April 2023

Jane and Kate built a fairy house in our front yard. They found some dirt in the back yard that molded like clay and made bowls, chairs, a fireplace. They were very sad when the wind and rain ruined everything a couple days later.

Bryan went to Colorado for the weekend to ski with his brothers and sister. So the girls and I had a girls weekend. We went to Ikea and bought a bunkbed and new bedding for our next duty station. Afterwards, we visited Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. It's a family fun attraction with farm animals, birds of prey, butterfly gardens, nature trails, an old schoolhouse, and a Kanza Native American habitat display. 

I got free tickets to a Royals baseball game. We've really tried to embrace the sporting events here in Kansas City. The girls weren't too impressed with the actual baseball game, but LOVED all the food from the vendors!

We took the girls to do an Easter egg hunt at a local park in Leavenworth. Bryan and I are pretty set on not taking the girls to do anymore egg hunts afterwards. Too many kids. Not enough eggs. Mostly crappy candy or toys. Nothing to remind kids why we celebrate this holiday.

Before the hunt...

During the hunt.

Kate and Jane invited neighbors and friends over to decorate sugar cookies. 

Egg dying time!

This is a much better Easter egg hunt- behind our house in the field with neighbors. 

We took the girls biking on Line Creek Trail- probably rode 5-6 miles. Poor Jane doesn't have a gear bike yet, but was motivated to keep with us. So proud of her!

We found this miniature train on our way home. We got a free ride because they were training new employees and needed the practice. 

Date night: Kate and I went to see the Secret Garden. It was wonderful! Bryan and Jane rode their bikes to the movie theater and saw The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Jane's 2nd grade Dinosaur performance at Macarthur Elementary School. It was so cute! 

Kate's class went to Kansas University for a field trip. She loves her class and teacher SO MUCH! She said that they have really bonded over the past year.

The girls had their end of the school year piano recital. As per always, both performed beautifully. They put a lot of effort into practicing and attending lessons with Mrs. Low. She will be missed! Now I have to find someone new at our new duty station. 

The girls acrobatic recital was the same weekend as their piano recital. So they attended in their dazzling costumes!

There acrobatic piece was so fun to watch! My favorite part was the giant pyramid with all falling and rolling at the end. 

Jane has been motivated to do a backbend kick over since Kate learned during Spring Break. Here she goes!

March 2023

 For the past couple months, I have been training with my friend Toni for the 400/1000 pound challenge. We only got together about 2-3 times a week depending on my work schedule and her kids schedule. Sometimes we added a swim day depending on how sore we were feeling. Toni has way more lifting experience, so it was good for me to be coached on my form. She also pushed me to lift heavier than I've ever lifted. Her goal was to make it on the board at the gym. My goal was to complete the challenge. Ha! I ended up lifting 555 pounds (110lbs bench press, 215lbs squat, 230lbs deadlift). 

My neighbor was in the community theatre musical Curtains. My neighbors and I went to the show to support her efforts and it was such a fun experience! 

Kate had her birthday party with some of her good friends from school at the local ski resort. They went snow tubing and created such fun memories!

For spring break, we traveled to Utah to visit and go skiing with family. Our 15 hour trip turned into a 19 hour trip because I-80 closed down due to high winds. Everyone was detoured to I-70 through the canyon, which made for a really, really long trip. Luckily, it was all worth it because the snow was incredible this year!

We got to visit with our newest nephew/cousin. Stratton and Jenny welcomed a baby BOY earlier this month- first AHLBORN so it is quite a big deal!

We played pickleball with grandma, grandpa, Kim, Zander, and Norah at the church.

We celebrated St. Patrick's day with green cinnamon rolls and skiing at Park City. We threw a bunch of green beaded necklaces in the tree to commiserate their mom being 60% Irish (found out recently with 23&me).

We invited Rachel and her family to decorate sugar cookies.

Kate learned how to successfully backbend kick over with McCartney's help.

Howie is now a daddy! Ruby had 8 puppies at the beginning of the month. Funny story: The plan was to make 1-3K dollars per puppy, but because of inexperience and poor planning only 1.5K was made from 2 puppies. The other 6 were given away for free!

We went to a Maverick Hockey game in Kansas City with some of Bryan's friends from school. We were hoping to see blood and fights. That didn't really happen. Ha!

For date night this month, Jane and I went to get a pedicure and then went to a little art studio in town and painted some gnomes for the garden. I love this one on one time with the girls. So glad we decided to do this. Bryan took Kate to the arcade in town. 

May 2021

Howie is growing and growing.

 He has started to dig in the yard and do naughty activities if he isn't monitored closely. This month it rained a TON and we had to give this little boy daily baths to keep our house from becoming a disaster!

Kate had a spacer put on in January to widen her upper palate.  Here we are, 5 months later getting it removed and having her fitted for a retainer.  She was very good about expanding and doing what the orthodontist ordered.  She is really good about wearing her retainer too.  I think she gets this from me!

 

The girls and I went on a hike with Stacey and her boy Brayden at Mother Neff State Park.  Such a beautiful time to hike because the blue bonnets and Indian paintbrush are in full bloom.

Bryan and I went out to eat at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse in Austin.  We ordered the tomahawk steak and it did not disappoint.  We couldn't finish the onion rings, but they were amazing!

Howie in the back of the Jeep headed to the vet again. We have slowly integrated him into loving car rides.  At first, he did not like at all.  He would get sick.  Now (December 2021) he LOVES the car.  We have a hard time getting him out of the car!

Long story short: I was on the treadmill running and hurt myself in the end of March.  One week after injury I went to get an X-ray. No break was found, so the MD figured it was a muscular injury.  I started physical therapy in the beginning a May because I was having a difficult time walking after being seated. I am getting electrode therapy at the office in the picture below.  I have an MRI scheduled for the end of May. 

Piano recital with Mrs. Christie

Last day of school for Jane!

Her school did a wonderful Kindergarten graduation. 

All 12 of the kids in her class at Northside Baptist Academy. 

Kate's wonderful teacher Ms. Scurti.

For Memorial Day, we headed to Inks Lake State Park.  The weather was amazing and the temperature of the water was perfect!