Deanna Rose Farmstead

Ever since I have lived in the KC area, I have heard talk of this fabulous little farmstead in the middle of Overland Park, KS from friends & co-workers. In the 14 years that I have lived here I have never been...mainly because we never had a reason to go. Now that we have Mason we were excited to check this place out & see what the hype was all about!

Deanna Rose was a police officer & the first female officer to die in the line of duty in the state of Kansas. The farmstead was renamed in 1985 in her honor & this 12 acre farmstead has kept the "charm of the farm" to children living in the city. 

I grew up on a farm in South Dakota & spent many summers on my grandparents farm bottle-feeding the calves, watching grandpa milk the cows, gathering eggs with my grandma, riding the 4-wheeler & had so much fun. So this little place takes me back to those treasured days & I am so excited to be able to share these experiences with Mason. 

Deanna Rose has so much to offer. While there the kids can bottle feed the baby goats, milk a cow, take a horse drawn wagon ride through the woods, go on a pony ride, feed the ducks & so much more. He is of course too little to be able to do all those things now but that didn't stop him from having a great time while there.

We arrived around noon & loaded up the stroller. It was an overcast day, not too hot, a little humid but overall perfect weather. Cost to enter the farm was $2 for adults - so cheap! I am already liking this place :) 

We spent the next 2 hours checking it all out. I think Mason enjoyed watching all the people rather than the animals but that is ok - his mommy & daddy had fun for him! 

I took him into the baby goat pen & he was fascinated by all the little goats coming up to us. I unfortunately didn't have any food for them so once they figured that out they quickly left us alone.

Next we made our way over to the cows & the calves & then made a pit-stop by the park for his first official turn on the swing. He wasn't quite sure what to think of it & kept trying to bounce up & down in it as if he was in his jumperoo.

After swinging we headed over to the other side of the farmstead where they had the duck pond, chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, another park & a huge sandbox. They had two of these baby goats to pet & feed & I thought they were SO cute:

We had such a good time with our little man & look forward to many future visits to this hidden little treasure in the middle of Overland Park!

Girl's Night Out

Tonight was a much needed girl's night out that has been in the "works" for several months now. This past spring, New Kids on the Block concert tickets went on sale & being the 80's lover that I am, I had to go. If this is sounding all too familiar, it's because I saw NKOTB 2 summers ago with the Backstreet Boys. 

This year they were coming back to KC with 98 Degrees & Boys II Men so I of course had to go again. I knew several girls from the "Game-Night" group would want to go so I sent out a group text & just as I thought, a few of the girls were in. Fast forward 6 months & it is concert time!

We started the evening out by having dinner at BRGR down in the Power & Light District & a round of drinks:

Which led to a celebratory shot:

While there I had a really good burger & shared the Truffle Tater Tots with Melissa which were pretty amazing:

After we all enjoyed our beverages & dinner we walked over to the Sprint Center where we were about to embark on a trip down memory lane:

We had really good seats being in the lower level sitting about 6 rows back from the floor. Melissa was able to capture some great photos during the concert so the ones you are about to see were taken by her & shamelessly "borrowed" by me :) (Thanks Mel)

First up was Boys II Men & unfortunately they only performed for 30 minutes. They sang all their familiar old hits & still looked & sounded as good as they did back in the day!

Next to perform was 98 Degrees which I wasn't too impressed with....other than watching Nick & Drew Lachey :) I didn't care too much for them in the 90's & it was the same during the concert.

Then New Kids on the Block came on last & there was a whole lot of screaming & booty shakin' going on...especially in our row :) 

Michelle & I agreed that Donnie Wahlberg still is & always will be our favorite & after 25 years still has some pretty awesome abs!

Yes - it has been 25 years since they made their first debut & they kept repeating that little fact again & again during the concert. Ugh - as if I didn't feel old enough!?

It was a super, fun night out with these ladies & this Mama is looking forward to doing it again when the whole "game-night" group goes to the Pink concert in November!

"Elite" Gathering

I am so very thankful to be blessed by so many girlfriends in my life! There are the "Game-Night" girls, the "Elite" girls, the "South Carolina" girls, & a whole lot of girlfriends that fall into that "other" category that are just as special! When I am able to get together with any of these ladies it is always sure to be a great time full of hugs, catching up, laughs & usually an alcoholic beverage - or two!

Since Mason came along, time spent with my girlfriends doesn't happen as often as it once did but we always make a point to try & all get together when time allows! It has been a long time since the entire group of "Elite" girlfriends were last seen together - 15 months to be exact - when we all gathered in Destin, FL! 

