cheap entertainment

I always thought for GOOD entertainment you just have to drive to Wichita. That's where the good food is, the good movies, the good everything.

EXCEPT the good dancing....you'll find that right here on Main St. in Newton! Just park your car in the St. Mary's parking lot and be prepared for some entertainment!

If you're looking for a fun, part time job....this guy may be worn out after a couple weeks...so the position may be open for you....unless I snag it up first! In fact, I even heard that he was seen upchucking right in front of everyone...man, that is dedication to your job....working your tail off so hard that you actually vomit on the job!

Hope this made you laugh as hard as we did while watching him!

Girl's Night Out!

Nothing is better than a dinner out, a girly movie and chips, salsa and margaritas afterwards!

Last Saturday, 6 of us decided we needed a GIRL'S NIGHT! Well, I decided that I needed to PLAN a girls night after Dave has had multiple guy's nights out! We have to keep it fair ya know!

We planned to eat at Olive Garden, but the wait was too long and we would have missed our movie....so we ended up settling for Granite City next door. It was a little bit of a downer since we were all waiting all day for salad and breadsticks!

We planned to see this movie:

But we messed up on the movie times (that was my mistake I think!) and it was playing later than we had planned.

So we ended up seeing this instead...

I don't think I have actually ever sat through a movie with a big smile on my face the whole time. And when I realized I was smiling so much, I tried to stop, but couldn't! It was SOOO fun! Go see this movie with your girlfriends!!! (disclaimer: this may NOT be one that your husbands would enjoy...don't get me wrong, my husband has watched MANY chick flicks with me, but I would definitely have to draw the line on this one for him...I'm thinking he would have maybe got up and walked out!)

So now I think we need to have a DANCE PARTY night with the soundtrack!!! Amy, I know you're in!! I added songs from the soundtrack to my playlist...so enjoy!

After the movie, we sat on the patio at On the Border for chips and salsa, cheese dip that we were CONVINCED had been mixed with broccoli-cheese soup (but the waiter denied it), and some yummy margaritas!!

We definitely need a girls night more often!

A new adventure

Thanks to our "green thumb friends", Joel and Kendall, and Brent and Alyssa, we decided to plant a garden this summer!

We really had no idea what we were doing. Dave knew a little bit, I knew NOTHING. I have never been a flower/plant person, and know nothing about any of it.

We could have (and should have) done some research, looked some stuff up online, and read up on at least some basics. But that's not how we operate.

We headed to Walmart, picked out some tomato plants, pepper plants, cilantro, and some various seeds...came home and just started sticking stuff in the dirt! We know for a fact that we did not plant things properly...but we learned this AFTER the fact!

So here's what it looked like right after planting it in mid-June. And here it is over a month later, towards the end of July.

Our tomato plants have gone CRAZY!

We didn't know having a garden could be so much fun. We feel like little kids saying "let's go look at our garden" every evening.

We planted our tomatoes later than most, we've just started picking them the last 2 weeks or so.

My orginal goal was to plant everything that I used in my salsa recipe...but that didn't pan out. The cilantro died and the green onions didn't turn out. But we do have jalapenos!And green peppers too! (I don't use those in salsa though)

These are Taylor's favorite! Is it odd that our child LOVES tomatoes? I mean, she will eat and eat and eat them if allowed. When the tomatoes on the plants were green, she didn't really know what they were, so they weren't that interesting to her. But as soon as they turned red, she knew EXACTLY what they were!

Oh, it's so tempting to pick those little buggers....she stares them down and just gives us that "eye" when we tell her "no, no".

Her temptation has gotten the best of her several times. She has picked several when we are not looking and eats them right on the spot! In fact, one day I found her hiding in the garden, right smack in the middle of 4 tomato plants. When I got to her, I found a golf ball sized green tomato lying on the ground beside her with a bite taken out. I could barely control my laughter as I tried to tell her "no, no" and explain that she cannot go in the garden.

Does anyone have a recipe I can use to can salsa? I'll take a spaghetti sauce recipe if you have a good one too!

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!