Pioneer Day & other fun things

Pioneer Day falls on July 24th -- so usually in our church (outside of Utah), we all celebrate on Saturday.  This year, since we were with my in laws, we had a breakfast...  to our surprise, a wagon came to give us all rides!  This wagon (and a few others) give rides around Independence Square, and share the rich history of Independence -- known as the Gateway to the West.  You can see in the background of the wagon, the Community of Christ temple (formerly called RLDS).  Reminds me of an ice cream cone...

Katie and Taylor ....

Taylor's momma Alicia (my SIL), and Layla

Marcie (my other SIL), Katie and Presley

On our last day with Marcie and her girls, we took a trip to Lake Jacomo.  There is an awesome little settlement called Missouri Town.  Lots of old homes that are laid out just like one would find it back in the 1800's.  (all the homes were moved there from around Kansas City).  Outside of Missouri town are buffalos and elk that you can feed and watch.

This particular elk had the biggest set of antlers I have ever seen.  I could understand him having a headache all the time if elk were able to speak!

Now, this picture I can't get over.  Maddie refuses to feed the goats, hold a dog (that isn't sedated), hold a hamster -- but she'll feed elk?  Yep -- proof she fed the elk.

This was just too cute -- a momma elk and a baby elk. 

We left KC when Katie just finished 4th grade.  These two gals below were her best friends in 3rd and 4th grade.  So glad they were all able to get together and spend an afternoon together!

Family Fun at the water park

We went to the water park twice when we were in Missouri -- Independence finally has a very super cool water park that opened up a year before we moved.  Has a lazy river, very nice kids area, three slides, and a lap pool.  I could stay in the lazy river all day.

The first time we went with my dad and my nephew plus our highland dance friends & also the girls' cousins (the same ones who came down to our property in July) -- SO MUCH FUN!!

The second time we went, we went at 5:00 p.m., when it wasn't as busy, and again, had SO MUCH FUN! 

I only pulled out my camera after the sun went down -- towards when we decided it was time to leave.  It was hard to get a picture of all the kids together.

My brother in law Wesley with his little boy, Taylor.

Taylor is SO photogenic, amazingly ...  I think I captured like 30 different pictures of him in a different expression each time.

Rocker dude!

Miss Presley playing with Taylor ....

Miss Maddie with Miss Layla -- of course.

"The Castle" + Presley + Layla

After the week with my parents were up, we headed to my in laws for a week!  The first day with my in laws, we took a trip to St Joseph, to pick up my sister in law and her two beauties.  She drove us around the old St Joe -- which was fascinating in itself!!

She first took us to Krug Park -- which is a fascinating park in itself!  It has a beautiful "castle", rose gardens, amphitheatre, and all kinds of things.  You'll need to read up on it here b/c it was such a neat place to go to.  

It was funny seeing how Marcie's two girls teamed up w/ my girls.  The oldest, Presley -- loved to be with Katie (my oldest).  The youngest, Layla, was a big Maddie fan.  Course, both girls loved both of my girls -- but when it came time to holding someone's hand, they reached for those respective girls.

(above)  Katie and Presley -- Presley reminds us all of Katie when she was this age.  A few minor differences of course -- but I think out of all the cousins in the family, these two are the most similar!
(below)  Maddie and Layla

here is proof that I did come on this vacation!

after driving through Krug Park, Marcie showed us "Lover's Lane"  ::giggling::

Then took us to see Jesse Jame's home.

and then right around the corner was a HUGE Mason Temple... very big! 

All in all, the old part of St Joseph was really fascinating to see!  Loved to see all the old homes around the area (those are my favorite!).

Deanna Rose Farmstead

Also on our last day of being in KC, we headed to the Deanna Rose Farmstead in Overland Park.  Right before we moved to Texas, we lived about 2 miles from this place, and went there often.


My nephew Joshua spent the day on Monday with us, and we all went to the water park -- and had a blast.  He spent the night w/ the girls (his first sleepover ever!), and in the morning Papa Rod had his special breakfast for the grandkids... DONUTS!! 

It was such a hot day that day....

Joshua is feeding the big goats -- he waited for some money from Papa Rod for the dispensor machine, but I found a whole bunch of food on the ground (which was dropped from other kids) so I told him to pick it off the ground.  He did -- and he had food!

Katie's turn to feed!

In this pen were the smaller goats.  The baby goats you fed bottles to (which we didn't do) -- but this pen is also where three years ago Maddie was bit by a goat because she refused to feed a goat.  She folded her hand up in a ball and held on tightly to her food (the WRONG thing to do).  I believe this incident is where it all began... Maddie's aversion to animals.

Papa Rod put all the kids on a wagon hayride.

Totally loving this handwashing station!

Papa Rod and Katie are just chilling...

In the schoolhouse -- of course Maddie picks to be right next to the window, which means my pictures won't be great.  Dang light!!

She & Joshua start writing on their little boards.

Moseying around with Papa Rod....

Like I said earlier in my past posts, we ran my dad down pretty tired.  We were with them for a week!  I think he was ready for a break from us when we left!  Ha ha!

One day we went to Bass Pro in Independence -- been there a lot, but it's always fun to go again and see everything. 

Of course the girls have to hit up the laser shooting range!  Loved it when it was only a quarter to shoot -- cringe that it's now 50 cents each time! 

So much natural light in this place -- but a cute picture of the girls.

Over killed on the exposure here, so I had to resort to B&W for this picture, but I LOVE it!

Coneflowers (echinacea) are really in bloom now in Missouri -- here are some right outside of the shop.

On our final day w/ Papa Rod, we went to the new American Girl store in Kansas City.  Maddie's never been, and she's got two American Girl dolls -- she was in heaven looking at all the clothes.  Why are the clothes so much more expensive there than regular kids' clothes?!!

Maddie and Christina .. her doll.

Afterwards, we all took a trip to the new Trader Joe's that just recently opened up in Kansas City.  My thoughts?  Ehh... not sure what the big fuss was.  I like their bags.  That's about it...  But then again, there were like a thousand people inside a small store trying to get through, so my opinion might not be a good one b/c I hate crowds in a store.

Park time!

In Blue Springs where one of the high schools are, lies an amazing park.  Sand volleyball, tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, frisbee golf, and a pond.  We took the girls & nephews to the park to run off some steam. 
Here are Maddie & Joshua hamming it up...

My brother and Liam

My mom & Maddie

Love this picture!!  Maddie's expression is so stinking cute!

Miss Katie .... proof she was there at the park!

Liam always went to Maddie for anything he needed ... this time his shoe came off.  She didn't know what to do, so picked him up and took him to his mom.  :)

Joshua getting a drink the "non-normal" way.

My sister in law Rachel with Liam.  Getting a smile out of this boy is SUPER hard!

This used to be my favorite past time when I was a kid, but I always paid for it dearly later -- chiggers!  This hill is a very steep hill, so all three kids went to rolling down the hill.

Later Maddie paid for it dearly when she couldn't stop itching -- even after a bath.  Benadryl finally hit the spot -- not sure if she'll ever roll down a hill again!