Fall in Overland Park

This weekend has been just absolutely BEAUTIFUL Fall weather!  Actually, the last month has been picture perfect Fall weather.  Temps in the 50's mostly (sometimes highs in the 40's , sometimes 60's), sunny and the most colorful fall leaves I have ever seen!  Now, that's not saying much to say these are the most beautiful leaves ever because I have only lived in Texas.....but.....these are just stunning colors up here!  Last Fall was not like this at all.  It turned some shades of orange, red and yellow but this year because of all of the rain we have had the colors are SO bright and deep shades of red, orange and yellow.  It is quite lovely!  I keep trying to take pictures but they never do it justice.  It just can't quite capture the actual colors.  Here are a few attempts though: 

This weekend Ryan and the 2 neighbors on either side of us raked/mowed/mulched all of the leaves in the front and back yards.  It was an all day project as we have LOTS of trees!  Bad thing is....they will probably have to do this 3 more times as there are still lots of leaves on the trees!

I got out and took a walk this afternoon all by myself which was just wonderful!  It was cool outside and I was jammin out to Christmas music on my iPod.  Life is good!!  Happy Fall!! 

Growing up as a technology kid

In the midst of a few friends giving up all "media" for a week or so and bringing it to the front of my mind, I've been thinking lots about technology and the world we live in.  I may have lost some of you right there!!  Don't worry- this blog has a funny story attached to it so I won't be getting on a soap box too much! 

It's just Crazy how much of a technology world we live in today.  Our kids are growing up with so many luxurious things....Tevo, cell phones everywhere, internet at the touch of a screen, Suri to ask directions and look up close restaurants......just to name a few.  I mean, seriously!!!!  They have no clue what the world is like without these things and I guess the jury is still out on what they will all be like when they grow up.  No communication skills, probably terrible vision from looking at computer screens their ENTIRE life and more that we can't even fathom!!  Ugh!  It's scary!

But then I am sure our parents were saying the same things about us when we were growing up.  I can't seem to think what they would be thinking of that we had but I am sure it was something!!

So, on to my funny story....yesterday I was giving Ben a stern "talking to" because he was acting nothing less of a crazy child.  I sat on the stairs and he was standing in front of me.  I was holding his hands and making him look me in the eye as I was lecturing him on "when mommy says do not run away from me, I mean it.  When mommy says come here....." and he stopped me mid-sentence and said,
"Plause that mom (he means Pause!)....he came and sat beside me on the stairs (instead of standing) and then re-grabbed my hands and said, "Okay, un-plause" prompting me to continue my lecture. 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????  My 3 year old just paused me mid-sentence and then un-paused me.  Seriously??!!? 

This technology thing is getting out of control!  And I don't think there is anything we can do about it!   

The Dwinell B&B

The last 3 weeks at Casa de Dwinell has been more like Dwinell Family Bed and Breakfast!  We have had company in town for the last 3 weekends in a row and it has been GREAT FUN!  We seriously love visitors!!  It is a lot of work washing the sheets, cleaning bathrooms and such and I do feel like I have been to the grocery store no less than 20 times in the last 3 weeks, but it is all great and we wouldn't have it any other way!  We love that our friends and family come up to KC to visit us!

 The first weekend was Ryan's parents, hereafter referred to as Nana and Pops.  They came in on a Thursday night and stayed until Monday night.  This was great because we had more time to spend with them and I didn't feel like we were running around crazy trying to fit every last thing in.  They got in  late Thursday night (around 10 or so), so I did not tell the kids they were coming that night.  I knew if I told them, they would not be able to go to sleep.  It was a fun surprise to have them wake up to Nana being there!  I knew it would be hard for Addyson to have to go to school Friday when her Nana was just in town so I had a few surprises planned.  First stop, lunch with Addy at school!

 Addyson loved that we came up there but was very sad when we left without taking her home with us.  :(  That's just the way it goes when you are in school!  We had another surprise planned for later in the day, so I couldn't let her come home just yet!  After we ate with Addy, we took Nana and Pops to one of our fav lunch spots, Spin.  Super yummy pizza and salads! 