 My girlfriend Deanna (pictured above) lives in Austin, TX & just so happened to be visiting family in KC this week! So all the girls made it a point to get together for dinner this past weekend at The Cheesecake Factory to catch up & so that Deanna could meet "Destin Babies #1 & #2". Our girlfriend Kari lives in Chicago with Destin Baby #3 so unfortunately she wasn't able to be there but this is as close to the entire group as it gets...babies included! 

We spent the evening passing babies around, eating a dee-lish meal, enjoying a cocktail...for others it was several cocktails :) catching up & there was so much laughter. When you get these girls together there is a lot of craziness & laughter that goes on. 

Mommies & Destin baby #2 - Miss Ava & #1 - Mason

There was even talk of a 2014 Destin Reunion this May which will include the babies! Looking SO forward to that!

After several fun hours with these ladies & lots of picture-taking, it was time to get home & put Mase to bed. He isn't quite the "party animal" like his mama once was so he is usually done for the night around 7:30pm. 

It was SO good getting to see Deanna & my "Elite" ladies! We are looking forward to getting to see these ladies again over the Labor Day weekend when we all gather for our dear friend Deb's wedding in Colorado! Going to be good times!

The bride-2-be & Mason

6 months old

Today Mason you are 6 months old & I find it hard to believe that it has been half a year since you were born! Another month has flown by & again I can't believe how fast the time is going. Everyone told me it would  - I just didn't realize how fast! Those first couple of months of your life are a blur - a distant memory - & as much as I love every new milestone you are making, I long for those days when you were just a few weeks old.

Your Daddy & I were walking out of the store today & a mom walked passed us with her newborn all snuggled in the Moby. We both looked at each other & commented on how we can hardly remember you being that tiny. You continue to amaze us with how big you are getting, all that you are learning & how you are becoming quite the handsome little boy!

Weight: As of last week, you weighed 18.5 lbs at the Dr's office. You have your official 6 mos appointment in a couple of weeks so we will get all your stats then. Not looking forward to another round of shots but am looking forward to seeing your height/weight & percentiles!

You are still wearing 6 mos clothing but they are slowly getting more & more snug :( I have a feeling that in another month we will be moving up to the 9 mos clothing. You continue to wear size 3 diapers & should be in those for awhile as they are still a tad too big on you.

Sleeping: You are still a great nap-taker! You continue to take a morning nap, a long early afternoon nap & another late afternoon nap! Our bedtime routine starts around 7pm consisting of a bath (every other night), story-time, a bottle then bed-time. I have gotten into the habit of laying in our bed with you & snuggling when it is time to go to sleep. I will rub your little back & you usually fall asleep within minutes. I love to lay there & watch you sleep long after you have drifted off. I then move you into your crib around 8pm & you will awake around 11pm because you have flipped over on your tummy - which you hate - & once I flip you back over you will fall right back to sleep once the paci is re-inserted. You awake again at 3am to be fed, then back to sleep & up for the day around 6:30am. I don't ever mind getting up with you at night & absolutely love our quiet time together. But with that said, I am secretly looking forward to you sleeping through the night & am envious of mommy friends who tell me their little ones sleep from 8p-5am!!

This picture pretty much sums up how you like to fall asleep. Talk about a major SIDS risk! You LOVE to pull your little blankie over your face & sleep that way. I of course remove it from you after you have drifted off but I don't doubt you would stay that way all night if I let you! You are definitely your daddy's child - he loves to sleep with the covers over his head also!

Eating: Looking at you people will say you are definitely a healthy eater! You are still being breast-fed, supplemented with formula & are eating 5oz at a time. I continue to pump at work & usually one last time before I go to bed but unfortunately my supply is decreasing so not sure how much longer I can keep this up. My goal was 6 months & I have reached that but I'm just not ready to give it up yet. So as long as I am still producing, I will keep on pumping.

This past month we introduced solids into your diet. You were a little hesitant at first but after the first week you were eating oatmeal cereal, veggies & fruits  like a champ. Sweet potatoes & bananas are your favorite - peas & peaches not so much! You tolerate pears & apples & make the cutest "pucker face" when eating them :) We start our morning with cereal + fruit & for supper it's cereal + veggies. Will start to introduce veggies + fruit at lunch-time in the next couple of weeks. You also are learning to drink water from a sippy cup! Unfortunately, most of it ends up down the front of your shirt rather than in our mouth :) Baby steps...

