Sunday, May 29, 2011

Who Let These Animals Out?!!!

Saturday, we got up early and went to breakfast at You Say Tomato. It was a hole in the wall, hippyish restaurant. I have to say...they had the BEST cinnamon rolls EVER! I also got the breakfast casserole, but was too full from the huge cinnamon roll to eat all my casserole. I would defiantly put this on my list of restaurants to go back to next time we visit KC.


Playing with the door bell at You Say Tomato!



Watching the passersby
.

It was finally time to head to the zoo! The girls had been waiting for week and were both so excited to finally get to see the animals. Katie and I had zoo outfits made, Gracyn in a monkey outfit and Caroline in a lion outfit. I have to say, they were the cutest little girls in the entire zoo! First up was the polar bear exhibit. We all had so much fun watching him dive under water then flip off the wall.


Gracyn sees him!



Caroline loved the polar bear most of all!



Can you see the polar bear in the back?


It took a lot of coaxing but we were finally able to get the girls out of the polar bear exhibit. They took off without us and were on the loose!





We stopped at the nests of some kind of duck. There were about four or five that had nests all built around the trunk of a tree. A male duck was on the other side of the fence gathering straw then would fly over the low fence to the nest. The female duck would take the straw out of his beak and tuck it into her nest. It was pretty interesting to watch. As we were leaving, the male duck went to fly over the fence and came within inches of swiping Caroline's face with this wing. Caroline was a little freaked out and we had some tears.


Watching the ducks sit on their eggs.


Next we headed thru Australia. We walked thru a gate and came into an area with sheep. The sheep were out and about. Gracyn had some cheerios in her stroller tray. I guess one of the sheep decided those cheerios sounded good. He headed straight for Gracyn's stroller. He helped himself to the cheerios, while Gracyn was screaming. I had her buckled so couldn't get her out. All I could do was lean over her and protest her from the ravenous sheep! Meanwhile, Katie is screaming, "Get her out, get her out!" I'm screaming, " I can't! She's buckled in!" Eric is trying to get the sheep away from the stroller, and Clint is standing there laughing. It was quiet the scare! Once everyone was settled down we continued our way thru Australia. We stopped at the kangaroo spot to snap a couple of pictures.


Best Friends!!!


We stopped at the train station to get a cool drink while we waited for the train to arrive. The girls were stealing the show!

!




The Bunzels enjoying the train ride.



Gracyn enjoyed the train ride until we went into a dark tunnel. She was a little scared then, but I think it had more to do with all the other kids screaming.


We found a little playground in front of the Discovery Center. We let the girls play on the jungle gym and go down the slides then needed to head into the Discovery Center to change some diapers. The Discovery Center was pretty neat. It was two stories, the top level was at street level. You could get down to the second level by taking a big slide. Clint and Gracyn did that, but the rest of us headed back out.


Gracyn inside an ant hill!



Climbing on some logs!


After the discovery center, we came upon a carousel! Caroline said she wanted to ride on the giraffe. We found the giraffe for her and decided to put Gracyn on the elephant. She did not want anything to do with that! So Gracyn and I moved on over to sit in the peacock. Once the carousel started moving she thought it was fun!


Caroline on the giraffe!


Gracyn and me in the peacock! Of course, my head is cut off by a pole!

After we rode the carousel, we headed over to Africa. We had already passed thru Asia and Australia and were on to see the elephants, tigers, lions, and monkeys! First up was the elephants! We weren't even thru with the elephant walk when both the girls passed out! At this point, we decided it was getting to be lunch time and we had all seen the animals of Africa before so we decided to head back to The Plaza to get some lunch. Our babies were so good at the zoo and had so much fun

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Artie B's and The Cards!

Last weekend, we went on a family vacation with Eric, Katie, and Caroline. We had the BEST time! I have tons of pictures so I'm going to break it up by the day.

Friday morning Katie and Eric met us at the house. They had gone to Rick's Bakery and brought us donuts! YUMMO! Since we had two little girls in carseats, 2 pack and plays, 2 strollers, and luggage for 6 people, we had to take 2 cars. The guys rode in Clint's car, while us girl's all rode in Katie's 4Runner. Once the boys left, we didn't see them til we were in KC. Nice of them to wait on us. Since I have mad directional skills, I was able to get us there in one piece.


Waiting on us to load the car.


Sippy's in place....ready to go!

We went straight to Arthur Bryant's. They have the BEST BBQ ever! Clint and I ate there a couple of years ago and now we can't go to KC without eating there, sometimes twice in one weekend!



Arthur Bryant's has been around since the early 1900's and is in the inner city neighborhood. Some notable diners, besides myself, include President Harry S. Truman, Steven Speilberg, and Jack Nicholson. If you are EVER in Kansas City, you MUST stop and eat at Arthur Bryant't!

I've never been to Arthur Bryant's when there hasn't been a line literally out the door. The guys stood in line while us girl's saved a table. Caroline and Gracyn waited patiently for their food.




