a weekend for us

a much needed weekend!



If you read my previous post, you know that we've had Jack Johnson tickets for MONTHS and had been looking forward to this weekend with our friends, Brent and Alyssa, all summer!


The kids went to Grandma and Grandpa's...and we were off!

First to Sandstone outside of KC, for the concert!

They are not thrilled to have their picture taken.

In fact Dave said "first time you've ever been to a concert?"

He acted like I was the only one in the whole place with a camera...are you KIDDING ME?

We stayed in Lawrence after the concert and hung out on Mass St. for half the day on Saturday. I know this is silly...Mass St. is such a neat place...but for some reason, I just couldn't wait to leave (something about it just being Lawrence!).

Alyssa said "you people and your rivalries"...she's not from Kansas...so she just doesn't get it.

I was just itchin' to get to Manhattan...our next stop.

We stopped at the scenic overlook on the way...after all these years, we never stopped there. Thanks Brent for that lovely little experience!
Our weekend ended in Manhattan...great times! Coco Bolos, Aggieville and Bob's Diner. Oh yeah, and a tour of Manhattan for our friends who had never been....we showed them campus, our fraternity and sorority houses, other places we lived, the tornado damage and lots more!

I just have to say that it was so nice not being "mom" and "dad" all weekend. Being able to talk, relax, stay out for as long as we wanted, and just have that much needed break away.

Thanks Brent and Alyssa for a SPECTACULAR weekend!

Meet Jack

So we've been telling people for months that we were going to a Jack Johnson concert. For those of you who don't know Jack....

Meet Jack.We've had this weekend planned with some friends, since March/April when we bought the tickets. And what a fabulous weekend it was.

The highlight of the weekend, was of course, Jack Johnson. It was such an awesome show at Sandstone in KC. The weather was perfect and Jack was AMAZING! We've been Jack fans since college. We actually got to see him and Ben Harper at Red Rock Amphiteater in Colorado...if you've never been to a concert there...put that on your list of things to do. That was before my digital camera, so I don't have anything on my computer I can share with you quickly, but here's a sneak peek of pictures I found online, it is such a cool place.

We had a Ben Harper song in our wedding...the bridesmaids walked down the isle to it, instead of the traditional type songs. I added the song "Forever" by Ben Harper to our playlist if you want to check it out. So anyway, we enjoy Ben and Jack...and were so excited to see Jack in concert this weekend.

Many people have become better familiar with Jack because of this...

So rather than trying to explain what kind of artist he is (b/c I've found that to be kind of hard) I added songs to my playlist or you can check him out on YouTube, here's a link to just one of MANY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOu7PNt2baY

You may just end up coming to his next concert with us!

Pictures of our weekend coming later. (I took my camera only to find out that my card was full...so I have to get pictures from Alyssa)

Flashback Friday

I got behind on pictures this summer, so we'll use Flashback Friday to catch up!

This flash back is to June, Taylor's first story time at the library.

I was so excited to take her to this, it was the first REAL activity that she's done. We even arranged for Mason to go to Grandma's on these mornings, so this could be mommy and Taylor time.

I just imagined this to be such a fun time for her...sitting and listening to fun stories, singing songs, clapping and playing instruments.

Well, that's what everyone else did. (see how all the kids are sitting so nicely with their mommies, enjoying story time)But not Taylor.

Her idea of fun was NOT my idea of fun (I'm sure I will realize this MANY more times in the future).

I think she may have lasted in a sit-down position, listening to a story, for about 2 whole minutes. Then on to this....We've got a lot of work to do before Kindergarten. I hope there aren't play kitchens and fun toys sitting around in her Kindergarten classroom.

Each week got better. By the end of the summer she lasted for nearly the entire story time! And yes, she did have fun clapping, singing songs and playing instruments!

It was so fun to have 3 friends at story time with us! We tried so hard to get all these little ones in the same spot for a picture...this is the best we could do! These are Taylor's friends: Ava, Eli and Ollie (and Ollie's mom, Kendall).

I think we'll do story time again this fall!

this job called "mom"

Funny how things seem to go sometimes.

