First Time in Cincinnati

We had never been to see Mike's cousin Jeff in Cincinnati and wanted to go see their family and home and try some famous Cincinnati chili. We had a great visit (thanks Jeff & Karen)! We ate at the Blue Ash Chili restaurant and I thought it was really good. Cincinnati chili does not have beens but they put cinnamon in it. After staying overnight with the Andersons we headed north towards Cleveland and Sandusky. We love A Christmas Story and though it was supposed to be set in Indiana some of it was actually filmed in Cleveland. We just HAD to take the tour of the house. It was really cool! Don't ya love Haylie trying to figure out the Little Orphan Annie decoder ring message?

 

And The Fun Just Keeps Going......

So after we get back from our FL trip we had 12 days to get ready for our New York trip in July. This time we met up with my family. We left a few days early to do some things on our own and then met up with my mother and sisters family in OH. After Mike got off work we drove as far as St Louis to cut several hours off our drive that ended in Cincinnati that first night. So we stayed in one of our usual hotels by The Old Spaghetti Factory in Chesterfield MO. We got one of the accessible rooms so it was absolutely huge! Dinner at OSF as usual and a dip in the pool. In keeping with tradition we made a stop in Louisville KY at Hard Rock Cafe for our glass. We also drove by the Louisville Slugger Museum to see the worlds largest bat.

 

And We Have a Teenager!

Savannah turned 13 in June and because of our trip we decided to do her party after we got back. She is totally into the Biebs so of course that was the theme of the party. I was so disappointed that I couldn't find a purple table cloth. Cake was courtesy of WalMart. She had a bunch of friends over for a sleepover and she practically planned her whole party; games and all. They went on a scavenger hunt, had to do a skit based on a topic they picked out of a bag, and then spent a couple of hours at the pool by themselves. They all crashed in our great room and I have no idea what time they went to bed. Mike and I called it quits at 10p.

 

Time to go Home!

After 11 days away from home I was ready to get back. We had a great surprise for Haylie. Her really good friend Rylee from school moved to the Tampa area the day after school got out in May. She really misses her. I spoke with her mom about our trip out to FL and was wanting to know if they were willing to come meet us at the airport since we had a long wait until our flight. Not realizing it was actually a 2 hour drive for them I was so grateful they decided to do it. Haylie was so excited to see Rylee! We ate lunch at Panda Express and were able to chat. Since then they have Skyped about once a month when they can.

 

Castaway Cay and Pirate Night

Disney owns their own island called Castway Cay (pronounce key). The torquoise water is just divine. Mike and I got off the ship early to particpate in the CC 5K. This was my first 5K evah and I rocked it in 46 minutes. Just kidding; I never said I was fast. I typically do about a 13 minute mile which is fine with me. I'm not in this to break any records; just stay healthy.

 

Disney always does Pirate Night so I was prepared this time. Before we left home I made a Party City run and got pirate hats, bandanas, eye patches and earrings to wear. We used a little eyeliner to make scars and got a picture with my favorite pirate Capt Jack! I love the many moods of Savannah. Scowling in line but all smiles with Capt Jack.

 

Nassau Bahamas, Random Pics Around the Ship

Took some random pics around the ship. This was our meal in Animators Palate where the colors change in the restaurant. Our loot of gifts we got on the first night in our FE. Each cabin decided which night they wanted to deliver their gifts so our fish extender was full of stuff most every night. It was such a treat for the girls to go back to the cabin to see what had been delivered. We came home with SO MANY awesome gifts. Another pic of our door and fish extender and then when we got a delivery.

 

Our first stop was in Nassau Bahamas. Mike and I had been there before and was able to get our hurricane glass from HRC. Rainy that day so the girls stayed on the ship and got their hair braided. Haylie went back a second time because she changed her mind and wanted more braids than just the one.

 

More random pics around the ship. I always like formal night! The whole family at dinner in the Enchanted Forest.

 

Disney Dream Cruise

DAy 7 we all headed for Port Canaveral for our cruise on the Disney Dream. Because we were repeat cruisers we got a great backpack with some treats that Haylie is now using for school.

 

It was raining when we drove to the port and I was worried we wouldn't get any sunshine. Took some pictures around the ship before it got too busy with passengers. Kids club was pretty rockin' and we had a balcony cabin. The pool was crowded before we even got aboard. This is our decked out cabin door with all the magnets that I made (don't ya love the Mickey ears sailor cap over the cabin number)? The FE is that cute pocket holder hanging from the "fish" of course for our goodies. There was a pocket for Mike and I and the girls each had their own pocket.

 

Epcot and Animal Kingdom

We put in our day at Epcot on day 5. Lunch was at The Royal Banquet Hall to eat with the princesses. Although my girls are not as enamored with them as they used to be when they were younger. Savannah wanted to soak her birthday month for all it was worth so she wore her Disney birthday pin the entire week. She got a special birthday dessert at Coral Reef Restaurant.