 At 2:00 that day I had signed up to be the mystery treasure reader for Addyson's class.  It is called the mystery treasure reader because the kids do not know who is coming and we are supposed to bring a little treasure for each child so that they can remember the book better.  We read the book "DW the Picky Eater" (an Arthur book) and gave away little paper umbrellas as they refer to those in the story as a turning point for DW.  It was cute and Addyson was very excited and surprised to have us show up!  We did take her home after this as there was only an hour of school left and her teacher said it was no big deal at all.  Addy was happy about this! 

 Of course Nana always brings in fun surprises for the kids and this time she brought Ben 3 super hero dress up outfits.  They are ADORABLE and cute.  Ryan's grandma actually made these 30 years ago for Ryan and Dustin and Cheryl washed them up and sewed up any holes and made them perfect again.  The level of detail is amazing.  Ryan's grandma was a very talented seamstress and we are lucky to have these!  These are not the best pics because as soon as Ben puts these on, he is on the move.  He is jumping, running and being all things that super-heros do, so getting a good pic is next to impossible!

Love this pic! 

 In between visits, I finally got my new rug delivered!  Love it!! 

 The next weekend we had Ryan's friend Rusty in town.  We had the A&M Alabama game on Saturday and we had tickets to the Cowboys/Chiefs game on Sunday.  It was supposed to be a fun-filled football weekend!!  If only our darn teams would have won!!! 

On Saturday the temps were absolutely beautiful!  77 and sunny!  We set up a TV out on the deck and watched A&M/Alabama game out there.  It was perfect! It was a super good game and I am very proud of the way A&M played, even though we did not pull out a win.  Fun times!

Me and my girl out on the deck!

 Sunday we were up bright and early for the Cowboys game.   Some of our neighbors have season tickets and they invited us to their tailgate.  We were all pumped up and ready for a big win, but that wasn't the case.  BIG disappointment to lose to the Chiefs!!  Oh well- we had a good time

 Rusty left on Monday morning and we had 4 days until our next company arrived.  MiMi and PaPa were next on the agenda!  We had de ja vu and went and ate lunch with Addy and then went to Spin pizza afterwards.  I did pick up Addy early that day too as they had an assembly at the end of the day and so her teacher said it was no big deal to grab her early.  My parents were only in for a day and a half (they left this morning) and so I wanted Addy to have a little more time with them. 

 Both of my parents birthdays were last week and so we celebrated with some BBQ and cupcakes at this ridiculously good place down the street.  I think it is a chain and its called GiGi's cupcakes.  So yummy and I am sure soooooooooo bad for you!  I don't ever want to know how much sugar is in those things!  We went and got a variety of flavors- my fav was the Butterfinger one.  It was yellow cake with Butterfinger mixed in the cake and then Butterfinger Buttercream icing and the whole things is then rolled in crushed Butterfingers.  Seriously???  Wow!  Addy got the coca-cola cupcake- basically chocolate w/choc icing, Ben got strawberry shortcake, we got a Banana cream pie cupcake and also Italian cream cupcake.  They each weigh about 4 pounds (okay maybe not, but it feels like that when you pick them up!) Wow.  So good!

Happy Birthday silly faces

Friday night we went to the Rangers/Royals game.  I think we are done going to sporting events for a while up here!  All of our teams keep losing!!!!  We had fun and it was a beautiful night with temps in the lower 60's.  Perfect baseball weather! 

Ben was being quite stubborn.  He would NOT smile so I bribed him with cotton candy....this is what I got! 

Now it is Sunday and I am worn out!  I took my parents to the airport this morning and we plan on chilling all day and not doing a whole lot!  Fall has finally arrived and the temps for the next 10 days are in the 70's.  Love this time of year! 

Eating my words....

Preschool Day 2......Ben had to be peeled (literally peeled!) off of my leg by the teacher while he was screaming, "Mommy don't leave meeeeeeeeeeee!!  Stay with me mommyyyyyyyyyyy"  Insert major guilt!!!  Ugh!  Right after I was so proud of his independence and "being so well adjusted"!!  HaHa!

