Our Kairos Moments

Fact:  It's been awhile.  1 month, exactly.  We've been busy and my priorities have shifted.  I recently read a blogpost that inspired me to carpe a couple kairos' a day.  So, that's what I've decided to do.  Here are some of the supreme moments we've experienced in the past month.

Taking a picture in front of where our family began.  

Chastely ;) kissing on the dance floor at our brother's wedding reception.

Dancing with our 2nd favorite dance partners.

Spending time with BFFE's (Best Friends Forever and Eternity).  These boys are so great!.

Finding a new place to walk, watch cardinals, pretend to "Sing in the Rain", search for fossils and learn about Kansas City/the Missouri River.

Eating a favorite treat in the warmth of the January sun.

Quietly celebrating a 4th birthday with purple, pink and white balloons, purple sparkly finger nails, little Disney Princess' and a purple cake with pink and purple icing.

Going up to Winter Quarters with good friends one last time before our move.

It's been a fun month.  It'll be exciting to see what the next 30 days bring!

Girls Camp

Today, the high temperature was 102.  The heat index reached 118.  A substantial pile of camping stuff is sitting in our van.  My living room is home to a smaller one ... 

For the past two days, my mother-in-law (she is visiting from out of state) spent time making 72 neck buddies for people she didn't know. 

The temperatures for the rest of the week aren't going to fluctuate more than a degree or two and yet ... and yet I, along with about 150 girls and women, am going camping.  IN TENTS.  OUTSIDE.  IN.  THE.  HEAT.  

All of this is in preparation for one thing:   Girls Camp.  I love to camp, really I do, but this year might be the most daunting camping experience I've had ... And yet, I'm going.  Why?  Because I was asked; because I want to; because I want to show my kids that service can be fun and a little daunting, too.

Shuttlecocks, Thinkers, and other Pieces of Art

Today, we ventured to the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City.  We heard about the Egyptian exhibition and decided to seek it out so we could dispel the myths B had concerning mummies.  Today, B learned that mummies don't have laser eyes, aren't wrapped in toilet paper and don't come to life.  He learned about the burial practices of the Ancient Egyptians.  Their careful removal of internal organs (including the brain - "eew!"), preserving the body with salt and finally, carefully (and tightly), wrapping the salt preserved body in linen.  All this learning was done as I read a plaque beside a 4,000 + year old mummy (it never did come to life, much to B's disappointment).  Now you know what drew us to the place ...

I would have loved to photograph the things we saw inside the museum, but I've never felt comfortable exposing fine art to the harsh light from a camera flash ... So, what we've got are images from the sculpture garden ... Shuttlecocks:

And, to B's excitement:  Rodin's "The Thinker."  (Thank you Night at the Museum for making fine art memorable.  I love movies like that!)

I wanted them to pose like the statue, but, more than anything, I think they look like they're punching themselves in the chin.  Ha!

Seeing an original painting by Monet gave me goosebumps.  Another compelling exhibition (the Mister's favorite) was seeing the original rules of basketball.  The ORIGINAL RULES!!  How cool is that?!  Did you know that basketball was created by a gym teacher to thwart boredom?  He decided to introduce his new game to his students, but before he did so, he thought it would be a good idea for them to have rules.  So he made up 13 rules and typed it out - that's what we were able to see and read today.  Read more about James Naismith HERE.  The kids had a great time learning - we were prepared to leave at a moments notice, but they surprised us with their interest and good behavior (we're so grateful we can take our kids to places such as these).  Of course, moments like the following are bound to take place (thank goodness, otherwise, how stuffy would the place be?!):  

Insert generic nude marble sculpture, HERE.

B-Man, snicker, snicker:  "Look Mom!  A butt!"

Little Miss:  "Look Mom!  She's like you!"

B-Man and Little Miss:  "They're not wearing any pants!"

Oh yeah, there was also the discussion we had that went something along the lines of ... Please, don't touch anything because if something broke because you touched it, Mom and Dad can't afford to replace it.  There was also the time we presented a new rule to B:  "Do NOT make an airplane with your program!"  Other than that, we spent many hours learning about art and enjoying our time together.

On a serious note, at lunchtime, when we asked our kids what they liked ... B said he really liked a painting of Mt. Vesuvius erupting.  Little Miss liked looking at the books.  

We could have spent more time wandering through the exhibitions because our kids were having so much fun.  $5.00 for parking and free admission means we'll be returning so we could dive even deeper into what this museum has to offer.  

Maybe by then, I'll have the courage to do as other patrons around me.  That is, take pictures of the inside.  For now, another photograph beside a shuttlecock is what we've got to offer ...

When I say Kansas, you say ...

Oz?  Dorothy?  Yellow Brick Road?  Toto?  Tornado?  Ruby Red Slippers?  The list goes on.  I'm confident in my opinion that most people think something a long the lines of "The Wizard of Oz."  (Some might say KU, but I'm pretty sure the "some" are locals.)

On our first full weekday of Spring Break, we headed to the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas.  If you're ever near Wamego, drop in.  Wamego is a charming little city.  The Oz Museum, which boasts the largest privately owned collection of Wizard of Oz paraphernalia, was worth the drive.  It was fun, especially for someone who grew up watching and re-watching the Wizard of Oz.  (That someone is me).

We had a blast exploring this little bit of Americana, looking at illustrations from the books and learning more about the world created by Frank Baum.  Love it or hate it, the story (especially the 1939 movie) is compelling.

We took pictures with each of the main characters ... Little Miss hated the walk through the forest and loved everything about Glinda (because of the pink).  B-Man and I had fun taking goofy pictures.  The Mr. had fun looking at the early editions of the books.