Milestones: I am amazed at how fast you are learning things compared to last month! You are definitely a little explorer! Your sensory & motor skills are developing as they should be for being 6 months so that is good.
- I would say you will be crawling by our next monthly update. Right now you are creeping forward & backwards on your tummy & sliding around while pushing against the floor. You will raise yourself up on your hands & almost on your knees & rock back & forth. I'd say the days of you just laying around are going to be short-lived.
- You are getting real close to being able to sit up unassisted. You get distracted while playing with toys or when you see mommy/daddy, will lose your balance & fall to the side but sitting up with the boppy you do really well. I am looking forward to when you can sit up 100% so that I don't have to keep hauling you in your cars-seat into the store. You are starting to get heavy!!
- You roll over from back to front like a champ but struggle to flip back over onto your back. This really makes you mad when you do it in your crib while sleeping.
- Pretty sure you are going to cut a tooth any day now! You have been drooling for 2 months now, have been quite a fussy little boy & gnaw on everything you can get your hands on.
- Your eyes have gone from a gray-blue color to a hazel or light brown color. Pretty sure you are going to have brown eyes like your mama!
- Playing with your feet fascinates you! Anytime you are laying on your back or sitting you reach for those little tootsies & try to stick them in your mouth.

- You like to help us hold your bottle when you are eating & can hold it with your own hands pretty well. Just another reminder of how big you are getting :(
- The sounds that come out of your mouth crack us up! Last week you started screaming for fun & do it ALL. THE. TIME!! Your daddy likes to imitate your scream & it makes you laugh. Next thing I know you are both squealing back & forth at each other which you both find amusing - your mommy not so much. You also think it is fun to blow raspberries - especially when you have a mouth full of food! Quite the little stinker you are :)
- You love to grab anything & everything you can get your little paws on & stuff it directly into your mouth - mom's food, Millie's ears, stuffed animals, the book I am reading to you, your blankie, my fingers - you name it. You love to pull your paci out of your mouth & are getting really good at putting it back in all by yourself too!

This past month we also celebrated some "firsts". You celebrated your first 4th of July:

You attended your first wedding:

You "rocked" your very first pair of sunglasses: 

It has been an awesome roller-coaster ride these past 6 months & we are looking SO very forward to the changes you will make & milestones you will conquer in the next 6 months! Just please try & not accomplish them too quickly!?

Happy 6 months little man! Mommy & Daddy love you oh so very much!!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July everyone!!

This year we spent our entire day off with very dear friends. 1st stop was at our friends Jason, Jen & Miss Ava's house for their annual Luau party. There was a huge spread of food, hula hoop contests, a slip-n-slide, water activities for the kiddos & lots of eating, drinking & mingling going on. 

Shane had to work so he was unable to go with us but Mase & I managed to enjoy the afternoon without him. Before we left, we had to pose with our pretty hawaiian hostesses - Miss Ava & her mama Jen :) Such a fun afternoon!

Shane got home from work just in time to enjoy our annual gathering of the cul-de-sac neighbor's for more food & watching of the fireworks. Mason only made it to 8pm when he started to get fussy so I put the little guy to bed & unfortunately he missed the fireworks show. 

Later in the evening we watched the kids set off their fireworks in the cul-de-sac & then the neighbors up the street set off their HUGE display of fireworks for almost 2 hours which must have cost them hundreds of dollars - it was pretty awesome! Hoping they keep up the tradition in the years to come so that we don't have to drive anywhere to watch the fireworks!

Me & my little "firecracker" :)

My two handsome boys:

Hope everyone had a safe & wonderful holiday! I don't know about you but it was sure nice having a day off during the week!?

SD Road-trip

This past weekend we hit the road & made our way to up South Dakota for my cousin's wedding. Since my entire family would be home for the festivities, we decided to have Mason's Baptism that Sunday as well so to say it was a crazy busy weekend is an understatement.

We left early Friday morning & Mason did amazing on the 7 hour drive up there sleeping the majority of the way. Once we got to my parent's farm, it was like being at a family reunion as all my siblings were home along with all my nieces & nephews. It was fun having all the kiddos together & seeing how much they have all grown since the last time I saw them.

Later that evening, we all headed down to my aunt & uncle's farm where my cousin's rehearsal dinner was being held. We enjoyed seeing the groom & bride-to-be, my grandparents, aunts, uncles & our cousins. The kids had a blast running around, the spread of food was yummy, catching up with relatives was a good time & fun was had by all! Everyone was looking very forward to the wedding festivities the following day.

Saturday was wedding day! We all woke up to my mom fixing us breakfast which is always a nice treat & hung out around the house most of the morning until it was time for everyone to shower & get ready to go.

The weather ended up being perfect - not too hot, no rain, partly cloudy - only downside was it was a bit windy. Other than that it was a beautiful day for a wedding!

