A crazy day at the K

This is how our Sunday started out.  Full bed and full hearts.  We had a busy Saturday after going to the KC cares walk through Childrens mercy hospital in the morning (and McAlister's for lunch- my new obsession!) and then had Jimmy's friends and their families over Saturday night.  So everyone "slept in" until 7 and it was truly glorious!!

We went to church and on the way home, Jimmy said- what do you think about going to the Royal's game today? Weather is perfect.

Ok - here's the deal.  Brittany two years ago wouldnt even have considered that crazy talk.  Like wait- you want to PAY money to go somewhere with three kid AND skip naps? Not going to lie, that was the first thought that came to my head.  But I didn't immediately respond.  I just kind of sat there thinking.

Thinking about how we haven't really gotten out of the house much as a family yet (I mean I know Mikey's only 1 month old...so that's normal) and really it's been because it's been SO hot and humid in KC.  But Maddie and Charlie have taken it in stride and really been very good being in the house most of the time.  We are always sticking to our schedule and never skip naps.  Never.  

So I kicked my initial "absolutely not" out of my head--- and turned to jimmy and said "yeah, let's do it".  The look on his face when I said that was priceless.  We hurried home, got everyone dressed in royals (or ku or KC- because of course that was a battle), packed lunch for the car, bought tickets online, packed our bag and were off to the K!!

I decided to carry Mikey as I knew taking his car seat and big stroller would likely be a little inhibiting trying to get through people and up to our seats- so we decided on the umbrella stroller for Maddie and the ergo for big Mike.  Charlie had to walk - which he protested to at first but then we told him only big kids get to do that.  Haha.  They look so thrilled.

We met Jimmy's brother's (three of them that were there also) before the game to see the cousins and hang out a bit.  Charlie and Maddie were ancy to get in the stadium to each some COTTON CANDY!  In the mean time, Mikey was not too happy in the Ergo and then I quickly figured out why....when he puked all over me.  That was fun :)  Luckily I had a change of clothes for him - not so much for me.  Haha.  So I got to smell spit up the whole time, but at least he wasn't upset!

When we finally made it to our seats, we found the perfect spot to the side where we were all alone and there was some shade.  Kids got their first treat (cotton candy) and were satisfied. When that was done, they had a chance to roam the area and put down about every seat.  In the mean time, Mikey and I enjoyed the views and some nursing time.

Oh Pot Roast miss pickle bottom (BTW this is her brother's shirt...they are the same size - 4T!)

When they started to get restless, off to the bathroom dad and the big kids went and then got the second treat - popcorn!  Yum!  

Annnndddd - of course we had to take a family selfie!

(PS I just love Charlie in his hat. So much!)

Mikey was so good hanging out and there was a nice breeze.  Slowly the sun started creeping into where we had found some shade though (bummer!) and I had to pee and Charlie kept asking when he could go play with Slugger.  So off we went to the bathroom first.  I could smell Mikey's diaper...but he was completely unphased getting changed.  It was hilarious - peaced out the WHOLE time I was changing him (it was a 4 wipe poop).  People were commenting on how funny it was!

What might have been funnier - was if people would have seen me going pee in the bathroom with Mikey in one hand ;)

Charlie, Mikey and I made it over to the kid's section at the K.  Maddie on the other hand - was not too happy.  No nap for Maddie is not pretty let's just say.  Jimmy said he spent 10 minutes with her right outside the elevator as she was completely flailing and SO strong and he couldn't get her to calm down.  So he just sat there while she through a fit on the floor and then he finally got her in the stroller - then she wouldn't let him push her.  

BUTTTTT - they did finally make it over.  In the mean time, it was complete CHAOS in the kid's area of the K.  Charlie really wanted to get in the fountains they have in that area.  However, the lady behind us in line when we were waiting to get in the stadium told me that 2 years ago they brought their 2 and 4 year old here, let them play in the fountains and they got hand foot mouth.  So yes - my kids were not going into that fountain to play, sorry.  Charlie did play on the playground for awhile and loved it, but there were SO many kids everywhere.  We ran into two of Jimmy's brothers and hung with them for a little bit.  When Maddie and Jimmy found us, Maddie was so tired but demanded on playing with Charlie on the playground.  After about 5 minutes, not sure if Jimmy and I were just tired or paranoid about losing a child -but we pulled the plug.  The Royal's were up anyways and it was the 7th inning.

However, Charlie wasn't about to forget his third and final treat - he wanted some ice cream but I'm not kidding when I say the line to the Belfonte place was literally at least an hour long.  So dippin dots for the win (luckily we had a bit of cash left)!  Maddie was satisfied with fruit snacks (thank goodness).

