bluegrass 2011

Our Winfield story was quite a bit different than usual.

Definitely a memorable year.

Here's our story...

(pictures were very limited this year...not sure why...maybe it was the weather, or just being preggo and being a bit more lazy than usual)

We got there Wednesday evening, a day earlier than we've ever been able to make it before. (in the end, I'm super glad for this extra time there!)

We got camp set up and then sat down for a campfire and smores.

It just baffles me that for months we have been SO worried about how hot it might be.

And when it got here - we were more on the cold side than the hot side.

Actually, it was pretty close to perfect, especially with some extra layers of clothes.

It was just the drizzling rain (pretty non-stop for 2 days) that made it not so perfect.  But even with that, it was light enough that we could still be out in it for the most part.

We definitely were not letting it put a damper on the weekend, and were still having such a great time.

Pancakes and bacon on our first morning.

I made sure to pack some activities and games for the kids, which came in handy more than once.

Our first afternoon they had fun collecting rocks and sticks and painting them.

Another thing that was a lifesaver was the portable dvd player.  I thought it would help wind them down at nap time and bed times, little did I know that it would also be a way to pass time one morning we were stuck in our camper for over 3 hours because of a storm.

They couldn't agree on where the movie would sit so they could both see it, so Daddy came up with this lovely set up that did the trick.

We really had a great time Thursday and Friday, yummy meals on the campfire, hit some of our favorites shows and favorite concessions.

The cooler scooter was a hit, especially with a certain cute little boy driving his pregnant momma around on it.

Really, he got SOOO good.  He kept it at the right speed and kept it going straight along the campground roads.

It took me a little while to actually want to ride it - I didn't so much like the attention it got.  But my body was definitely feeling it after lots of walking and getting out of breath so easily.  So I made use of it off and on, with my little chaufer. (man, I wish we would have gotten pictures of that).

I've been pregnant at Bluegrass before - actually 8 months along with Taylor.

But that was 5 years ago, and my first pregancy.  Things were not quite as easy this time around.

I was very thankful for a very helpful hubby that took good care of me.

The kids slept great each night.

I wish I could say the same. Last year when we borrowed our friends' camper I remember thinking that bed was so comfy.  But being big and pregnant made a little difference this year.  We added some extra padding the next nights and it was much better.

So then Saturday came.  My birthday.

We woke up at 7am to thunder, lightning and rain.  The kids slept through an hour and a half of it, so really, that in itself was not bad at all.

But the storm went on and on.  Again, not terrible.  When the kids got up we all cuddled in our bed for awhile, ate breakfast, played games and watched movies.

The terrible part was having to go the bathroom so bad, but not wanting to get soaked to make it there.

That was pretty awful.

But then it got worse when the winds picked up and we started to hear things around our camp being knocked over.
We opened our door to find this mess.

Our canopy (Dave's father's day gift last year) was broken enough we had to trash it.
Our nicely set-up and organized camp kind of looked like a bear had come through.

When the rain finally stopped, we cleaned up camp and waited for the sun and  75 degrees that was suppossed to hit that day.

And it did!  Sun for the first time in 2 1/2 days.

We had been in town to take showers at a friends 2 days before and stopped at a few garage sales.

One sale had a big 12x20 screened in canopy just like we had been wanting for a few years.  But we passed it by that day, thinking we'd maybe head back on Saturday to see if it was still there.

Since we lost our canopy in the storm, we headed back and got it for a sweet deal!

We debated actually setting it up, since we only had one day left.  But of course after all that cool weather, now we found ourselves a little warm roasting in the sun with no shade.  So up it went (it took a whole camp effort!).

It was up for maybe an hour before the sky started clouding up again and we were hearing reports of a bad storm headed our way.  In fact, a text we got said "batton down the hatches".

So down it went.

Radar was not looking good. We were in a tornado watch, and security told us that there were 2 systems headed our way, that involved hail. They advised us if we were in a tent to go to a motel, and if we were in a camper to hold on tight.

Our wonderful smoked-rib dinner turned into a "stuff-your-face-as-fast-as-you-can-and-then-pack-up-camp" dinner.

It was hard to know what to do.  Just pack things up that would blow around? Wait it out in the camper? Pack the camper down to keep it safe? Head to our friend's house in town and wait out the storm and then continue the night and Sunday morning as usual?

Dave decided we needed to get the camper down in the final minutes before the storm was suppossed to hit. Which is hard to do when there is tons of stuff all over in it.

We got it down and everything in camp packed up into trucks.

The lightning was getting SUPER scary and close.

At this point, even when the storm passed, the work that would go back into setting the camper back up, getting beds made, and all that jazz to spend our last night there seemed a little pointless.

So for the first time ever, we packed up and headed home early. The kids were bummed, we were bummed, and all I kept thinking (in my own selfishness and not my concern for the thousands of people at the festival) was how dissappointing it would be if all of it was for no reason and the storm didn't even hit.

But it was obvious as we fought the traffic lines out of the fairgrounds, that lots of others were making the same choice. 

