Paranormal Weekend

When Mike and I started talking about getting away for Spring Break in March, he recalled an Expedia advertisement for a haunted winery in Missouri which also happened to be featured on Ghost Hunters a few years back.  He knew it'd be right up my alley.

I checked out the website and learned they offer Paranormal Investigations.  

OMG!

I went straight to the "Book My Investigation" link to learn they were completely booked until June.  Although bummed for Spring Break, we booked tickets for June.  I decided then and there, this NEEDED to be on my bucket list... along with a visit to a Medium, but that's for another day.

Once at the winery (4 hours early), we ran into a couple young ladies who frequently visited the haunted property.  When they learned we had tickets to the paranormal investigation, they offered to sneak us into some of the buildings early.  This was strictly frowned upon by management, but we were living on the edge.

This room was totally dark.  The only reason it looks bright is the flash from my camera.

The blood tub.

I'd never seen so many busted toilets in my life.

Again, I was shooting my camera into darkness hoping for a shadow, an orb, a figure- anything!

In the below shot, Mike is standing in front of a bathroom known to be guarded by "an aggressive man spirit."  It's in the old morgue.

I took my chances and joined him by the 'aggressive man' bathroom.

What's that on his leg?  

I have no clue?

On our private preview tour, we heard something scattering away in the old hospital (like a coon running off).  Other than that, although creepy and gross, was quiet.

So we went for snacks to await our 8:00-1:00 am. appointment with the paranormal.

We also had drinks with our snacks... clearly.

Our first hour was spent in the old children orphanage.  We used paranormal tools and some words and flashlights seriously responded to questions we asked. 

I was a confident believer after about 30 seconds of the investigation.

However, Mike was a skeptic and I was fine with that.  

That fact that he took me on a ghost adventure that was clearly 'right up my alley' - and not his...

was like honey to my soul.

Do you see something down this hall??

While sipping coffee at Duncan Donuts the next morning waiting for our bowels to wake, we contemplated what to do that day.  Granted, it was already noon.  There was some abandoned ship exhibit, an old bank that was robbed in the 1800's, downtown Kansas City shopping...that's when I spied it.  A Zipline and Tree Top Obstacle Course in Kansas City!  The next opening was at 1:30- we could be there to get harnessed in by 1:00 if we left immediately.
So off we went...

Again, not EXACTLY what Mike had in mind, but Good Lord, was it awesome!  I'd never regretted NOT wearing a sportsbra so much in my life.  It was hot.  It was scary, it was challenging, my heart raced with fear and exhaustion.  I was covered with mulch.  I wish I'd had photos, but I wasn't about to take my phone with me. So I'll keep the visual memories safely tucked away in my mind and encourage anyone with the opportunity to do a GoApe Adventure any chance you can.

We lived the rest of the weekend up with fancy drinks, charcuterie plates, international cheeses and balsamic glazes.

And when we were tired of ordering fancy dishes, we swung through the Walmart Cheese Section for bedtime snacks.

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The next morning was filled with 'Dressing my Ken Doll' at Kohls.  

This is the life folks. 

If you even KNEW how much Kohls Cash I have right now...

But yet again, none of our adventures are complete without the knowledge that our perfect adventure is awaiting us in a shady home with a black dog on Hickory Ridge Road.

Marriage- 

An Endless Sleepover with your Favorite Weirdo

Summer is HERE!

Summer has arrived and we've come to the conclusion that at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling...

Seriously, whose child is this?

And as the sun goes down and the stars pop out, what little boy wouldn't want to drive a tractor with his daddy?

Pretty sure Jay has a crush on one of Maisie best buds, Grace.

I'm not offering a kids cooking camp this summer; yet somehow my kids are picking the techniques up quickly.

I've said it once and I'll say it again, 

this man is HOT!

Literally.

And pulling off this surprise celebration will be a memory tattooed on the softest spot of my heart forever.

Bring on Summer!

Good golly.  Somehow or another, summer break has once again arrived.
This Mama still has 2 days of professional development left, but the kids have been done since Friday.
This photo was taken last Friday.  Mack was annoyed.  Ross was being a bully.  I was getting pissed. Molly's backpack zipper is busted so she's been 'making it work' with her hip and arm.  I didn't realize until later Jay wore a hole through the bottom of his shoe and he was practically wearing socks to school.  Molly is wearing the same shorts Maisie wore on the first day of school last fall.  Both girls are wearing matching shirts.  I'm somewhat oblivious, but it's working just fine.

Jay has discovered water fights.  He's more adventurous than Mack in regards to water and skin exposure.

I should probably look into some water guns instead of relying on the Gatorade bottles.

And then came the beach.  

When the temps dipped into the 100's last weekend, I knew these kids needed a little nature.

Jay held onto me like a baby monkey as I walked him into the water for the first time, scared to dip even his toes.