When we were leaving - you could tell it was time to go.  However, Charlie was SO slow and we were SO far away from our car.  I am not kidding that at the moment I thought to myself, God help us - Bobby, Hillary and Jay showed up right behind us (Love that Jay and Mikey got to go to their first Royal's game at the same time!)!!  And Uncle Bobby to the rescue because he swooped Charlie up and put him on his shoulders.  Which is pretty awesome in general - but when you're 6ft 9in - that makes a shoulder ride like the best thing ever (Charlie was pumped!).  And then - just like that a guy in a golf cart shows up and offers to drive us to our car - OMG - lifesaver.  So seriously, that was not a coincidence - because while we had fun, I'm not going to lie that we were all exhausted and just so ready to get to the car.

And in about 5 minutes, this is what our back seat looked like.

Jimmy and I were both starving though because we didn't really eat, so we enjoyed some quiet "date" time and made a stop at Quik Trip for some tea, taquitos, a hot dog and shared a pretzel.  Now that's love.  Mikey started crying about half way to QT (which was right by our house), but the big kids stayed asleep somehow and I snuck him out of his car seat and fed him while Jimmy got our snacks. 

And then being the mom ninja I am, I went through the back and got Mikey back in his car seat (while asleep - after he ate), without waking him or the big kids up.  Seriously #parentingwin right there.

Once we got home, the skipped naps were showing their ugly head.  Charlie was crying for no reason (aka tired) and Maddie was literally off the walls.  However, nothing the fuf and a movie can't fix.  And then after a delicious dinner of cereal (two kinds for them of course), it was time for baths and bed at 6:45. 

Everyone slept like a champ (well, Mikey not so much because he slept most of the day!), but overall, I went to bed and I was just so happy in my heart.  Was the day long and tough?  Yes.  Were there moments that Jimmy and I were both frustrated?  Absolutely.  However, I'm so glad that we said "yes" because it was overall a fun day and a memory we will never ever forget.  

As we were going to sleep, I was asking Jimmy if he thought I had changed in the last few years.  And he said I was absolutely almost a different person from when we got married - in a good way.  I was so much more laid back, went with the flow more than ever and he's loving every second of it.  And I told him that I felt the same way.  It's weird because the more kiddos and chaos we add to our family, the more relaxed I feel like I'm forced to be because honestly, there is just not the time or energy to stress about all the little things.  Go with the flow (to an extent) has turned out to be a lot more fun and enjoyable.  Yes, I still have meal plans, lists, schedules, etc.  I'm still a little crazy about things (like - it's non-negotiable to me that the kitchen as to be clean at night - the floors/toys...not so much a must for me anymore!).  You won't see me giving up my calendar (or calendars) anytime soon - but I'm loving the person and mom and wife I'm becoming.  It's amazing how you are constantly changing as a person and I'm so thankful that my kiddos are making me better each day.  A little more crazy and throw in some gray hair popping through- but better in the long run for sure!!!!

Friday is here!

I'm so excited but seriously - how is it the kick off of Memorial Day weekend and the "official" kick off to summer ALREADY?  Looking back, I have NO idea where the first 5 months of the year have gone.  

My kids have gotten bigger....I have gotten bigger (belly pics to prove it)...and somehow we are almost to the month of June.  Which means a few things:

1. It's SUMMER

2. My sister is getting married in ONE WEEK

3. I'm having a baby in 8 WEEKS

Holy cow to all of those things!

{ONE}

Ok, does anyone else feel like their kids are ALWAYS getting injured?  Or is that just us?  Or maybe just me (because it seems to happen on my watch)....

Jimmy was out of town for 6 days - he came home for like a 4 hour stay on Sunday and then left again for a work trip - and on Monday night by poor Maddie was running with a random glass snowman (who knows why that was out) to show my dad and tripped and fell with it in her hand.  Seriously my worst nightmare.  Glass went flying, she was screaming.  Thank God my parents were over and my mom took screaming Maddie and stopped the bleeding on her upper lift that was cut open and my dad helped keep Charlie away while I picked up all the glass.  The scariest part was when I went to go comfort her and make sure there was no glass in her hands and she unballed her fists and there was a huge cut down the vein in her wrist and on her thumb.  AHHH!  We got it to stop bleeding (thankfully no stitches) but still.  I felt terrible.  She was feeling better though (thank goodness)!

(check out her sweet nose cut - it was worse than the pic looks - at least she still wanted to take fun selfies!)