Better to be safe than sorry.

I think the storm really didn't end up hitting like it was suppossed to, from what we saw on radar.  Winfield ended up being right on the edge.

But we did hear that lighting hit a camp (no injuries that I heard of), and it was felt quite strongly by those around.

So Bluegrass 2011, and my 30th birthday ended with a shower, a piece of yummy zuchinni birthday cake from my mom, a pepsi, the couch, and the season premier of Survivor with my hubby.

And then my comfy bed that I had definitely been missing.

Despite the craziness and earlier departure,

the kids are already asking how much longer till next year.

a country fair {adoption fundraiser}

This is for you locals.

Get your calendars out and mark Saturday, Oct. 1 for a FUN-filled family day at our

COUNTRY FAIR!!

Ryan and Christy are part of our community life group and together, our group, along with some of their family will be hosting this event to help them raise the funds for the adoption from Russia.

We are SOOOO pumped about this day and hope you'll come out!

The event itself is free - the kiddos will love the carnival games!!

There will be tons of yummy food, baked goods, and various activities.

But what you might find MOST beneficial is that for $25 you can get your fall family pictures taken by Andrea Siebert Photography!  Are you needing an updated picture for Christmas cards?  Do you just need to get an updated one of the kids?  For $25 you'll get a 10-15 minute sessions, and later will receive a CD with full printing rights, of 8-10 edited photos.

The location is perfect - country, fields, barns, etc!  All profits are being donated directly to Ryan and Christy's adoption! We are so fortunate that Andrea is willingly giving her service - that will not only benefit YOU - but also this adoption!

 So dress accordingly, come out for pictures and then relax, eat some grub and have fun!!

Spread the word...

See you at the Fair!

some firsts and some other things

This obviously isn't a first, but it had been a long time since this little guys last hair cut.

He's been going to the barber with Daddy,

but this time Daddy decided to do it himself.

It started off with all smiles...

 and ended with tears.

Sometimes, with a 2nd child it's easy to miss the things they are learning to do.

Those things you are so eagerly watching for with your first.

And sometimes I am surprised and didn't even realize what he's been up to.

For example, I guess I haven't been paying attention to his writing/drawing.

Because this particular night I caught a glimpse of his board while he was drawing on the couch, and was quite shocked at what is developing...

I love the stages of drawing when you begin to actually see people (heads, legs and eyes, nose and mouth).

He's getting quite good at spiders too!

Taylor had her first visit to the dentist and she did fabulous!

 Mason didn't really want anything to do with it, besides just watching.

He definitely would NOT let her look into his mouth.

Last week was a big week for us...

Taylor's first dentist visit

and her first day or preschool

and Mason's first day of Cubbies!

Man, who told these kids they could get so big?

eureka springs

Labor Day weekend my sweet hubby took me for a little getaway to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to celebrate my 30th birthday (a little early). 

We dropped the kids off with Nana and Papa and headed out.

Stopped at a couple of antique stores in small towns along the way...

We checked in at our bed and breakfast, anxious to see what it was like...

It was a great pick! So cute and felt so homey!

We checked out the room (and football games), 

the softest robes ever, and a relaxing deck - the PERFECT spot to sit and read before breakfast on the first Fall morning of the year!!  It was delightful!  I felt like it was a birthday present from God, just for me (okay I know we've all been waiting.  But fall is my favorite and there could not have been a better weekend to give us the first taste of fall - well except for Bluegrass weekend!) 

and then off to dinner.

We had looked up some great spots to eat, and then asked our host at the bed and breakfast what her suggestions were.  Just so happens that she mentioned the exact 3 that we had planned on.

So the first night was Mexican at Casa Colina- lovely outdoor table, hanging off the edge of a hill.

Probably the best enchiladas EVER!

 The next day we saw the town - voted #4 in Best Small Towns in America (so the sign said).

Old historic hotels - supppossedly haunted, and ghost tours given daily.  We passed.

It's named Eureka Springs for a reason.  Spring Street had lots of spots to stop and see the natural springs.

Such a quaint little town with lots of interesting shops.  Definitely not a place where I could spend a lot of money (good thing), but still fun to browse!

Now, this store on the other hand...

if it wasn't for my big tummy right now, I think I could have spent a good amount of money in here!

It was kind of funny seeing lots of old guys sitting all over the benches - while their wives were obviously busy shopping.  This guy is definitely not so old, but he still found a good spot to sit.

He's lucky I'm in and out of stores pretty fast usually.

We had lunch on the balcony of another historic hotel, overlooking the town park.

Seriously, after over 50 some days or triple digit weather - 2 meals outside in the most fabulous weather, was such a treat!

We ate, rested and listened to the guy playing some bluegrass music on stage.

And here is what I was SUPER excited about...

 Thanks to my mom and mother-in-law, my birthday treat was the best facial and massage EVER!

I found a super handsome guy sitting here when I was done.  With a funnel cake waiting for me.

Our next highly recommended dinner spot was Ermelio's Italian Restaurant.

