 1/2 size Cello. We ended up getting him the 3/4 size so he has a little room for growth. I love the Cello, it is just beautiful! Eli's first class is Monday and Noah's is after Labor Day so I will be sure to update you on how they are progressing.

Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center

In an effort to explore KC we have been researching new opportunities, museums, multi-cultural experiences and anything we can find to help the kids (and us) have a broader understanding of the world and a greater appreciation for our community. Scott and I love to travel and want to pass that passion on to the kids. We have individually explored Holland, Germany, Paris, all over Italy, Israel, Jordan, Egpyt, Hungary, Alaska and many, many islands and the kids dream with us as to our next adventure. So, all of that to say we found a new place that we think we are going to love.

The same day we had our Greek picnic we discovered the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. The center is surrounded by 10 acres of gardens, wetlands, walkways and wildlife...all located near the banks of Brush Creek near the Plaza. They host educational programs in "the heart of the urban core" to help kids and adults appreciate nature, learn outdoor survival skills, hiking, camping, growing native plants and various science experiments. The day we went we learned about Lewis & Clark and had an opportunity to carve out our very own "dugout" boat. After all the boats were ready they got to test them out in "Brush Creek" in a river model of the Plaza. Since the discovery center is an outreach of the Missouri Dep. of Conservation they showed us past, present and future of Brush creek and the surrounding area. I am not sure the boys caught all of the educational stuff because they were too busy racing their boats down the river, avoiding the rain, and enjoying the fake thunderstorm. I had no idea that little boats could create hours of entertainment! It must be a boy thing!

This is a half-scale model of the Lewis & Clark Keelboat...our family would like to live on a boat and sail around the world...we are all adventurers!

Lucas went thru a Buffalo stage where he LOVED them, imitated them and generally obsessed over them but that has mostly passed but he really thought this was cool. On top of the buffalo hide is the stomach lining of a bison along with hooves, horns and skulls. Great boy stuff!

Our great adventurers carving their boats...

Tiny little boats still pack a lot of fun...

Racing down present/future Brush Creek.

The old dugout boat is rotting so the Mo. Dep. of Conv. is making a new one. The guy stripping the log is Jean-Paul, a friend of the man in the hat...sorry, no monkey in this story...or are there 3 monkeys...hmmm....it's ok, you don't have to laugh...it's after midnight and I'm slap happy...

We were lured in by the promise of tools and hard labor but Jean-Paul took over. He is from Senegal and is currently teaching at the French academy in KC. He just stopped by to see his friend and volunteered to strip the log. He actually use to do this a lot in Senegal and he kept telling us he really enjoyed the hard labor. Someday this log will be a dugout boat.

Since they didn't get to exercise their manliness with axes...they were given the opportunity to help move the 1000+ log. They thought that was cool.

Last but not least is the token group photo...such cuties!

It's always rewarding when your kids enjoy something you have introduced them to...and I think we had a really good balance this summer with educational and cultural adventures. It makes it so much easier when they LIKE museums and the artsy stuff we share with them. What can I say...they are just amazing! :)

World War I Memorial

We are lucky enough to live 15/20 minutes away from some of the best sites in KC. We made several day trips this summer to explore the local neighborhoods and to give the kids a little "culture". Most of our trips dealt with art, history and the word free...during our last week of summer we took them to the World War I memorial. We took lady with us and explored the huge yard and then explored the monument and sky line. We took some creative photos that were Noah's idea. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work to get it all lined up right but we were happy with the results. The kids and I can't wait to go up in the tower next time. If you haven't been there you should make it one of your next picnic destinations.

Greek Picnic at the Park

One of the things we work on at our house is having an open mind when it comes to food. We don't want to hear, "I don't like it" unless you have actually tried it first...then you are allowed to not like it...but most of the time the kids will try something and be surprised when they actually like it! We move them beyond things like "Kraft" cheese and introduce them to feta, brie, blue cheese and more. It's a lot of fun. Last Saturday we went on a picnic after our Lewis & Clark history lesson and decided to try some Greek food. Scott and I LOVE trying new food and are pretty excited about the upcoming KC ethnic festival. In preparation of that event we thought the kids would enjoy a little taste of Greece so we got our lunch at Mr. Gyros. We ate Gyro Melts with lamb, american & swiss cheese and Tzatziki sauce and sampled Dolmades, Pastichio, Spanakopita and Pita Bread with Tzatziki sauce. The kids LOVED everything but the grape leaves...but that's ok...because they tried it first. Plus, we love them so that means more for us next time!

Yummy Greek food = full tummies and smiley faces...

