December things....

There are so many fun things going on during the month of December in Kansas City; far too many than I can actually list.

My favorite.  It always has been.

A Visit fromSt. Nicholas at Shoal Creek.
December 5^th  10am – 4pm
I love the Victorian Santa Claus.  He wears green instead of red. 
I’ve taken the kiddos a few times, I’m super fascinated with the living history part of it.
This event is not free, it does cost to get into the park. 

Christmas at the Farm

Watkin’s Mill
December 5^th 2pm-7pm
I love Watkin’s Mill.  It’s super pretty in the fall and winter. 
Free Santa photo opp.
This event is a free one.

HolidayLuminary Walk

December 4^th-5^th  5pm-9pm
Another fav.  I think it’s because I get so cold I just love the hot apple cider. 
This year though, it’s supposed to be in the 50s.
I love it when there is snow and the ponds are starting to freeze.  No snow this year, but I’m sure it will still be lovely. 

It’s $8 per person.

Christmas Around Town In Shawnee

December 5^th
4:30-5:15 at the City Hall
5:30 – 7:30 at Old Shawnee Town
I only list this one because I remember performing with my dance class when I was little at this.  It was so cold on that stage!  It’s the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting and 1920s things at Old Shawnee Town.
A long time ago, my mom had her wedding reception at Old Shawnee Town.  I danced so much and when “These Dreams” came on, I remember smacking my mom in the face while dancing.  Sorry mom.  J

The John Wornall House has a Candlelight Christmas Tour

They are being held December 11^th and 12^th from 6:30-8 pm
This has my history nerd thing going on.  It’s a Civil War Era Christmas.  Some of you know, the Civil War is my favorite part of United States history to study and teach.  If I could teach a Civil War history class: DREAM COME TRUE!
Anyway, it’s $15.00 and hopefully worth it.

MissouriTown 1855 – A Christmas Celebration

December 12^th 9am – 5 pm
$5 adults/$3 children/5 and under are in the free catergory
I’ve never been to this one, but I’ve heard it’s okay.
If you don’t like it, you can also stop and feed the bison.

The Liberty Memorial is having a Day in the Life: Christmas During the War

It’s regular museum admission (and if you have never been, you should go)
December 13^th  10am – 5pm

The Nutcracker is at the Kaufman Center

December 5^th-24^th
One day, I will go.  Don’t know when, but hey, it’s going to be one day.

Crown Center has their typical things going on:

We all know there is a huge tree there.
We all know the Ice Terrace is open.
We all know where to find Santa at his Gingerbread Station.
CharlieBrown Christmas is at the Coterie
Then, there is Kaleidoscope (even older kiddos enjoy this, and it’s a time filler between things)
Legoland…I don’t think this one is worth the price you pay to get it.
SeaLifeAquarium is super cute.
Chip’sChocolate Factory….such good fudge!
What am I missing for Crown Center?

 

UnionStation is showing Christmas movies on their Extreme Screen.

Elf is playing until December 3^rd.
Christmas Vacation December 4^th-10^th
The PolarExpress December 11^th-17^th
Movie tickets are only $3.  If you order them online, they are an extra $3.
They will validate parking also.

There is a “Letit Snow” Planetarium show

Merry Science at Science City
And the DaVinci Exhibit is still going on.
Union Station is just beautiful as it is.
When you are there, go outside, look for the bullet holes.

The 1950sAll Electric House is having a Very 50s Christmas from November 30^th – January 1^st

WhovilleHolidays at the City Market.

Every weekend until Christmas
Get your picture with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. Good alternative to the Santa Pics
Admission is three canned goods or a new toy

There is so much more than what I have listed.   Like I totally forgot about the Mahaffie Stage Coach Stop!

The kidlets are so tall now....

Once upon a time.  We went to Union Station.  There were dinosaurs.  The kids were petrified.  Those dinosaurs were big.  There was also a time when my kids weren't taller than me.  That was in 2010.

Violett is One!

Violett's Aunt is the best.  And gives her the best toys ever.