But before we knew it, he was comfortable as a minnow.

Mack and Ross took off on kayaks, so they were occupied for as long as their rowing could last.

I'm honestly wondering if the couple in the background were getting engaged?

Regardless, it was a standard public beach.  A little skanky and a dead fish and band-aid floating around in the area to the left.

And everyone knows swimming makes you 'starved', so I had a cooler packed with 9 peanut butter sandwiches, 5 single servings of beef jerky, 1 cup almonds, 9 Capri Suns, 12 waters, a jar of cocktail pickles, a jar of green and can of black olives and 8 string cheeses.

After 2 hours, it was gone.

Whatever.

Oh, and guess who just got accepted into grad school at Eastern Illinois University this fall?  

So Easy To Miss

As we inch closer and closer to another summer, I realize my kids are inching closer and closer OUT of childhood.  

Aside from the huge ball that thought puts in my throat, I can literally feel God screaming at me to Soak This Up!  

Before long, we'll be looking at colleges and putting down payments on apartments.  

As much as that thought makes me want to vomit, I've put my trust in God and have decided to live-it-up with my babes while I have them.  

I don't have a picture of Ross swinging the bat or catching a ball at this nail-biter against the top-rated Winterset team, (because honestly,  I was busy biting my nails).  

But I have this photo of him 'on deck'.

It's as good as it gets right now.

I'm trying harder to be present.

And the things we take for granted?  

Don't even get me started.

Jayson went to his FIRST friend birthday party Saturday afternoon.

Ever.

And this little thing has been stealing my heart with her imagination these days.  

The bun, the shoes, the baby, the purse...the creeper van in the reflection of the door...so many scenarios!

There are days I miss a concrete street...

But watching my little guy with a dandelion for the first time; 

or discovering his shadow; 

Seriously, the things we take for granted...

Mother's Day Eve

On the eve of my 12th Mothers Day I can't help but reflect on where this life has led me.

If a persons center console is a reflection of their lifestyle, I'd have to agree with that.  Therefore, this is the current status of my lifestyle.

• not just one, but TWO rescue bots
• a random ceramic art bowl
• a pencil with a broken tip (so it won't write)
• Jay's bean seed he sprouted in library is in the ziplock bag on the right
• Coffee.   There will ALWAYS be coffee.  And in a mug.  I hate coffee 'not in a mug'
• a Tow Truck in a box kit, which was ultra-handy several times this winter.
• a water bottle near my feet
• a container of empty hand sanitizer
• a Fareway receipt stained with lipstick from blotting my lips on the way to school each day
• Mollys baseball AND soccer gear front and center
• Jays lego kit for entertainment at Ross' games

And that's the front row. 

I have 3.

I have a daredevil proving to be the spitting image of her older brother.  

Daring, funny, sometimes too honest, stubborn, smart, fun and irresistible.

Pretty sure we've got our work cut our for us.

Today was also the day of Jay's first playdate.  

Ever.  

Like 'in his entire life'.

So here he is with Maisie's friend and Moo.

His friend was playing with Maisie.

Naturally.

Clearly, it was a ridiculously fun playdate at our house today.

I offered Casey's Pizza, but they preferred I make Fettuccini Alfredo.

Whatever.

So on this Mother's Day Eve, I'm giving thanks for the lifestyle, the awkwardness, the friends, the support, the health and mostly, 

the Grace.

Marshmallows

Last weekend our littlest Boyd celebrated his first American Birthday. We didn't make a fuss, yet don't underestimate the significance of this milestone celebration for a second.  It was the first day of the year that actually FELT like spring. He couldn't find his suit, so the girls dressed him in a Mermaid short set for the first sprinkler run of the year.  He's  in love with Lego Juniors, Rescue Bots his Maisie and his Mama.

2 years ago I had no idea how badly our family needed this little guy.  Today, I can't imagine our lives without him.  

He's the marshmallow to our S'more.

Oceans Lead Me

Concrete, and other things

Crete's poured.

Next up... Landscaping.

And who's this cutie about to celebrate his first American birthday Sunday!?

Can you tell nobody want's to sit in the back seat alone?

In school news, students are competing in a Grilled Cheese Competition.  

The description of this one cracked me up.

And Ross had his 6th grade science fair.

I have zero idea whats going on with the fake bulge in his shorts as he sits by his oral bacterial poster.

Yep, this is our life right now.

And Molly's in soccer.  If you close your eyes real hard you can probably imagine what it's like.

There are no words.

And baseball...

Jay had his neurological and endocrinological appointment at Blank Children's Hospital Wednesday.

He nailed it and walked away with flying colors.

Meanwhile, the Child Life employees were a Godsend (and a career option I will be advocating for in my Child Development classes).

Humanity in this world continues to amaze me...