T-Rex Cafe

One of the girls at work suggested T-Rex Cafe while in Kansas City. I checked it out online and made reservations for lunch there the Sunday after Worlds of Fun with the family. It was part of Tyler's birthday present. All the boys enjoyed it and there was so much to look at. Owen was a bit timid at first entering the restaurant but soon warmed up to the idea after he discovered T-Rex was not going to "eat" him. They have huge aquariums and animated dinosaurs, mammoths, underwater creatures, etc. It most definitely was an adventure and I am sure glad we stopped to visit. Oh, and the food was delicious!!

Worlds of Fun - Family Vacation 2009

For the past several months, Dustin's mom has talked about taking a "family" vacation to Kansas City this year. Bert and Joe (Dustin's mom and step-dad), Aunt Debbie, Cousins Rachelle, Mason, Jayden, and Dawn, and the Mullen Clan drove to Kansas City on a Friday evening and spent the night. The next day began with breakfast at Waffle House (meeting up with Dustin's brother, Tommy, the night before). We started the morning with the family picture... ...then came the rides. Immediately it was off to ride the Patriot. After that I took Owen over to Snoopy Camp and he rode and rode and rode... ...afterwards, all of us stumbled into this "indoor" netted building (much like the playgrounds outside McDonalds or Burger King). What a blast...they had these contraptions (compressed air guns) that shoot plastic balls at what ever target you have in mind. The adults got in on the action and personally, I think they enjoyed it just as much as the kids. What fun it was to watch them. I told Dustin that would be perfect to have in our backyard, even when the boys are older. Well, the day continued, full of rides, walking, waiting, and more rides. It was a blast!! Dustin and I left early, I had a headache brewing, and the boys continued to ride more rides into the night. Tyler and Austin had a blast on the roller coasters and I don't think that they could get enough. Rachelle, Mayson, and Jayden were the first of the family to dare the Rip Cord, then Dustin and Tommy somehow talked Bert into it. Over 180 foot drop - then swing above everyone. It was something to see for sure.
All in all, the everyone slept well that night and were refreshed enough to go home the next day. Thank you mom, Joe, grandma, and Aunt Debbie for an awesome time and memories that will last a lifetime!

Camping - 2009

Well, one weekend we decided to break out the tent and camping supplies and head to Cheney with the jet ski. It has been over nine years since we have been camping with just a tent and supplies and the last time that we did go we didn't have three boys to mind to.
We arrived Friday evening to high winds. Sustained atleast at 15-20 with gusts upto 30-40. Nothing like a good Kansas windy day. We came upon our neighbors from home by surprise and camed next to them. The boys enjoyed playing with Blake and Parker. We set camp and got the boys fed. We enjoyed a very windy evening and night on the lake edge.
The next morning we played frisbee while trying to decide what to do for the day (since it was so windy). The boys later combed the beach and found shells and threw rocks in the lake.


We finally decided to pack all up and head home as the white caps at 10am in the morning indicated a rough day for the jet ski.

4th of July 2009

We celebrated 4th of July by spending the afternoon over at Butch and Debbie's. Much like most other weekends, time was spent in the pool. We came back home and enjoyed the fireworks to ourselves. The boys got 20 or so parachute men and spent a good hour chasing the "little" men.

Later we shot off the colorful fireworks and watched as the neighborhood gave us a beautiful show to watch. Every direction from our driveway, we saw mortors being shot high above the rooftops and trees. Absolutely beautiful (and cheap)!!

Owen's 5th Birthday - June 2009

My baby "O" has turned five!! It's unbelievable that he is five. Wasn't all that long ago that we were welcoming home from Wesley Hospital.


A big day was on tap to celebrate Owen's birthday. We decided to have a pool party at Uncle Butch and Aunt Debbie's house. Owen has been into Transformers for some time now and with the fast approaching new release of Transformers 2 (movie), it was more important than ever that there be a Transformers' theme. Owen did great and fun was had by all.

WOW!!

Really it has been a long time. Sorry to not keep all of you updated. We have been having a busy, busy summer. It won't be long before school starts again. Tyler and Austin start school the 17th and Owen begins on the 19th. Owen will be joining his brothers in all-day school finally this year. Unbelievable!!!

I have posted highlights of our summer above. Enjoy!!

Happy Memorial Day!!

Wishing all a Happy Memorial Day and hoping that everyone enjoys the BBQs, lakes, pools, etc. We on the other hand took it easy this weekend. Dustin has been fishing several times waiting to catch something...well anything; he keeps getting skunked (been to Watson, Buffalo, and the Arkansas). Neighbors went to the lake but we decided not to go...they said that the Cheney was under water at Cabin Cove and the water was nasty!! We took the boys and Bert to the drive-in last night. Saw Night at the Museum 2 and stayed for Wolverine. Tyler and Austin really wanted to see Wolverine but fell asleep ten minutes into it. I am not really into the whole X-men movies but this one was actually pretty good. Maybe I do need to watch the rest of them.

Thought I would take a moment and reflect on the past couple months as it has been some time since my last post....

...I have been working at Hanger for the past seven weeks. Enjoy what I do, get bored at times but love the part of having a life again. Go in at 8am, take an hour lunch and gone at 5pm. No being on call or being responsible for anyone else other than myself and my job.

Back in April, Dustin and I took Owen to the Monster Truck Rally at the new Hartman Arena (Park City). Owen had a blast and was "big-eyed" the whole time. They raced the six trucks and lots of motorcycle races (teenagers down to the guys not too much older than Owen himself).





Owen went to the zoo with his class. He continues even today to tell everyone what all he saw. Here is a picture that just came home last week...

Tyler and Austin have recently been on field trips to the zoo this past month. All of the boys went before the new tiger exhibit opened. Will have to plan a family outing this summer or fall to visit. Several years ago, I was really down on our zoo - think that I had been there so much with the school that I was just sick of it. But I have realized that we here in Kansas (Wichita of all places) have been blessed with an outstanding zoo that continues to grow and grow. They have just opened the tiger exhibit and are already speaking of a panda exhibit!! How exciting!!Anyway...

We have gotten lots of rain lately. But the week before Mother's Day, I planted the garden. Tyler helped some what. Dustin helped weed the garden first before planting. I planted cabbage (we'll see what happens), onions, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, indian corn (from grandma eklund), and flowers. We all went to Tree Top Nursery that weekend (never had been there before). It was huge. Definetly a place that Dustin and I need to go without all the boys. We picked up tomoto and pepper plants. Dustin then found a peanut plant for the heck of it. Everything is now planted and the flowers have been potted. The yard turned out great this year; nice, thick and lush (like carpet and lovin' it)!!

Owen's last day of class was last Friday!! He is now officially a Kindergartener!! Unbelievable - he made it through and he is getting so big!! Tyler and Austin's last day will be this Thursday.