 

I think the best food I ate at the parks was at the Boma Lodge in Animal Kingdom and O'Hana at the Polynesian Resort. Thanks BIL Steve for recommending them!!!!! We were so Disney'd out by that day we only went on the Mt Everest ride in AK and then called it a day to go back and relax at the resort while the girls swam. They participated in a limbo line where Mike and Steve were the head honchos in their lei's and grass skirts.

 

US Islands of Adventure

To break up the Disney theme day 4 was spent at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. We mostly went to check out the new Harry Potter World. It was pretty cool. Personally I like all the squiglys of Dr Seuss.

 

And with The Avengers such a great flick we saw plenty of them. Haylie wanted to channel her inner Forest Gump.

 

Magic Kingdom, Electrical Parade, and Hollywood Studios (formally MGM Studios)

The first day we spent at The Magic Kingdom. Had a great time but I still like Disneyland better. However, the show they did at night on the side of the castle was AMAZING! My MIL bought us all the dining plan so we had some really good food! (there went my diet). We had lunch at The Plaza Restaurant and then fish and chips watching the EP.

 

We of course all like the Electrical Parade.

 

The next day we spent at Hollywood Studios. Girls and their cousins got involved with dancing in the street and we had a great dinner at the Sci-Fi Dinner Theatre. My favorite ride is always the Tower of Terror. And because we didn't want to pay their outrageous prices for a photo we did the redneck thing of taking picture of a picture. The kids got some pool time but unfortunately I didn't get a pic of that. One was shaped like guitar and the other like a piano.

 

Walt Disney World/Disney Cruise

After school got out we started to prepare for our first trip of the summer. We headed to Florida with Mike's family to spend a week in Walt Disney World and on a Disney Cruise. Now if you remember back from a previous post; we took the girls on a week long Disney cruise that about did me in. This shorter 4 day one was much more do-able. For those of you who are seasoned cruisers with Disney you know about the FEE (fish extender exchange). Its where a group of cruisers decide to participate in a little gift exchange with other cabins. I think on this one we had 13 cabins participating so we had to get gifts for all 13. This was everything put together along with all the magnetic door decorations (pic of which you will see in a later post). The girls got some of their homework done on the airplane but still took a lot out of us when we got back home. We stayed at the Disney All Star Music Resort in FL.

 

Braces Off!

Back in June Savannah got her braces off. She did so well that they came off 2 months early! We are now in the initial retainer phase where she wears it 24/7 until December. Then she only has to wear it at night. I'll be relieved. Always worried she is going to accidentally throw it away with her lunch at school.

 

Lenexa Ward Memorial Day

Lunch at the church. Yummy food and great company. Lenexa Ward of the Lenexa Kansas Stake.

 

Celebration At the Station

I LOVE this celebration! We have been coming to this for as long as we've lived here as long as we've been in town. Celebration At the Station is put on by the Kansas City Symphony. They put on a big patriotic musical program, we take a picnic dinner and enjoy the sights and sounds. I love the KC skyline. Had to have a picture at the top of the Liberty Memorial to show downtown KC. However it does looks a lot cooler at night.

 

Memorial Day Weekend

We decided to take advantage of our great Black Hoof Park over the holiday weekend. We took a bbq picnic dinner and did dogs and brats. Played on the playgrounds and took a dip in our pool. Practically had it to ourselves.

 

Awards Galore

Both girls had their awards ceremonies at the end of the school year. Haylie got a bunch of new pins for participating in different extracurricular activites and Savannah recieved 4 awards for various things. One of which was Principal's Honor Roll. She is just breezing through middle school. Hope it comes this easy for her in high school. Fun looking through their yearbooks.

 

Worlds of Fun

I love having Mike work for AAKC! Every year they throw a fabulous work party at Worlds of Fun. Mike had a church meeting so we arrived about an hour after it opened. We still got in all the rides we wanted to. We usually go twice a year. Once for the work party and again at Halloween for their Halloweekends. I think that is my favorite time to go. The AYCE bbq is pretty good.

 

Mothers Day 2012

We had never done a Mothers Day brunch before well, becuase it is always on Sunday. This year I really wanted to try Harvey's in our awesome Union Station. It was really good. Major crowded and a party of 20 tried to get in just as a walk-in. We had made reservations at least a week ahead. However, it did not end so good. On the way home Mike needed gas in his car. While he was filling up Haylie was playing around on the poles around the tanks. She jumped off to get back in the car and broke off the driver's outside mirror. Cost us $200 at Toyota to replace. Talk about a lesson in breaking the Sabbath!

 

More of Black Hoof Park

 

Black Hoof Park Open House

We have a park in our area called Black Hoof. There are two separate areas that are on the edge of Lake Lenexa. This new addition is really great! The city hosted an open house and we just had to go. Big huge pavilion for picnics, three different play areas, a big ol' firepit, and a stream to play in. Very green and shaded. The girls and I have been over there several times just to hang out.

 

MT Spring Glee Show

Savannah has enjoyed being in choir during her 7th Grade year. They put on a spring show with quite a few pop numbers that I enjoyed. She had also auditioned for the Chorale for next year and MADE IT! She is so excited. They get to go perform at Worlds of Fun during the spring and then spend the rest of the day riding rides.