Best PRESENT ever!

Horse dog is taller than the table

And bigger than Peyton

Violett and Scarlett.  See the theme there?

She likes brains

They put this right in front of me....

The 2015 edition of the Grandkids for my mother

Still the favorite gift!

What are you #sorrynotsorry about today?

I'm #sorrynotsorry about having the day off today. 

Thanksgiving Dinner!

Thanksgiving Dinner

 

The Menu:

 

Appetizer:  Meat and Cheese Tray -- Looking Turkey Like
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

 

 

The Turkey:  Apple Cider Glazed

 

 

Vegetable Haz: Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Garlic and Parmesan Corn, The Yummiest Sweet Potatoes Ever

 

 

Corn Bread Stuffing Muffins

 

Rolls

 

Individual Pumpkin Cheesecakes 

And I cheated and baked the sugar cookies with a Turkey on them.

Thankfulness and Gratitude: Week Four

Week 4

 

I was struggling this week.

 

I am thankful and grateful for so much.

 

Some things I am grateful for, but don't want to put on here.

 

Some things I am grateful for and want to write about them all the time.

 

I am thankful for all the people that I enjoy spending time with, my family, my job, my home, the opportunities that await me.

 

Just thankful for all the things.

 

And with week four I am done.

 

I know I don't go into details about most things.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Freezing 5K

It was cold!  So cold!  But, it was fun! 

Alli has been participating in Girls on the Run at school for the past couple of months.  They only take a limited number of girls.

 

http://bulldogbloggers.weebly.com/bulldog-blog/end-of-the-gotr-season

 

We were still warm here.

Alli and Layla

Alli with her homeroom teacher

Some of them.  I don't think they all showed up.

After the Haz!

Derby Draft Day!

Sheila table...decorated. 

Zombie League/Some new/Some that played last year

Two of my favs

The Usual Suspects

New Usual Suspects!
Riot Earp
Jampa
Valkillrie
10aciousV
Aneeda Hurtcha
Bruise Easily
Ensane Gwen
Sailor Jack

2016 Shotgun Sheilas

Welcome new Sheilas!
Cherry Violence
Penny Roller
Black Mamba
Melissa Newton

Being Bossy.

 

I was super sad that I missed my draft night.  I was miserable. Regret that every year.  From the pictures, it looked like everyone had so much fun.  I did get a text though.  Super surprised!

Ten Random Facts about Me!

I did this post before.  On my old blog.  Most of it doesn't even apply to me anymore.  Random facts are hard.  I don't know what people know or don't know about me.  Of course, I can just say whatever is in my head.

1.  I decided I liked Meg Meyer's music because of the song "Poison".  She has a pretty hilarious Instagram account also. Reason for this random fact: totally am listening to it right now.

2. My middle name is the same as both of my grandmothers.

3. I have a problem with reality tv.  Yes, I love it.  Big Brother is still my number one.  Gotta love the Amazing Race and Survivor though. 

4. I have a degree in Secondary Education, but work for the State of Missouri.  Yep, going to change that.

5. I love all the holiday haz.  You've been warned.

6.  Oh, here's a random most people don't know.  I founded the Kansas City/Gladstone Chapter of the MOMS Club.  I was bored.  I needed other people to do things with.  Now, I am a lifetime member that doesn't have to pay the fees. I know one person who is still in the club.  Otherwise, I'm just this random person on the group who hasn't been on the website in over a year.

7. My cat is fat.

8.  My kids are the most amazing.  (I was going to say they are more amazing than yours, but that seemed kinda mean)

9.  I have the best Mike that's out there.  I know you are already jealous.  I get it, I would be too.

10.  This is suppose to be 20 random facts, but I couldn't do it.  So, now it's just 10.  You're welcome.

TBT: Most Embarassing Moment Ever...

You would think my most embarrassing moment would be when I was jumping around and peed my pants in public or when I fell up the stairs in front of people, but it’s not….