Then after Jimmy got home...Charlie was getting out of the bath and I was folding laundry on the floor in his room literally RIGHT next to him.  I thought his towel was on the ground...well it wasn't and it was on the hook.  He went to pull it and randomly the hook came out of the wall, he started screaming, I go in there (like 2 ft from where I was sitting) and the hook landed RIGHT on his second toe and it looked like it almost cut it off (I thought it had with the amount of blood).  Thankfully it was just a huge cut and we got the bleeding to stop...so calming him my letting him watch a show on our phone and a ninja turtle band aid he was good but limped for a few days.

So yeah, I of course felt like just the worst.  Should I just wrap them up in bubble wrap!?  I want to!

{TWO}

I talked a bit about some nursery progress on my last baby bump post - but we have another exciting project in the kitchen (I asked for your help on wood vs. white cabinets) and I think we've made some progress.  We are going to paint them (!!!) and getting a little crazy, going to paint the island a different color - some sort of aqua.  Our realtor is amazing and redesigns houses and came over with some great suggestions and paint samples and she asked what fun color....so when the painter came over today, he loved it too.  I'm excited to add a little bit of personality to the kitchen through the kitchen island!  Now for the fun part - emptying the cabinets! Ha!

I love this kitchen I found on Pinterest (although our cabinets won't be quite as white because we have off-white trim everywhere).  We will have some accents too in our glass cabinets.  

Source

{THREE}

Going to a memorial day BBQ?  I tried out this recipe that I just got from a delish video (saw it on Facebook a few week ago) and it turned out so pretty and so yummy!  Who doesn't love bacon either?  If you are looking for something different and delicious....try it out!  I just followed the video (while no specific measurements) and it turned out awesome!



My finished version:

Super fancy, huh?  Well that and super easy and delicious!

{FOUR}

Since it's kicking off summer officially - here are a few "signs of summer" from our house lately.

Popsicle's and no shirts are the best combo!

Wagon adventures with big cousins are SO.MUCH.FUN.  They went all over with Ben and Kenlie while in the wagon at Grana and Pop's.  Seriously, big cousins are the best.

More selfies....

..and more Popsicle's....

And gorgeous peonies from my mother-in-law's garden!

Oh and running in the sprinklers (we've already done this twice!  YEAH!)

However, if you follow me on IG, you know the video of Maddie FREAKING out when she actually got hit by water.  She sat the rest of the time on dad's laugh.  It was hilariously sad :)

{FIVE}

Finally, almost to the ONE WEEK countdown until my sister's wedding.  I'm starting to write my speech and OMG - let's just say I am a freaking crying mess every time I start write something or add something or think of something new.  Little sister getting married in general + 32 weeks pregnant = a speech that I can't make it through without bawling.  Lord help us.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!  It's finally almost here! #foreveraburden

Happy Friday!

Linking up with:

Sept Farm | Oh hey Friday!

A. Liz Adventures | Five on Friday

Momfessionals | Friday Favorites 

Carter Lake Trip #6: 2015

Ok while I catch up - I'm trying to do it in order.  So we are almost done with July. 

July was BUSY.  August was not as busy.  So I'm almost caught up.

The second week of July, we were off to Table Rock Lake for our bi-annual Carter family lake trip.  We have been thinking/planning this trip for over a year.  When I was in the hospital with Maddie right after she was born, I literally said to Jimmy how crazy it is to think that in a year we were going to be heading to the lake with his family with a ONE and THREE year old.  I feel like that was yesterday.  Crazy how time flies.

This year was a little different than all the past trips.  Previously, we rented 2, 3 bedroom condos right next to each other at Stillwaters Resort on Indian Point from Thursday to Monday.  It was great and the pool was even better.  However, it was hard as the kids got older and bigger (my nieces and nephews) because we were running out of space.  Plus you always had to go in and out to go between condos.  So two years ago, the search began for a place that could fit all 23 of us.  Yes - 23 people in Jimmy's immediate family.  And still growing.  HA!

An amazing 6 bedroom condo was found and booked, but you have to book for a full week.  So that meant more time together and more fun at the lake!!!  More days + more people in our family this year meant LOTS of luggage.  And luckily, some sleeping in the car for our kiddos.

The first task of every Carter lake trip?  Go to Walmart with a HUGE list and spend lots of money for food for all these people for a week.   Pretty much my sister in laws are the best people to travel with because they are SO organized and plan the week of meals and make lists.  Usually in my little family, I am the one that has to do that, so it's nice to just follow along sometimes and help shop!!!

The condo was great.  However, our kiddos DO NOT sleep in.  So when you are in one space with everyone, the downside is that when your kids wake up, you are trying to constantly keep them quiet so they don't wake everyone else up.  This was an everyday thing and I felt so bad the whole trip!!

