Thanksgiving

We headed to Austin, TX for Thanksgiving this year to finally see S & J's new digs.  It was a short trip but we had a great time!

The boys rocked all the flights.  This was the first time Brody had his own seat.  It was priceless (not literally.. yay for buying four seats... ha)!  Nana managed them most of the time on the flights down.  Now that was priceless :) 

S borrowed a bunch of toys from a friend.  It was a lifesaver because it rained most of the time that we were there.  First it was rainy and super warm/humid.  Then it was rainy and pretty cold. 

Joe and J broke in a new smoker and made an amazing turkey.  Dinner included some friends from the Netherlands and China.  We got to introduce them to all the traditions of Thanksgiving.  

Their house has a small park (and pool) right across the street.  The kids loved it!

The day after T-day, we headed to the Thinkery.  It is a STEM focused children's museum and the kids loved it.  (bonus... since we are Union Station members in KC, we ALL got in for free).

I am fairly certain that Brody could have played with this wind tunnel all.day.long.

I don't have many pictures of Kamden but he loved the museum, too!  It was a great Thanksgiving, excited to visit Austin again. 

Kamden's Special Day

Kam and I don't have much time to do fun things on our own.  When Joe and I "divide and conquer" I am usually with Brody because he is pretty clingy toward me.  Brody had a special day planned with Nana (Kam already had his) and I was thrilled to spend a day with my big boy.

It started with a trip to Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.  I hadn't visited in quite awhile and I didn't have super high expectations for Kamden's level of interest.  He blew me away!  He was SO interested and wasn't ready to leave!  I planned to explore the Native American Art inside the museum (we were about a week away from Thanksgiving).  He just LOVED a certain mask and kept talking about it. After, we wandered a few more areas then headed outside to the sculpture garden. 

After the outdoor sculptures, we headed back inside through the new (ish) Bloch building.  We spent some time in the African Art, even compared the similarities of the masks there to the masks we saw in the Native American exhibit.  Like I said, the kid was engaged in art!

After lunch at the museum, we headed to Science City at Union Station.  We met up with Aunt J and cousin O.  They had a blast exploring and learning.  Kamden had never been but we are members now and plan to go often!

We ended the day with some ice cream at Murry's.  YUM.

 

Can't wait to do it again!

World Series Champions!

I kind of ruined the build up of this post with the title but, if you didn't know that outcome you clearly don't know me at all!

2014 was a stellar year for the Royals but it was also pretty unexpected.  The whole city started the 2015 season with bigger expectations (even if all of the "experts" thought we wouldn't even make it to the postseason at all).  Well, our boys in blue proved that we were not a fluke (I say "we" because I was, obviously, a critical part of the success).

 Brody looking handsome in some new Royals gear (at G&G's farm so mama could go to a game)

For some reason, this photo just makes me smile.  When they laugh at each other, my heart swells.

I was lucky enough to go to FOUR postseason games!

I made it to the very first one with my sister, BFF (for 27 years!), and her husband.  

ALDS Game 1 vs. Houston Astros.  WE. WERE. PUMPED!

 And then there was a rain delay.  Let's just say, rain delays get expensive when you have a DD.

 And then they lost.

 Whatever.  We still had faith.  I surprised my mama with tickets for the game the next day.  She is a huge fan... even planning to go to spring training next year!  ALDS game 2... Big "W" in the books!  

We were able to witness the Royals win the ALDS in game five vs the Astros!  Joe and I had seats together and just happen to run into my cousin and her husband that were seated close to us.  My mom and sister were also at the game so we got this picture together.

We had amazing seats through some family for ALCS game 2.   We were right behind Toronto's dugout so there were quite a few Blue Jay's fans around us.  My dad was a tad worried that I was going to be hit by a foul ball.... and then it happened to the kid about three people away from me.  Line drive to the forehead (you can actually see him in this picture).  He was fine and I stayed very focused on the game!  

It was a bit of a slow game where we were scoreless until the 7th.  Toronto made a pretty important error and IT WAS ON.  We came back and won 6-3!

That was it for Postseason games for us! Merry Christmas :)

We invited my family over to watch (what ended up being) the final World Series game!  Those Mets... they just had no idea what was coming.  We were down by 2 until the 9th.  We tied it up and in true Royals fashion, we won in the 12th when we scored 5 runs! Comeback kids!!!

Kansas City completely shut down for the WS Parade.  It was insane.  Almost every school closed, businesses closed, people were just parking on the side of the highway, walking MILES.  Everyone wanted to celebrate!  800,000 people came out to watch.  Keep in mind our metro population is only about 2 million.  I was so proud of the people, there were only three arrests.  It was very impressive because after it was over some serious patience was tested getting back out of the city. 

I went with my sister and her kids.  My kiddos were in school (sorry kids... but I wouldn't have ventured this with you).   She had a parking garage available at her office so we just had to walk a few blocks.  We were at the beginning of the parade so we didn't have any traffic issues getting home. 

We spent about 2 hours just standing there saving a space.  We had a pretty good spot, standing on a raised planter so we had a decent view a little bit above people.  A few people tested my patience.... I just can't imagine thinking you are entitled to squeeze in front of me when you are easily 15 inches taller than me... then you put a kid on your shoulders! But whatever.  It was still worth it :)

  Just a few of my favorites... the HOZ!

 MOOOOOOOOOSE...

 Ben Z & Fam :)

 MVP SALVY!!!!

And the manager... YOST!

A hilarious finale were these city crews.  I actually think they were having the most fun of anyone in the parade.  Honkin', hootin', and hollerin'.  I am pretty sure this made their year.

On to 2016!  If Joe was home a little more... partial season tickets would be pretty tempting!

7th Annual Spooky Soup!

I can't believe this is the 7th year!  It took place about a week after Halloween because these two lucky girls spent 5 days at Disney.  The kids were more than willing to dress up one last time ;)

It's getting just a little easier to take a group picture.  Although, I took roughly 40 to get this one. ;)

SO CUTE!

We tried to get a pic of the 2 ball players.  This was as good we could do.  :)

GOOFBALL!

Halloween!

Yep, that holiday that was weeks ago.  The boys had a blast.  Brody was a little unsure at first but he caught on pretty quick.   Kam was a Farmer and Brody was a Royals Rookie.  Both VERY fitting to their interests. 

Brody had to show us the piece of candy he got at each house.  It was adorable.

We had a pretty epic parenting fail.  Halfway through, the battery in the tractor died.  We definitely forgot to charge it.  Joe ran back to get the wagon to save the day.  Brody was pretty much done walking at that point, anyway

We sent the kids home with Nana again this year.  Genius!  We ended up heading over to a friends house to watch THE ROYALS IN THE WORLD SERIES (more on that later).  I had already purchased candy and didn't want it in the house so, I left an overflowing bowl on the front porch with a note.  I couldn't believe some kid didn't come along and take it all.  Great kids around here!

Pumpkin Pickin'

By year three, I feel like it is safe to call this a Mudd tradition.  We love the Aldredge Apple Orchard.  Although they are primarily and apple orchard, they have a big pumpkin patch and lots of fun things for us to do, too.  We actually bought apples for the first time so we could make some applesauce.  Normally I have an abundance of apples from my mom's trees but they were a little heavy handed trimming them this year and we have NO apples.

We took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch.  Brody's hair... the struggle is real.

I am still enamored with the fluffy footed chickens.  If I can convince Joe that we should live on an acre or two, my first order of business would be to get some of my own.

Brody was very curious... and a little scared.

Man... Kam wasn't big enough to ride this on his own last year.  Too fast, people.

Halloween, coming up next!