A seat in the Wizards chair brought the experience to an end ...  

The Oz Museum was the last thing on our Kansas to-do list.  It's not so much as a "to-do" list as it is a "to-visit" list.  We have yet to see a tornado - from a distance, of course.  Maybe we'll take "see a tornado" off our list and watch the Wizard of Oz, instead.  Maybe ...

Lines and other stuff

On Saturday, we waited in a few lines.  

First we waited in line at a gas station.  The line was an hour long, but the food was well worth the wait ...

Then, we waited in line at Union Station.  The line wasn't very long and our camera provided a lot of entertainment:

That line was worth the wait because we were able to meet Santa, walk through a train and see his sleigh and reindeer,too:

Wanna know the best part?  Everything, but the food, was FREE (even the parking).  

Actually, the best part is probably the memories that make us jump for joy and act like silly reindeer.

Before heading home, we explored a fun store where we found a chair fit for a favorite uncle and a wall on which to climb ... There were lines there, too, but we avoided those.  They just weren't worth the wait.  We didn't wait in lines, but the Mr. did find another favorite store.  

Here's some other stuff ... This is the newest favorite picture of two of my favorite people.  This was taken before we pulled out of our driveway.  (Little Miss has what she calls a "lemon" in her hand, but it's actually a clementine - she's eating fruit!!) ...

Also, here's another picture of our little family in front of our favorite Kansas City destination.  I am absolutely in love with these three people!

4 more days 'til Christmas!!

We didn't look at all the trees

The other day, Little Miss and I, plus a few of our friends, went to the Festival of Trees.

She and I made 3 rounds through the tree display, but she only stopped if the tree before her was pink or purple.  So, if you ask me details about the rest of the display, I honestly can't convey much.  What we did see was lovely.

Little Miss saw this "hungo" and asked if she could photograph it, so I let her.  

I held the camera, she aimed and pressed the button:

I would have liked to capture more pictures of her looking into the camera.  

She did so once and this is what happened; afterward, she refused to look into the camera again:

At the end of the day, I unbraided her hair and oh man ... Just look how long (and big) her hair is!

I love her personality.  Part of me wishes she would display her rambunctiousness among strangers, but I love that she reserves that side for those she knows well - it's like our own little treasure.  She is so sweet (and judging from her smile ... slightly mischievous).

The Farm

 Today, I went on a field trip with B's class.  When the buses arrived ...

We separated into groups and took some silly pictures (okay, so just my group and B's good friend).

Next we toured the barn/store, the group got to see a conveyor belt/apple sorter at work.

The tour included a chance to stand in the freezer ...

As we left, we were given a taste of apple cider slushes (delightful - they make their own cider) ... One of the boys suggested they offer a toast.

Boy:  "Hey!  We should toast!"

Other boys:  "Okay!"

All boys involved and a few girls, touching their glasses together and simultaneously yelling:  "Toast!"

When we left the barn/store, we headed over to the pumpkin patch.  I can honestly say I'd never done that - i.e. picked a pumpkin out of a farm patch (don't judge).  When we found the "perfect" pumpkins, B and I photographed each other.  I was a little more enthusiastic.  

Me:  "B, say pumpkin!!"

B, sullenly (think Eeyore):  "Okay ... puumpkiin."

My picture was taken after B's and his "moment" had faded by then.  Puumpkiin ...

After 20 minutes, or so, in the patch, we headed over for a hayrack ride.  (The coolest part of the ride?  I found a new variety of apple I want to try - the color of its skin is a deep, deep purple, almost black ... I tried to take a picture.  The orchard owners are going to harvest them next week ... I'm excited!)

Before returning to school, we took the obligatory class picture.

The fieldtrip was fun.  B's smile after he boarded the bus sums up this excursion quite nicely ...

The Elevator Shaft

Today was a fun day.  We went to a building site.  The only part we could see (that was above ground) was the elevator shaft.  So what, right? ... It's not just any elevator shaft.  It will belong to a very special building.  One that invokes excitement, even in our children.  

As I was taking this picture, the kids were yelling:  Temple!!

The elevator shaft and foundation will be added upon until it looks like this.  We're so excited!

We came because a member of our local congregation (our Ward) thought it would be fun to show our appreciation for the construction workers by bringing them lunch.  She organized it and a few of us helped.  We're not trained carpenters, plumbers, pavers or electricians, but we can organize a meal for 30 + construction workers.

Image captured by a friend

While waiting for lunch to begin, we walked around the site ...

B came prepared with his hard hat and tool belt.  One of the carpenters (Pepper is his name - yeah, that's right: Pepper), gifted him nails and a carpenters' pencil.  B was literally beaming.  I was, too.  Pepper also let him hold his hammer and tape measure.  

We drove over an hour to the temple site, but it was worth it because our children got to feel the excitement of a temple being built so close to where we live.   Temples are about our family; they're about our children.  Seeing the plans (we got to see them!) and imagining the future made this day great.  Seeing B-Man and Little Miss so excited made it close to perfect.

The Pumpkin Patch

I thought it would be cute to capture a photograph of Little Miss in front of this sign.  

She was more interested in the activities to her right ...

Going up ...

Coming Down ...

Climbing Up ...

Riding a train ...

And, of course, the hay rack ride ...

There were pumpkins, but she didn't care about the orange colored gourds.  

Maybe it's because the first one we saw at the Patch was enough pumpkin for her.  Or maybe, just maybe ... 

It's more fun to play.