The first day though, Charlie was up and couldn't WAIT to see the lake.  Our condos were called "treehouse condos" and they sure were.  SO high up and a great view, but that made for a long walk down to the actual lake.  Charlie and I went exploring to find the lake.  But it was MUCH farther than we thought.  But we still had fun. 

The lake was really high.  Like so high it covered the entrance to the dock.  It was crazy.

But so stinking peaceful.  I love the mornings on the lake.

Right after this on the walk back up, he asked me to carry him on my back all the way up.  Needless to say, I was SOOOOO sweaty because the hills were steep and the temperatures were HIGH.

In addition to my wonderful SILs planning the food, we had a daily schedule...which meant full day 1 was to head to Silver Dollar City in the afternoon.  

Let me just put this out there as a reminder to myself and all of you looking at these pictures: IT WAS HOT.  LIKE SO HOT ALL WEEK.  So please keep that in mind as you look at us constantly sweating.  Haha.

 

We went on the train.  And these two fought over chips.  I love them.

She was POOPED.  

But the next day, we headed bright and early back to SDC, hoping to beat some of the heat and check out more of the park (we didn't stay that long the previous evening).

And then they fell asleep again.  Get the theme of this vacation?

This was one of the rare mornings that Charlie was not up before the sun.  He slept on a twin air mattress next to our bed.  Luckily , there was an amazing walk in closet that fit Maddie's pack n play just perfect - so there was a little bit of separation when/if she woke up crying.  And lots of white noise.

There were lots of man tank tops.

And LOTS more cousin fun times.  They were playing "all hail King Charlie" in this picture.  I swear they just spoil him and Maddie.

There was also lots of good memories made.  Jimmy's grandma makes up one of the 23 travelers.  She will be 90 soon and is pretty much the most amazing and FUN woman that I know.  We are so lucky to have her along for the fun.  While she avoids the heat of the attractions and stayed inside watching HGTV all day, I had a lot of fun with her when we had to go home because our kiddos were napping.  So she and I sat and drank beer and watched Fixer Upper.  My kind of vacay!!

Tuesday was lake day.  We rented a boat all day at a dock just down the road from where we were staying.  Let's just say the good thing about doing this trip every 2 years and having kids every 2 years is that I know almost exactly what to expect from a one year old.  And a one year old on a dock?  Yeah - I didn't have high expectations.  The girls stayed at the swim dock in the morning and all the kids and guys went on the boat.  Maddie wanted nothing to do with the lake water  - so luckily I had been smart and brought our amazing gate.  This gate.  I love it.

We hung out together in her "cage" and I didn't have to chase her around scared she was going to fall into the lake.  It was perfect!  I also had a few beers...which made it fun for mom too.  

And because I was shaking it, she started shaking it to Aunt Shellie's music!!!

And then she was POOPED.  Sweet sweet girl.  I wish I could do this everyday with her.

The next day we headed to the water park that is in Branson.  I was hesitant at first because I figured it was for older kids - but NOT the case at all.  There was so much stuff for my kids age.  They loved it so much.  Charlie was SO brave and made it seem like such a big boy too - it was crazy.

He found this slide with his cousin Will and went up there with just Will, stood in line, and went down the slide!!  I was so proud.  And then...he wouldn't stop.  He went up and down and up and down.  See his head pop up?

Such a big boy!

Miss Maddie?  Well she was having fun running around too.  I did buy a really cute white hat for her before the trip that actually fit her.  But apparently no one (aka Jimmy) has any idea where it went.  So here we are with her 3-6 month strawberry hat.  Poor girl!

Then right after lunch (before melt down city), I went down the BIG slide with Charlie.  We went in the double tubes two times and he loved it so much.  We had to carry them up tot he top and then he got on top of me and we went FAST.  He wanted to do it over and over again.  So I got Jimmy to join in the fun.  Annnnndddd then this happened.  Hahaha,

Apparently Jimmy said he was "saving Charlie's life".  But if you watch the video, you know that wasn't the case.  Haha.  But now his shoulder is all jacked up.  Oh Jim.

In addition to all the activities, there was lots of down time aka fun times at the condo.  That included pure cousin entertainment.  It is just the best to see how lucky our kids are to have such amazing cousins.  Cousins that truly love them and each other.  No matter the age gap of any of them - they love each other so much.  See how 10 year old Ben is playing with Maddie here?  There was so much fun all around.  