All week I've been thinking about how everyone is headed back to school.
And for the most part I've been quite relieved that I am not.

But then today, the first day of school....the day that my mind REALLY seems to be on school...thinking about all the teachers who are greeting their students for the first day of school, thinking about the smiles and energy that pass from staff member to staff member as you greet each other in the halls, and thinking about my friends who are at work today...and I'm not there.

The day that all of this is going through my mind....sure enough is the day that THIS went on here at home:

• Mason decided to wake up every 20-30 min. from about 5:30am on.
• When he did go back to sleep and I got him from his swing a couple hours later, he was soaked, his blanket was soaked and the cushion on the swing was soaked....not JUST with pee. Thank goodness that cushion detaches to be thrown in the wash!
• I tried to watch the finale of "So You Think You Can Dance"...I've been behind for weeks just waiting for a chance to sit down, relax and see who won....that chance finally arrived, and somehow the finale show didn't get recorded...so I STILL don't know who won...guess I should look on the internet tonight
• My ipod that Dave got me for my bday came today, he let me have it early...it doesn't work.
• Mason decided not to take a nap this afternoon....instead, just scream for a couple of hours.

Okay, I'll stop there, but I could go on...because it seemed like EVERYTHING went wrong today.

It's just funny that the ONE day I'm thinking lots about Slate Creek....is the day that I would MUCH rather be there as well!

But I knew from the beginning that this job as "mom" is MUCH tougher than any thing else out there. Even on the days that I was teaching, thinking "there is NO WAY I get paid enough to deal with this stuff!" and kidding myself that being at home with my kids would be SOOO much easier! Well, now I DON'T get paid ANYTHING!!

BUT, a good friend of mine in Premier just reminded me of this: "I know my highest calling and the best title I will EVER earn in my life is…”MOM!” That’s also the part of my life that I am the most proud of! The Lord has entrusted me with my precious kids and I owe it to HIM to do the best job I can! We will fail and we will be tired…and that’s normal! "

Being home is NOT easy, in fact it's trying almost every day! I have so much to learn still, and so much growing to do to become the best mom I can be. But I also know that home is where I'm suppossed to be.

The memories we make each day, the lazy mornings we have, the walks we take, the stories we read, the cuddling we do on the couch, the songs that we make up and dance to, the things we learn together and the moments that I DON'T have to miss out on.....all make it worth it.

Another bit of encouraging words that I just heard this week as well is...

"Anything wortwhile is NOT EASY"

So although I missed those 20 little happy faces coming into my classroom door to greet me this morning....tomorrow when I get my little ones from their cribs, I think I'll squeeze them just a little tighter...and thank God for allowing me to be able to be home with them each day.

TOO CUTE!

There's no story to go with these....just some laughs on our way to the pool!
I just wonder how long she'll continue to do this "smile" when posing for a picture.

And now she even adds the word "cheeeeeese".

Okay, that's a little better.

Oh, and the sunglasses. She's obsessed.

Not only with them on her eyes, but also resting on her head.

If you don't have a little girl....you should get yourself one (well, unless you're past those days)! They're pretty darn cute!

Flashback Friday! (on Saturday)

I have not kept up at all with Flashback Fridays...and I TOTALLY had this post ready to go on Friday, but forgot to post it.

A very good judge of how well you know us, is if you know where we go EVERY year the 3rd weekend in September! Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about before I even say it!

BLUEGRASS!! (officially known as the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival) But for those thousands who attend who are NOT local, they just call it "WINFIELD". For those of you who don't know, I grew up in Winfield..so the festival is in my blood! And Dave was hooked the first year I took him when we were dating in college.

We are already getting geared up for this year's festival and are counting down the days! So I thought I'd flashback to some previous years of bluegrass to help you all understand just a little of what we enjoy!

Stage 5, our favorite.

Plant your chair in the shade and be entertained all day! This is NOT one of the main stages that are inside the gates, it is a stage that has been created out in the camping area and this is where we have come to know some of our favorite performers!

Last year, Taylor experienced bluegrass for the first time. This will be a special year with BOTH of our little ones with us! This is another of our favorite stages, Stage 2...on the hill.