A cute little house in the middle of a neighborhood.

It was a long long wait (1 hour and 45 minutes) - but we were warned and didn't have any other plans, and it was worth it!

We went upstairs to the bar and game area.  There were tons of old-school games to choose from - Sorry, Checkers, Trouble, Operation, lots of card games, you name it - to pass the time.

a few other details...

*we ate gluten free for the first time ever, due to another guest at the bed and breakfast, and besides that, probably ate the most healthy breakfasts in our life!  Turkey bacon, scones, fruit, gluten free pancakes, eggs florentine (that I had a hard time with), turkey sausage - BUT there was also dessert - yes, for breakfast!

*a bluegrass group we like who comes to Winfield was playing there on Saturday night - but at a smoky bar - so we passed and were bummed.  We are spoiled around home with all non-smoking places.

*if we had one more night we would have liked to have gone to the Passion Play

*our room had a hot tub that didn't even get used. oh well.

*the down town shopping district is kind of hilly - my poor hubby was having to walk as slow as her pregnant wife at times.

What I loved the most...

*the bed and breakfast experience

*getting away with no big agenda other than just relaxing and eating

*having the night to waste away in our cozy room - being on the computer, reading, watching football

*my spa appointment

*the weather!

*and of course just getting away with my guy!

first day of preschool

 Wednesday was Taylor's first day of preschool!

 The fun sign was a free printable from here.

Daddy got a few hours of work in (all the way in Andover), but couldn't miss his little girl going off to school, so he drove back to Newton to go with us.

 No better spot to take such special pictures than in front of Cora's Playground.

 It helps to walk in the first day and see one of her best buddies!

All in all, it wasn't as emotional as I thought it might be.  Dave and I said goodbye and gave her hugs and she was completely fine on her own.  We walked into the hallway only to have her race out behind us to give us one more hug and kiss.  And of course, headed for her daddy first.

I will admit, my eyes watered up then.  I think Daddy's did too.

The day was perfect!  She was so happy, and so ready and we know she's going to do SUPER!

I found this super cute picture idea on Pinterest and again on a friend's blog.  She was so kind to send me her photoshop file, making this even easier to create. (thanks Laura!) Such a fun idea to do every year on the first day!

Our day (and week) was full of some other "firsts" too.

I'll tell you about those soon!

september

Today starts the best month of the year.

Surely you know that.

It's the best for LOTS of reasons.

September means my birthday month!  I'm typically super excited about my birthday.  This year's a TAD different, I'm not dreading it, I'm not sad or depressed, but I can definitely tell I'm not full of excitement like usual.  That's okay!  But I AM super excited about what I get to do for my birthday.

You see, I think I had a grand 30th birthday planned in my head.  I'm not a big party person.  But doing something with some of my besties is definitely my cup of tea.  A girls weekend.  New York City maybe.  But Kansas City or Dallas would have been fine too.  Spas, shopping, eating, fun memories.  Especially with friends who are turning 30 around the same time. But then we all had to go and get pregnant.  Big pregnant bellies wouldn't work so well in New York City.  In fact, just being in Wichita for one afternoon with them got us a handful of stares and comments.  So my big dreams won't be happening.  NEW BABIES will though - and that is even more exciting! 

But no complaints from me - my hubby is taking me to this lovely, cozy place.  I can't remember which room is ours.  And we actually had to go several bed and breakfasts down on our list because of the holiday weekend - lots were booked.  But this one still looks so quaint and nice!   Nothing much on the agenda other than some sleeping in, relaxing, eating, a lovely spa appointment for myself, some college football on tv (even though it's my birthday trip, my hubby kindly reminded me that OU plays it's first game of the season on Saturday), and really just a nice celebration of my 30th with my bestest friend in the whole world.

September means Bluegrass!!  It's coming so soon!  Dave and a friend are taking the campers down this next week to get a camping spot.  We are ALMOST a part of "Landrush" this year, it's the earliest we've ever taken our stuff down.  We are PRAYING it is not 100 degrees.  Even with a camper with AC, camping and being outside 24 hours straight for 4 days is not so fun when it's super hot - and I'm pregnant.

September means fall weather - suppossedly.  Jeans.  Finally.  My jean shorts just aren't feeling so comfy anymore and I really need to just be able to wear my maternity jeans without sweating through them.

September means college football.  2nd mention in this post, but typical.  We love college football.

September means the State Fair - I am CRAVING a big plate of potato twisters and nacho cheese.  Applebees new potato twister appetizer has been settling my craving a bit - but really, nothing beats State Fair food!  I am crossing my fingers we can fit it into our busy schedule this month.

This September means I'm finally in my last trimester!  Just under 3 months to go.

September means the start of our fall routine - preschool, AWANA, bible study, small group, it all starts up and we are excited and ready!

And this September means our dear sweet friends will be adding a new addition to their family and we can't wait!   (oh wait, make that 2 friends with new babies!) September birthdays are the best!

Welcome, September.

So glad you are here.