ANNND there was an amazing theater room.  That the kids (especially Charlie) were obsessed with.  I swear they could stay in there all day...or at least he could.  And the mom's liked it a lot after the kids were in bed because we got to watch Real Housewives on the big screen :)

Thursday morning was the TALENT SHOW!!!  There were sign ups (per Maren and Kenlie) throughout the week and Thursday AM was the big show.  

It kicked off with a cousin intro song/dance from the girls.  It was so good!  You could tell they put a lot of time and practice into it.

Then Uncle Mike juggled!

Ben and Eli "flopped" and Kenlie played Uncle Bobby's ukulele.  

Mike and Tim had a stare off.  (apparently that is a talent!)

Charlie showed off his baseball skills and played catch.

Then Will's talent!  He played UNO.  And it was amazing.

I was supposed to change Maddie's diaper as my talent (that was Kenlie's idea!!!), but luckily for all involved, she was napping during the show.

The best part was the end when all the cousins ended the show by singing the Taylor Swift song, Welcome to New York....but the words were "thank you for our trip" to Grana and Pops.  It was amazing!

The rest of Thursday we had originally planned to do another boat day, but then decided it would be fun for everyone just to do their own thing.  So all the families did what they wanted to.  It was nice!!  We went to the Branson Landing.  Walked around the shops and Bass Pro shop and were planning to play on the play ground they have but it was closed!!  Boo.  So instead, we road the cars.  Ha.

Then we went to the newer Buffalo Wild Wings in the landing and oh my goodness it was so good.  I forget how much I love that place.  And better yet?  The game thing they have kept Charlie entertained!

Then we promised Charlie something special if he was a good boy during the trip.  And for the most part he was.  So we went to build a bear and he picked out a ninja turtle (this is the trip that his obsession began because cousin Will had the movie that they watched).

He loved it and got Michelangelo.   And then of course he wanted the weapons to go with it and Jimmy couldn't handle that he wanted Leonardo's swords for Michelangelo.  I mean he was losing it.  I said, just go with it, that's what he wants.  So thank goodness he did.

And Miss Maddie?  Well she was playing with my phone the whole time and then when we left the store, my phone screen was broken and I couldn't see anything.

So these were a few of the pictures that I got after broken phone with my work phone.

What else happened?  We played miniature golf on Thursday evening.  And we took our must have all family picture.  However, we were missing Granny!!  But she was on the trip (as you can see from all the other pictures).  Since we weren't at the same resort, we didn't get the same picture we have done in years past in front of the pool entrance, but it was even better with the waterfall in the background.

Here are all the pictures from the years past!

And we also learned that our kids are WAY too young or WAY too distracted at life to play miniature golf.  It could be because it was way past their bedtime and they had been completely off schedule for like 5 days....but...it was a disaster.  Not a little one.  A big one.  Hole 2, we quit and took them home and put them to sleep.  So maybe next year they will be able to stay up and play with everyone?  But for this time, it was better for everyone for them to go to sleep.

After that on Thursday night and just several nights of little sleep for mom and dad (maybe we stayed up too late and drank too much but still!), we decided to leave a day early that we had planned and skip our final day at SDC and just get home.  We were trying to finish up the playset too.  But it was pretty sad to leave.  We had such a great time with everyone.  Both kids were going through major cousin hangover by the time we got back.

However, the trip home was not uneventful.  Sheesh!  Poor Charlie had to poop after we had stopped for lunch and so we made a pit stop at McDonald's and I took him in to poop and Jimmy/Maddie went through the drive through to get ice cream for us.  Well, Charlie did so good and peed and pooped just like he said he had to.  There was a big bus or vans or kids that had stopped at the same time so the place was insane.  When we were walking out of the bathroom, we stopped right outside it so I could get his shoe back on or something and he put his fingers right were the crack in the door was and then they got smashed.  I'm not going to lie, it was horrible. He screamed, I realized what was happening and I screamed.  Loud.  I felt SO so bad.  Like I should have been watching out for that and stopped it from happening.  Oh man.  Just feel terrible thinking about it - but after crying the whole way home, he finally fell asleep.  And Michelangelo helped!!  

Then for the next 2 days, he cried saying he wanted to play with his cousins.  Sweet boy.  Maddie missed everyone too and so did we!!  It would be fun if we all lived on the same cul-de-sac for sure! (I mean our neighbor's house IS for sale.....)!

But it was another amazing trip in the books.  Everything was great and we loved the accommodations so much.  So blessed to have great in laws that are willing to take us on a wonderful trip like this for some great family time!!!

And who knows what our family (ours and extended) will look like in 2017!  I sure didn't think we would have a one year old tagging along with us in 2015 during the 2013 trip - so we will see right!?!?