Mom's Job is Really Cool (Part Whatever)

DK, the publisher of billions of Star Wars books, sent me a kit and some money in order to throw a Jedi Party. So I did.

Alison and Kristen decided that they wanted to come and participate/help.

(Well, I have my Halloween costume for this year.)

And, we all had tons of fun!

What to do on a Boring Summer Saturday

Or: What Happens When You Watch Too Much Cupcake Wars

You decide what you really need to do is create your own

YAY!

The bakers, hard at work:

And the Judges

Kristen took her role very seriously.

We decided that the cupcakes were winners! (Because cupcakes.)

Our Favorite Start to Summer...

Riverfest!

There will be more pictures later.

It's Jam Time!

We should have done this a week ago, but didn't have any time. And with the rains and the weeds it was amazing we found any strawberries at all. But it was enough to make some jam to last the year. (We hope.)

Summertime Shennanigans

Or: What happens when the Chavezes come over.

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

Russell has been trying to get us to the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve for years. And we've tried before, but the weather has refused to cooperate. So, on the way back from Kansas City, he was determined (since it wasn't too cold OR raining) to get us out there.

And it's quite lovely, for a lot of grass.

We decided that we wanted to go find some bison, so we headed out on one of the trails, and discovered (much too far in) that past rain still made for some messy hiking conditions.

We made it to the top of a "hill" and took a selfie, before deciding that we really didn't want to tromp through the mud in hopes of finding bison, so we headed back.

It was good that we went.

Barbecue!

Of course we had to stop. (It was good, but not amazing.) No, I don't know why I look so annoyed.

And saying goodbye. It was fun!

National World War I Museum

Somehow, we got it into our heads that we should be Patriotic on Memorial Day. (No idea why....) And so, we discovered a program and free admission at the National World War I museum in Kansas City. (Why is there a National WWI Museum in Kansas City??)

(Because phallic symbols help me remember veterans.)
All of the girls. It's not a terrific picture, but it'll do.

There was  great view of downtown Kansas City, though, from the top of the hill.

There was a program. We, unfortunately, were on the stage, so we didn't stay long.

And then the museum of weapons.

It was a bit crowded, but a good little museum.

What to do on a Rainy Sunday in KC?

Go to the Independence Visitors Center

Hang out at the hotel

Play the new sport "Grandma Wheelchair Pushing" (Grandma is such a good sport)

Drag (some of) the kids to Liberty Jail and wonder later why we didn't take any pictures).
Be lazy.
Enjoy family.

It was a good day.

Games

One of the reasons we love Wayne and Rebecca (aside from their winning personalities and adorable children) is that they have a fantastic sense for cool and interesting games. And we love getting together with them because they always bring something new.

So, of course, we had to have a game night.

Victor doesn't really like games, but he was more than happy to sit and chat with nieces, who are more than happy to talk at him.

 I don't know who took this one, but I really like it.

This game was provided by Camilla. We ended up being incredibly silly with it, which means it was played badly, but there was a lot of laughter, which is not a bad thing.

The Insanity Factor

I love my family. But they are (as Chris Traeger would say) LITERALLY insane.

(Some of us are less insane than others.)

Why?

Because, on a cloudy, 66 degree day, they declare it perfect weather to go to the Schlitterbahn, a water park. And then (granted, there are no lines), they not only go down the slides, they go down the Verruckt, the tallest water slide in the world.

And not only do some of them go down once, they go down multiple times.

*sigh*