Missouri Trip 2011

Last Thursday we left for the airport at 5:00 am for our trip to Missouri to visit my family. My Dad's sister (Aunt Sharon) and her family live in Sprinfield and it's been quite a few years since we have made the trip. This time, we had a little 17 mos. monkey ready for his first airplane ride. I have to say that he did very well for his first flight. No crying fits and he did fine sitting on our laps. We just had to entertain for a full 2.5 hours of flying time. He napped for a little bit on the drive from Kansas City to Springfield but not long. He must have been pretty excited.


Once we got to Springfield we got ready to go to dinner at Bass Pro Shop. I believe the restauranat was Hemmingway's and they had all you can eat crab legs! We also celebrated Ann's birthday after dinner. Duke was getting tired at this point but after dinner we took a stroll through Bass Pro to look at the animals and such. Duke LOVED the "tractors" and the boats.


Here I am with my smooshly little nephew, Evan. He is too sweet and cuddly but you certainly don't get to hold him long before someone comes and wisks him away for their turn to snuggle.

My sister, Megan, had shirts made for all the great grandbabies of my grandfather, "Pappy Wood". He has been gone for many years now but he is making sure there is no shortage of little boys in our family. He only had grand daughters and now we are all having boys. The shirts say "Pappy's Dream Team" with the boys name and birth number on the back. Very cute.

We did so much more. This was only the first 24 hours we were there. More to come.

Toddlers and Tiaras

Avah had her first "real" dance recital tonight. The last two years it was at the dance studio in front of the parents. This year was in an auditorium, on a stage with a crowd!! She was amazing and a natural. The crowd didn't phase (faze??) her at all. She is a performer and looked as though she LOVED every second of it.

Getting her ready was fun. I wish I had more time. I shoved my sister aside and took over doing her hair and slapping some "real" lipstick on. My sister was trying to put tinted chapstick on. I got out the liner and everything. Little girls were screaming in the background as mothers, dads and aunts were brushing hair back as tight as they could get it. It was an episode of toddlers and tiaras! This made me realize that I may become a crazy woman if I ever had a girl. I am scared that Duke might be embarrassed of me when he starts playing sports OR DANCING, whatever.

I can't wait to see her next year! She is always amazing me. I can't wait to see all the wonderful things she does as she gets older.

Duke is finally riding with Daddy on the "track-tor" He is obsessed with it until you turn it on. But he is coming around.

My FIL celebrated a birthday at the end of May! Now Duke sings "Happy Birthday Pop-Pop"all the time. I thought we would have to hear "E-I-O" forever but now it's "Happy Birthday Pop-Pop". Just something else he is obsessed with - his pop-pop.