Windy

It was stormy today - so windy that our power went out a few times, so we stayed in the house most of the day. Allison brought the tornado into our house by making messes with every toy she owns.

Her new thing is to take the couch cushions for a bed, or build a fort. I totally get this - I used to love doing the same thing, but two cushions take up a lot of room in our small kitchen when I'm trying to make a meal. 

After the bedding portion of the day, we moved onto things with wheels. Allison is a stickler for wearing her helmet while on her bike and scooter.

I love having these picture of Allison. She is such a confident kid and I love giving her (a little) space to be wild.

Blueberry

Every mom has a story like this. One week your kid is OBSESSED with a food, so you stock up the next time you go shopping, then BAM! They won't eat it. It's "yucky" and they don't want it on their plate. But if you run out, be prepared to hear, "apple, apple, Apple, APple, APPle, APPLe, APPLE!"

This week, Allison is obsessed with blueberries. Blueberries that were frozen, then half thawed (still crunchy in the middle) then they melt on her plate, then she drinks the juice. She loves the routine, I know the perfect timer setting for a 1/2 cup of blueberries, it's working.

Except for the part where she makes a big mess and manages to touch at least four walls before making it to the bathroom to wash her hands.

Fall 2015

Today was Allison's first day of preschool! She's been on the wait list for a few months and while my mom was here, I got the call that a spot in the purple room opened up. The school has 5 rooms for kids under 5. The purple room is the smallest room with only 6 kids. Allison goes to school every Friday. I was so nervous to get everything ready (lunches, blanket, change of clothes, diapers, snacks, waterbottle) but everyone was really welcoming.

Nathan had the morning off so we were able to take her to school together and I'm so happy that he could share this big moment with us.

 

 

 

 Allison loved the room immediately and didn't even notice when we left. After we dropped her off, we went on a breakfast date. We had to keep reminding ourselves to eat slowly as we've been racing Allison for the last 2 years. After breakfast, we ran a few errands, got some groceries, and then drove back to pick her up (those 5 hours flew by). Allison was happy to see us but wasn't ready to leave her classroom. Her teacher told us that she did great and talks (a lot). She didn't nap, but the teacher thought it might just be that she's unfamiliar with the routine (she did a ladybug puzzle while everyone else napped).

Her is her report from her first day. I'm so grateful Allison liked her first day, but the teacher warned that next week might not be as smooth since they know the routine now and know that Mom and Dad will be leaving.

Allison was tired when she got home so we let her have a late nap - so then I had another hour of kid-free time! I think this preschool thing is going to be wonderful for the both of us.

Shed and Shots

I can't believe the weather! I know I keep writing about it but it's worthy to mention. I don't usually  like being outdoors, but I know that soon enough the cold weather will come and I'll feel cabin fever being stuck indoors with Allison.

I don't know if it's the extended warm weather, or because we had a cold snap, and then it warmed up again, but things are beginning to grow/bloom again. I've seen pictures on friend's facebook pages of bulbs sprouting up and today I noticed that I had hostas and hydrangeas starting up!

We spent the morning running errands because I needed to get a half dozen forms filled out by Allison's doctor so that she can be ready for her first day of preschool tomorrow. She also got her flu shot. She recovered quickly but she's starting to associate the doctor with "shots".  On our way out of the office, I watched a man in a mini-van drive hit and then drive over a concrete post that protects the curb at the end of the driveway to the street. It was bad - but Allison loved to watch the action. There is major construction on the main street (at the end end of our street) and we've gone to watch the pavers a couple of times this week.

We also stop by the park on the way home most days so that Allison can run off some of her frustration of being stuck in the carseat.

Allison wanted to play outside today so I decided that I'd start packing away our summer toys, tables, and umbrella so that I didn't have to do it once the cold hit. But first I had to clean out the shed to make room for everything.

 I pulled everything out so that I could sweep it out and in the back corner I found this rabbit skeleton. The whiskers were still attached. I have no idea how long it's been there since we haven't cleaned the shed in a couple of years.

Sunny November

During our cold snap last week, Allison started to go stir crazy in the house

Here she is playing in her room. She pulled the change pad off her dresser, stripped the cover off, they lay down with a cookie sheet for a blanket.

I was so thankful that this week has already brought 4 days of 20+ degree weather!

Allison and I were able to spend an entire morning at the park this week. She wanted to take her bear with her, and he had to do everything she did.

It was really sweet, except that I had to carry the bear from place to place. Allison's new interest in balancing. She wants me to hold her hand as she walks across the balance beam or the new log feature they put in at the park. Then she does a "BIG JUMP" at the end and says, "TA-DAAA!"

I packed a lunch so that we could have extra time in the fresh air. I can't believe we're wearing short sleeves in November!

2015 World Series Victory Parade

The Kansas City Royals won the World Series on Sunday night and today was the parade to celebrate! I really wanted to go but Nathan had to work. My friend, April, is always up for a challenge and she convinced me that it would be fun for us to take the city bus downtown, with our three children, for the parade.

We met at a shady intersection to catch the city bus at 9am. It was the kind of area that I would normally lock my doors as I drove past. We got on the city bus at 63rd street and Troost. Troost is one of the worst streets in KC and if you watch The First 48, you will see it featured in every KC episode.

The bus was packed with people in Royals gear. We traveled from 63rd to 12th street and we passed through neighborhoods and areas that I would have never imagined that I would travel. But today was different - the city was united and there were families and every race walking down streets that are deserted and dangerous any other day. It took an hour to get downtown. The parade didn't start until noon so we let the kids play on the grass area in front of city hall. We had packed lunches (thank goodness because lines everywhere were insane) and April's husband, Ryan, met up with us right before the parade started.

 

 

I wasn't going to push my way to the front with Allison, so we all stayed back and accepted that we'd just be able to see what we could see. You know how it seems like no one is living life anymore because of social media and their phones? While, that was VERY evident today. Most players were videotaping the crowds, checking their phones, or talking on their phones during the parade. I couldn't believe their vanity! This is a once in a lifetime thing! I couldn't even get a good shot of Volquez. Also, most players had their families with them, and instead of giving a good view of the players, the women were sitting on either side of the players, blocking the view. Thankfully a few players stood up so we could see them better. The parade was very short - Royals staff, the mayor, the coaches, a few guys from the 1985 World Series win, and then the players and the trophy. There weren't any marching bands or balloon arches like there was in '85 but it was still a fun parade and I'm glad we went.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The final stop of the parade was at Union Station for a Royals Rally. The parade planner estimated that 250K people would show up, which is laughable because in 1985, 350K showed up! The actually number was over 750K so as you can imagine, the streets were overflowing, there weren't enough toilets or trash cans, there were lines for everything from buses to souvenirs.

Here is a 8am picture of Union Station, and a 2pm picture of Union Station. It's estimated that 500K people showed up for the rally! The highways were so busy that people were abanding their cars on the road and walking. Cars were parked everywhere - on every piece of grass,  under overpasses, and lots were so full that cars were put in completely blocking other cars. It was insane the amount of people that were there.

Schools and most jobs were closed, but Nathan was stuck a few blocks away at work. since we didn't go to the rally we thought we wouldn't hit much traffic. We got on our very crowded bus - here is a photo of us and the kids sitting on the FLOOR OF A CITY BUS because their were no seats and it took us 3 hours  to get home. The traffic was insane! I was so realized to get to my car, but Allison decided it was the perfect time to freak out since she didn't have a nap today. She screamed the whole way home and was a blubbering mess when we got their but refused to go to Nathan and only wanted "mummy hugs".

 I know she had a good time because she kept shouting ROYALS! and then clapping throughout the night.