Our little family of three :)

The bride & groom saying "I Do":

Introducing the new Mr. & Mrs:

As you can see, the bride looked absolutely stunning & the ceremony was short, sweet & beautiful!

The reception (or as we like to call it in South Dakota "the wedding dance") was held immediately after the ceremony. It was all decorated in lime green/royal blue & was really pretty. The food was dee-lish & as you all know my favorite part of any reception is the cake...

...which didn't disappoint! The piece I chose was white with a butter cream frosting & I may or may not have had 2 pieces :)

My mom had lined up a babysitter for Mason & my little niece Jensen so that us "big" kids could enjoy an evening of mingling, drinking & dancing without the little ones! It was our very first time leaving him (other than at daycare) but we knew he was in good hands so we actually were able to enjoy ourselves more than we thought we would!

Us big kids ended up leaving by 10pm as we all had to be up early the next morning for Mason's baptism. Anymore, 10pm is past my bedtime so with the traveling & the long day of festivities Shane & I were ready to call it a night!

Sunday we had to all get up early & be at the church by 915am - which amazingly enough the entire house was showered & out the door by 9am! Mason looked adorable in his baptism outfit. My mom had made his outfit & did such an amazing job!! She is SO very talented when it comes to the sewing machine! She used the wrap from my wedding dress for the fabric & we loved the way it turned out!

Mason's little shoes were specially made from a lady on Etsy.com. She makes the cutest little booties you ever did see. If you are looking for a great shower or birthday gift check her out here! She was super nice to work with, had great communication & speedy delivery!

My mom had sent her some leftover fabric from the wrap to use so they would match & they turned out adorable. They have his initials monogrammed on the top, a little silver cross glued onto the side of each bootie & on the bottom the date of his baptism is monogrammed as well. Such a sweet keepsake!

Mason & mommy all ready to head into the church:

Posing with Mason's God-parents - my brother Steve & his wife Meghan:

Proud mommy & daddy with our baptized boy:

After the baptism, we all headed back to my parents place for a nice lunch & then we packed up the car & made our way back home to Kansas. Before we all parted ways I managed to get a picture of me & my siblings. The last time we were all together like this was for my brother Steve's wedding 3 years ago! Oh & for those who are wondering - yes my sister is pregnant - 20 weeks to be exact due Nov. 26th! Another little niece or nephew for me to spoil :)

It was definitely a whirl-wind of a weekend but oh so fun to get to see everyone! Not sure when we will all be home together again like this so we made sure to soak it all up & enjoy the time together!

1st Father's Day

A letter to my wonderful husband, amazing father & best friend:

Happy Father's Day to one of the bestest daddy's I know...other than my own :)

Last Father's Day I was only 7 weeks pregnant & we hadn't told a soul. Oh how things have changed! This Father's Day you have a 5 month old son & couldn't be any more prouder of a daddy than you are now.

I always knew you’d be a good dad but little did I know how amazing of a daddy you truly would be. For so long I felt this tremendous amount of guilt & sorrow that because of me, you weren’t ever going to be a dad. Little did we know God's plans for us would take a little longer than we had expected & that we would be blessed with this precious miracle. Good things come to those who wait & wow, was he ever worth the wait!

On the day Mason was born, I remember that you couldn't stop smiling nor could you take your eyes off of him. You looked so proud holding his tiny little body in your arms.

 

 

 

You became a father that day & you've grown so much since then. I know deep down that you were nervous about the type of father you would be - whether you like to admit it or not - & I've loved every minute of watching you grow into that role & mold yourself into the type of parent I am lucky to have by my side.

 

Thank you for ALL that you do. Not only how hard you work at your job, but everything else you do for us. Motherhood would not be the same for me without your continued help. I am so very blessed to have a husband who pitches in so much with baby duty, managing the dogs daily feedings & outings, helping clean the house, do laundry, run errands, & most importantly, make sure my coffee is brewed before I am out the door for work :)

I just don’t know what to say other than “thank you” a million times over. Here we are, 5 months under our belts with a happy, healthy baby boy. The chaos of those first few months has calmed down & somewhere along the way, we have managed to fall into a nice routine. Your confidence in yourself as a dad has grown & that has been fun to see! There isn't anything in this world I enjoy more than watching you interact with your son, seeing him smile at you & touch your face ever so gently with those little hands. It just melts my heart.

On your first Father's Day, I just want to say how very proud I am of you. I am proud of the father that you've become & the wonderful husband you've been to me. There is no better view than seeing the world through an adoring father's eyes. You are truly my partner in parenthood & in marriage & I am so glad to have you by my side through this amazing journey!

Happy 1st Father's Day & looking forward to many, many more!

We love you,
Mommy & Mason