Kansas Visitors

Last week we had a some visitors from Kansas.  While the weather didn't cooperate for their spring break, we had a good time none-the-less.
Day one (Thursday) we had plans to go to the Magic House in St. Louis but after arriving there and not being able to find a parking spot, we decided we needed to get there a little earlier and opted to try again on Friday.  Plan B for Thursday was to take the girls to the mall and to Build-a-Bear.  They each built something different and nobody build a bear, Anna made a dog, Pixie; Natalie made a lamb, Leah Lamb; and Hallie made a bunny, Daisy. After building their bears animals, we did a little clothes shopping and stopped for ice cream before heading home.  The girls each got a new outfit and swimsuit, so we had a fashion show when we got home.

 

Ready for some fun! 

These pictures were staged because we forgot to take pictures of the actual building process, so I think the long faces were because we were ready for some down time. 

I didn't realize how hard it was to get a good picture of three little girls, these show just how hard it is.

We ended Day 1 with dinner at Chuckie Cheese

Day Two (Friday) was the Magic House.  We wised up from Thursday and got their early when they opened and I'm sure glad we did, it ended up being packed!  The Magic House is such a neat place for kids, I would highly recommend a trip if you're ever in St. Louis and have kids.  This was the second time I've been there and I always leave very impressed!  I love that is lets kids use their imagination and be creative.  These pictures just show the fishing, baby tending, pizza serving, and bubble blowing that the Magic House has to offer, but there is so much more!

Anna in a bubble

Hallie blowing a giant bubble

Trent joined us for our Magic House trip

This was Leah's first use of the baby bjorn and it worked out great, I think she liked being able to look around.

She also spent some time in the stroller

We ended Day two with a lunch at Steak-N-Shake

Day Three the girls headed home on the train to Kansas.  These last pictures so how some of the trip went, when you have three girls about the same age, you have to do everything three times, so Leah got three times the lovin. 

I'd have to say the trip was a success (at least from my end, I'm not sure what their parents would say) and everyone had a good time.  We're ready for more visitors!

Spring?

I thought the first day of spring was March 20th, could someone please let mother nature know?  I'm getting a little tired of this winter weather.  This is what our deck and front yard currently look like.

Opening Day is on Thursday and I'm hoping for some warmer weather.

Baseball season= warmer weather, right?

Letters to Leah Month 5

Happy 5th Month Birthday Leah!
Here are some of your happenings this month:
- You still only weigh 12 lbs 3 ounces and are 24 1/2 inches long
- Your weight gain continues to worry your mom.
- You've mastered rolling from your back to your stomach. It's so fun to watch you move around your playmat and I love to see how you've moved overnight and during your naps. 
- You're consistently napping in your bed for 2-3 naps a day
- You've started taking a pacifier at naptime and bedtime
- We're still swaddling you for naps
- You're loving your high chair and hopefully we'll start solids sometime this month. 
- You're becoming more expressive and are so much fun!
Here are some pictures from your 5th month:

Here is a video of you showing off your voice:

 And my favorite recent picture:

Just Couldn't Help It

Leah and I had a little photo shoot on Thursday and I just couldn't help but share the pictures.  I thought they turned out really cute, but I may be biased.  I've always wanted to be able to take good pictures, hence #16 on my to-do list, so I tried some different things on my camera and this is what I came up with.  Although I think the pictures turned out good, this doesn't help the "Jody needs a new camera" campaign.  

I also used Picasa to edit the pictures and add a little artistic touch to them.  Can you believe Picasa is free?  I love it!

Anyway, onto the cutest little leprechaun.
Happy (early) St. Patrick's Day!

Picasa also makes really cool collages like this one.

Leah's Kansas Visit

Leah and I spent the last week of February in Salina.  It was nice to be in Kansas to relax and see family and friends.

The first weekend we were there Leah was baptized.

Fr. Frank is the priest who married us, so it was special for to be able to baptize Leah. 

Joey and Kelly graciously agreed to be Leah's godparents, I couldn't think of two better people!

The Brenneman Family

Kelly and Leah

That Sunday also happened to be my mom's birthday, so we celebrated Leah's baptism and my mom's birthday.

Leah really wanted a bite of Grandma's cake.

Leah and Nancy

Leah and Aunt Mary Kay, this was right after Leah stuck her hands in Mary Kay's chocolate cake.

Leah also spent some time with her cousins, Natalie and Emily

On Wednesday of that week, Leah took her second trip to Manhattan and toured the K-State Campus.  We picked the perfect day to tour the campus, the weather was wonderful for a stroll around campus.  We stopped by Calvin Hall to take a picture for Tim.

 

We didn't get any pictures in front of Bluemont, but opted for the Higginbotham gate instead, we were already pushing our picture luck at this point.

Leah and Aunt Mary Kay in front of Mary Kay's office in the Leadership Studies building.

Thanks Aunt Mary Kay for being our tour guide, providing a delicious lunch at Rock-a-Belly and for the K-State souvenirs for Leah!  Let's hope Leah ends up a Wildcat!

Our trip to Kansas was very eventful, Leah and I saw a lot of people, did a lot of things, and we're looking forward to our next trip!