I can't even begin to tell you how much of a relaxing weekend this is...camping, enjoying music, eating food and enjoying the fall weather! So relaxing, you can lay back and catch a nap right in the middle of it all....well, unless you have an 11 month crawling all over you.

This is my all-time favorite performer...Tom Chapin. I have been listening to him for as long as I can remember. He is a folk singer. So the BLUEGRASS festival is not just bluegrass. You'll actually find a lot of different kinds of music there! Tom Chapin is the brother of late Harry Chapin, who sings "Cats in the Cradle". Love that song!

Tom and another fellow folk singer, John McCutcheon are 2 of the most popular performers every year! From kids songs, to story songs, songs about politics and baseball, and family....these guys are the best and I can't wait for Taylor and Mason to enjoy them too!

So for those of you who THINK you would have NO interest in attending a music festival such as this...you should JUST TRY IT OUT! We have talked to so many people who never even thought they were the "bluegrass type" (whatever that type is) who end up loving it! AND, although we do enjoy most of the music, we've even heard LOTS say that you don't even have to like the music...it is just THAT great of an atmosphere and weekend! Once you go, you will be hooked!

One of the neatest things about bluegrass is coming back together with your "bluegrass friends" every year. My parents have a crew that meets every year....they are mostly from Arkansas, but some are from other places too. I love seeing our friends every year and catching up the major happenings of the past year. Which for us....that has mostly been BABIES!

Every year Dave and I say that we WISH we could get some friends to go along too....just to try it out, and get hooked and go back with us every year. The friends that I used to go to bluegrass with before college and families and such, have moved away and just don't make the trip back anymore. So we are on the mission to bring some friends along (I think the Sweigarts are the lucky ones this year!) and then adding more and more friends each year. So in a few years, we TOO will have our "favorite camping spot" and our "crew" that we spend the weekend with.

SO, if you think you might be up for probably the BEST WEEKEND YOU'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME....then you should join us! You can check out the official website at http://www.wvfest.com/

Slippin and Slidin

Last Friday, we went to Grandma and Papa's house to play with cousins who were staying the night there. Papa got the slip and slide out! The girls didn't really RUN, they just kind of walked up and down and scooted themselves down. Although some of the picture really do look like there's more movement going on than there really was!

Taylor did enjoy PLOPPING herself into the splash pool at the end!

This could have entertained them for HOURS!

"Hey, cute swimsuit!"

"Yeah, check mine out!"

Just being girls!

Time with cousins is always so much fun!

Taylor's new favorite thing to do is this....

And in order to do this, she has to do this....

She has so much fun, so I just let her do it! Sometimes she will just sit in the cabinet in the dark, with both doors closed and wait for someone to find her.

This has been the cabinet that she always knows she's allowed to play in. Nothing like cleaning up dishes off the floor, throwing them back in the cabinet to be used later.

What a big boy!

My baby boy is 5 months old....I can't believe it!
I looked at my notes on what Taylor was doing at this age...OH MY!
She was practicing drinking from a sippy cup, eating lots of veggie baby food, sitting up on her own....

NO WAY.....he's way to little for that stuff!

We have definitely decided that he is not as photogenic as Taylor was/is. It seems that every time I take a picture of him, he gives us some very awkward stares! He just makes me laugh!So tired after looking at animals at the fair!

And yes, he IS already breaking hearts....my heart.....because he is growing way too fast.

Slow down little man, I want to be able to hold you and cuddle you forever! And for some strange reason I just don't think you are going to allow that to happen! But I'll always try, I promise!

frustrated

I have been trying for 3 days to upload photos for a new post and every time I try I get the "Internet Explorer cannot open this page" screen. What in the WORLD???? Is anyone else having these problems. At first I thought it was something with the internet connection at that time...thinking it would work if I came back later. Well, I've tried LOTS of times since then, and I can't get a single picture to upload! I guess if I can't figure this out, I'll just have to bore you all with sentences and sentences describing all of the pictures I've taken the last month and the stories that go along with them!