Going into preschool I could see day 1 going either way.  He is pretty attached to mommy these days and he has been ever since I started staying home with him.  He likes to go pretty much EVERYWHERE I go and so I could see him being a little clingy at preschool at first.  On the other hand though, I could see him being his complete outgoing, funny, silly self and running in without looking back. 

It was a coin toss.  Day one went good, day two went bad!

Going in this morning I had a feeling it might turn this way.  He was asking lots of questions about where I was going to be and what I was going to be doing.  I answered honestly- I am going to run a few errands and then I am going home to clean the house.  Not fun!  I told him how much fun he was going to have at preschool today and that I would be right back to get him before he knew it!

The questions then turned into, "Mommy just come help me unpack my bag inside my classroom".  I had a feeling that was going to be a mistake, but hey, its day 2 so I thought he might need a little "easing" into things.  In I went and it went downhill from there.

He kept saying he wanted me to staaaaaaay with him and then he proceeded to attach to my leg.  I limped around for a little while and tried to get him engaged in something but it wasn't quite working.  The teachers were trying to get him to come to them and do a Mary had a little Lamb project but he wasn't buying it.  Not one single bite that smart little boy of mine! 

He knew I was leaving and he knew I would be gone for 4 1/2 hours!  You see, when they get to be 3 or older they start to understand these things more.  The first day he had no idea.  Ignorance was bliss!  Day 2.....he had it figured out. 

I am really hoping that I can just start dropping him off and leaving him at the door......we'll see how next week goes!

I only got to talk to his teacher for a minute after school but she said he did great and that it only lasted a few minutes.  That visual of him screaming and crying and kicking to get away from the teacher though....man, that's rough!  My poor baby!

So, I will eat my words that I wrote on Tuesday night!  Isn't that how it always goes!?!

Ben's First Day of Preschool

My sweet little Ben started Preschool today!  On one hand it is pure greatness and on the other, sigh, my babies are all getting big!  Overall, it is a really good thing!  I am so proud of my kiddos and how well adjusted they are and that, ultimately, is what a parent wants.  (Or at least we do!)  It feels good to see your child succeed at being independent! 

So, as you saw in my last post, we were at the lake all weekend.  Got home at about 4:00 on Monday afternoon and we were all pooped!  I started some laundry, made dinner and Ryan got the kids showered and off to bed.  I got out Ben's school stuff to look it over and found this little guy with some instructions paper clipped to him.......

 Yes, Ben was supposed to make this for the first day of school and low and behold it was 10:00 before I remembered to look at it!  Ugh!!  What is a mom to do?  Should I get out some crayons and scribble like a 3 year old?  Is that just a terrible thing to do?  Ha!  Yes, it is!!  :)  I know that we would not be in "trouble" or anything if I did not get this done but I did NOT want Ben to feel bad or left out if he didn't have his person to show.  The instructions said to "let your child decorate his person with pictures, yarn, fabric, pictures of themselves, etc."  Well, just to clarify, Ben has not mastered the art of looking up clip art on the computer and printing it off yet.  I know, I know.  But that is why I am sending him to preschool!!  Ha!  So, obviously, this required some parent participation. 

I did not get a pic of the finished product (trust me, we were running out the door this morning) but we got it done at breakfast!  I had Ryan go down to his office and print off some pics of Ben's fav things (he printed a deer, a tractor, a weed-eater, a zero-turn mower and some tools) Ha!  Ben colored the person and we glued on some pics and wa-la!  We checked that project off the list!  Ben will never know the difference until he reads this one day! 

During all of this I managed to make some eggs, bacon, oatmeal, and greek yogurt for everyone's different breakfast orders.  :)  I wanted to make sure everyone got some yummy breakfast before school!  Here is Addy taking a pic with Ben before she left for school.

 Ben venturing out into the world of school! 

He was doing a silly smile all morning! 

Love his little backpack! 

Giving mommy a kiss before getting in the car!  My heart is so full from this boy!!  I love him so much!