Sat. turned out to be a perfect day...we learned some history, explored a new museum, carved little boats, watched an artisan work and then had a picnic in beautiful, cool weather. We took Lady with us to the park so she could run around with us and the boys introduced her to the playground equipment. She followed Noah all over the playground, went up all the stairs and rode down the slides in his lap. She was also introduced to the geese...and didn't try to eat or chase them...which surprised me...That morning the boys asked if Lady could meet their other puppy when we dropped them off at their mom's house. Since Lady had been treated for fleas twice before we adopted her and had been to the vet last week and treated some more we thought it would be a good idea. The kids love having a puppy at each house and they were dieing to have the two meet....but when we got there we were told that their other puppy had some suspicious looking bugs and their mom felt it was better if the two puppies didn't meet....so the kids are hoping that it will be taken care of soon so their two puppies can finally meet and play.

Pugs are known for their head tilt and the longer we have Lady the more tilted her head gets..it is soo cute! Boston Terriers are known for being cuddly & lovey and she is definitely that.

Her first slide...

This photo is from our last day of summer...the boys all got some new school clothes and Noah even took home an extra shirt so he could wear it to school on the first day...It's the purple one...I can't believe how fast summer flew by and that they are already back in school...

1st Day of School

Today was the day...the first day of school. We met the boys as they walked to the school (their other house is half a block away from the school) and boy did they look cute. We got big hugs and then followed them to their classes. We went to Lucas' class first. His poor back pack was packed so full that it was hurting his back and rubbing his neck raw but he was very proud to be starting first grade. He has a new buzz cut so he looks like he is ready to get serious and follow orders...

What a cutie! I can't wait to watch him learn this year! He is so attentive in class and is super polite. We know he is going to love first grade.

Awww....

Next stop was Noah's class. He told me I could take a photo if I snuck it in....so he pretended not to know I was taking the photo...5th grade is going to be great! Now, if he could just get his hair style just right... He is quietly figuring out life and people...great brain in that beautiful head!

Our last stop was Eli's class. He has the same teacher that Noah had last year and he already knows she is pretty funny so he thinks it will be a good year. He had lots of new supplies to pack away and wanted his desk to be perfect.

Here are the twins...such good buddies! Eli has one of his best buds in his class so he is pretty excited about that. He is so excited about this year and what he is going to learn. We can't wait to watch him grow and mature as a 4th grader!

Happy Birthday Noah!!

It only took 9.5 months but Noah FINALLY turned 10 on Tuesday night! Last Nov. we had a DECADE CELEBRATION for his 10th birthday and we planned 10 events but only got 9 of them accomplished...and Noah has been begging us to finish out his list so he could finally turn 10... a mere 2.5 months before he is due to turn 11. Eli on the other hand, was begging us to wait until he turned 11 so that he could finally be older than Noah...but we thought that might upset the delicate balance of power so we fit his Daddy/Dawma birthday dinner in at the last moment. We had a nice dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (where kids eat free on Mon/Tues. :) ) and we saw Uncle Billy there too.

We took this quiet time to talk about 5th grade and to set some personal goals for Noah this year. He helped us come up with 3 goals and he seems pretty committed to meeting them. 5th grade is all about buckling down and getting serious...no more of this 4th grade stuff....nope, it's the real deal. We set reading goals (with the disclaimer that they will be increased), attitude goals, character goals and discussed extra curricular activities. We know that a lot of new things are thrown at you in 5th grade and we had a great talk about our expectations and his. This is going to be a great year and we are so glad he will be starting 5th grade as the awesome 10 yr old that he is. Happy Birthday Noah! Thanks for the special dinner.

No, he's not making faces...he is celebrating his 10th birthday item...and a whole decade!!

We really enjoyed our one on one time with Noah. It is so different when you only have one child out of four with you...it's so quiet!!

Anniversary Fun

Sunday was a great day. We spent the whole day together lounging, playing with Lady, training her and relaxin' plus I got to sleep in AND take a nap!! It was the best gift ever! We went out for a celebratory lunch and then back to Crown Center to play in the fountains. We brought lady with us and had mobs of people crowd around her, give her kisses, pet her, love her and overwhelm her. It was great to have the dog that everyone loves. :) Good for the ego!

Ted : You were yummy...thanks!

Wet children attacking dry parents...we got lots of lovin'!

How adorable is that?

Surprise attack...I was soaked after 10 hugs or so... :)

The little one had to give me lots of wet hugs too...

Little one is becoming a great little photographer...he has a great eye for detail...

Little one photo of relaxed and happy 4 yr vet...i am soaked...

Little one photo of Lady...great job Lucas!

It's ok, you can say it....Awwww....

Picnic stop on our way home from the adoption.

1 hr into the adoption and on our way back home...