My most embarrassing moment took place in the summer of ’95.  I had just finished 7^th grade. I was on a mission trip with my childhood church. We went to Red Bird Mission, deep in the Appalachians.  It was beautiful and serene and I am still waiting for the day when I can return.  Even thought I don’t actively participate in a church or organized religion, I still believe that the Red Bird Mission is a great cause and I was deeply impacted by visiting.

Anyway, to my story. Red Bird Mission has a K-12 school. Some of their students live too far away to commute daily to the school. Therefore, the Mission has dorms.  One of our jobs while we were there was to repaint the bathrooms in the boy’s dorm room. (And you boys are dirty! It was not fun scraping the rust off the dividing walls of the stalls because you couldn’t aim) the first thing we did was scrap all the paint. That morning, we had tackled the lower parts of the walls. After lunch time, we needed to do the upper walls.  I was the first one to arrive back.  I got on top of the nasty boys toilet and began scraping the paint.  When I had finished that spot, I stepped back to get off the toilet.  I failed to remember that there was no lid on said toilet.  I stepped right into the nasty toilet.  I thought I was still alone in the bathroom.  I was wrong.

For a few hours, everyone was staring at me. They were giggling and smiling at me, whatever, I could not put my finger on to it as to why they were doing this.

One person finally asked me how it was to take a swim in the toilet.  My little just got out of 7^th grade heart was devastated.  People were laughing at me.  They were laughing at something I did.  The person, who heard it all happen, had exaggerated slightly. Making it just a little worse.  I think it was so embarrassing to me at the time because I thought I was alone and got away with it.  And the fact that I was only in 7^th grade.

Thursday=Alli's Good Day

Girls on the Run Meeting

Tap vs Water

Alli is a science finalist!  She will be going to Union Station on April 8th for the State Competition.

Thankfulness and Gratitude: Week Three

Third week.  So happy I didn't do this daily.  It would have been a total fail.  Maybe I should be thankful for some things failing.  If they didn't fail, other things wouldn't happen.  I'm talking completely about myself right now.  Not others.  I'm sure others can identify with this.

I am thankful this week that I was able to clean out half of my shed.  I would have been more thankful if I could have gotten the rest of it done. 

I am thankful for my children.  Even when my mini meltdown occurs because of them.  I got over it pretty quickly, it just showed me I can't always handle everything.  I have feelings guys and sometimes they come out like that.  Apologies all around.  Sincere ones too.

I am thankful and grateful for my Mike.  Yes, I completely claim him. <3 So many ways.  So many news ways every single day.  A lot today.  Like a whole lot. 

I am thankful for chiropractors.  Yep.  What I thought was my shoulder hurting was actually a rib.  Opps.  Ribs back in place, just in time to scrimmage with the new girls.  Dang, they are good.  I am thankful that draft night is Saturday and I will get to meet my new teammates for the Sheilas and Usual Suspects.  Oh, and I thought of a great and wonderful idea after someone borrowed my tank top.  Someone is going to love it.  I got this. 

I am grateful for my mom.  She does so much for me and she doesn't need to. 

My old supervisor made me a gold name thing for my cup.  I love it.  I was wondering why she asked me what color went with blue that I really like.  I'm grateful for that.  She says she does things like that to make people smile.  Totally made me smile.

I am thankful that there are a few good people left in the world. 

Girl Scouts: Just Breathe Part 2

I'm not a huge fan of the Girl Scout Journeys.  In fact, I was super upset when they changed the whole program 5 years ago.  I liked Girl Scouts how it was.  They now offer less badges and they have the "Journey" books.  They have also eliminated a lot of the outdoor badges.  Boo.

I try to make it fun.  Because boring Girl Scouts is boring and it doesn't keep girls interested.

Tonight, we did a few things that went along with the Breathe Journey and it had to do with smelly things.

The girls went around smelling good things. 

Then they talked about bad smells, like middle school boys.  They are apparently really bad. 

We also made some lotion with rose water and lime juice.  The girls were obsessed.  Obvious success.  I do alright sometimes.