Me and my boy!  

Ben and Daddy!

Only pic I got of him in his class.  He was kind of nervous and I didn't want to force the pics on him!  He didn't cry though (nor did I)

This was taken after school.  He was just so happy and had completely adjusted to everything.  He was ALL smiles and snuggled right in for a picture with his teachers! 

I think he had a great first day!  He was sitting in the circle singing the goodbye song when I got there and he ran up and gave me a big hug.  Best hug ever!  His teachers told me that he did great and that they could tell he really liked to sing.  Ahhh, this just made me smile!  He does love to sing!  They also commented how they could tell he was a "very bright child" and they asked me if I was a teacher.  What a compliment!  I thought that was so sweet of them to say and it just made me so proud that they could tell that on the first day of school.  The teacher told me that he did fall into the potty (a little boy had left the seat up!) and that he needed an ice pack at one point too (wasn't a big deal though...just a little head bonk!).  Ha!  Sounds like a perfect day for a 3 year old boy!! 

Of course I had a million questions for him on the way home.  He said he had a super fun day and that his favorite part was "eating".  Ha!  Sounds about right!  He met lots of new friends but the 2 he kept talking about were Peter and Audrey.  So cute!  He told me they read a story about a girl and a lamb (and sure enough they had read Mary had a little lamb).  I am just so happy today went well and he had a fun time.  Love my boy! 

And one little note about Addyson......today at school they started a few new things.  Reading groups and their first spelling words.  I was looking through her folder when she got home and the teacher had written that they took the spelling word pre-test today and Addyson had gotten them all correct on the pre-test so she is giving her another set of words to spell.  This made me smile as well and I am so glad she is doing great at school.  It is still going really well and she seems to be liking it.  Yay!! 

My little girl sporting her glasses that we got LAST year but she did not wear them one time.  I guess she likes them now! 

Labor Day at the Lake!

 We had a GREAT Labor Day weekend at Table Rock Lake.  This lake is about 3 hours (maybe a little more) south east of Overland Park.  Our friends, Dave and Jenica, have a family place down there and so we packed up the 5 kids (3 of theirs and 2 of ours) and headed down for one last weekend in the sun!  We have been having HOT weather up here!  There were 5 weeks from about middle of July to middle of August where we did not get out of the 80's.  It was fabulous!  The last few weeks have been hot, which made for good lake weather at least! 

 Addyson and her friend Ellie met in Kindergarten last year and they happen to live right behind us.  Super convenient for lots of play dates! 

Addyson and Ellie

Ben, Izzy, Addyson and Ellie.  Of course, Ben is always the only boy!

Ben and Izzy are a year apart but they are good buds!  Izzy is one year older.

The Hot Dog provided lots and lots of fun this weekend! 

Ben hanging on, girls falling off!

Cruising on the paddle board.  This looks much easier than it is!

We did lots of swimming off the dock.  The water was pretty clear, which is always a plus for me!  I'm not a big fan of dark lake water!  :) 

The girls made lots of friendship bracelets.  Ryan even jumped in on the fun and made one for Addy.  Such a sweet daddy!

"George" the turtle was a little baby turtle who hung out with us by the dock all weekend.  We fed him Cheetos and the kids thought that was great fun!

Ben and George

Lettuce George? 

All 5 kiddos!  Millie is 21 months so she wasn't always in all the kids pics.  Kind of a tough age for dock life!

Family pic!  It was a little cloudy/rainy on Sunday....it cleared up enough though for lots of swim time!

Ben, Jenica and Izzy on the tube

My little lake girl!  She loves all things water!

Addy skiing....she did this on the first time like she had been doing it for years!  Why does she look 12 here?

Ben got on the ski but didn't stand up.  He was a little more hesitant than his big sister about all the lake activities. 

 Oh, and what  is a lake weekend without a game of Rook!  Of course the ladies won!!!  It was a super fun weekend and now its time to officially start Fall!  Ben starts preschool tomorrow and I have 2 lunches to pack and then off to bed!  Have a great week!