Look at the plate of yumminess!!!


Watching SportsCenter while eating some pulled pork!


Splashing around in the parking lot.


Katie and I were ready to check in at the hotel! We were running off to get pedicures, while the guys watched the girls!

Friday evening we headed off to Kauffman Stadium to see the St. Louis Cardinal's take on the Kansas City Royals. Now, I'm a Braves fan, but I went along with the crowd and sported a Cardinal's shirt. They ended up losing 3-0. It was really an uneventful game, but we still had a blast!


Little Card's fan!


Enjoying a little pre-game fun!


Such a sweet picture!


I love this sweet face!


While I was getting her bath water started, she decided she would pull out all the toilet paper.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Tabouleh Fest!

Last weekend, we went to Clint's hometown for the Annual Tabouleh Fest. We kicked off the day by running/walking the Wildflower 5K. This was my 1st 5K and let me tell you...my body hurt for 3 days! I can see where it can be addicting though and would like to do more in my future. Jeffie and I were planning on just walking it but couldn't handle getting passed up by 70+ year olds so we decided to jog part of it. Next year, we're going to try and jog the whole thing! After the 5K we ate lunch then headed down to the Tabouleh Fest!

So you are proibably wondering what in the world is tabouleh? According to the "all knowing" wikipedia, it's a Levantine salad traditionally made of bulgar finely chopped parsley and mint, tomato and spring onion, seasoned with lemon juice and olive oil. Originally from the mountains of Syria and Lebanon, tabbouleh has become one of the most popular salads in the Middle East. In the Arab world, but particularly the Greater Syrian region, it is usually served as part of the mezze, and is served with romaine lettuce. The Lebanese use more parsley than bulgur wheat in their dish.

The first time I tried Tabouleh, pronounced Tabbūle, I was not crazy about it. The more I tried it the more I liked it. My child, however, loved it the first time she ate it! Clint has made it several times and the girl will eat it up! It was no different this day!





At the festival, Gracyn got to ride a horse! She picked the horse with the yellow flower in it's hair since it matched her outfit!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to my Mama! I read this poem and literally laughed out loud, because I know you had to have thought this everyday!



I Want to be Locked Up
By: Joanne Fuchs

I want to be locked up
Away from everything,
Free from all the craziness
A mother's day can bring.

No planning, shopping, cooking
Three healthy meals a day,
Served up with love to finicky kids
Who throw most of it away.

No constant interruptions,
Dirty laundry on the floor,
Driving everyone every place,
Sibling rivalry (It’s war!)

No one asking me to do things,
Getting mad if I forget,
Me giving up my very self—
I’m the family marionette.

Prison sometimes looks appealing
(Or maybe the looney bin),
I get free time and three square meals;
With nothing to do, I win!

I want to be locked up
For freedom, time and such,
There’s just one obstacle for me:
I love my kids too much!


I can't even count the number of times you told us we were going to send you to the Looney Bin! I'm still kinda suprised we haven't! I know I was the easiest of the oldest four to raise (no point in denying it, we all know it's true,) but I also know I wasn't easy all the time. Thanks for all you did for me while I was growing up, and thanks for all the advise you have given me when it came time for me to become a mommy!I love you!


Me and My Mom!





I tried to get some pictures of me and Gracyn after church, but she wasn't being very cooperative.


She loves her "Yo Gabba Gabba!"


Laughing at Daddy!


This is the best I got! Love this sweet face!


The Pandora charm Gracyn and Daddy got me for my bracelet!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Deweytown Cemetery Cleanup

Last weekend we went to Salem,AR to Clint's grandma's house. Every year, the family gets together for the Deweytown Cemetery Cleanup. Yes, that's right. We cleaned a cemetery. It's a little cemetery in the woods....like IN the WOODS. It was really neat to see some of the old tombstones from the early 1900's. Old cemetery's amaze me. I love to look at the dates they were born and wonder what it was like for them growing up. The cleanup consisted of raking leaves and burning them, taking some old flowers off graves and adding new ones, and just tidying up. For me, it consisted of chasing Gracyn to keep her away from the fire! After awhile, I got Gracyn's ball out of the car and the kids and I went out to a little clearing and played kickball and caught caterpillars! Gracyn wore herself out so we went to the car for a nap. I woke up to Clint bringing me grilled hotdogs! YUMMY!


Gracyn showing Jayden what she found!


"Helping" rake leaves!


Chasing after Jayden!


Best Buds!


Playing on the big rock, which I later found out was the bathroom!


My little country bumpkin!


Snack time! This cracks me up...she had no idea she had a piece of cereal stuck to her face! I was laughing so hard!


After the clean up, we all headed back into town. We were all meeting for dinner at Aunt Cathy's house. Gracyn was a big fan of hugging on Jaykob. He wasn't too fond of it! The boys were being boys, running around and acting crazy. Gracyn joined in and had so much fun. At one point her bow came off so Clint gave it to me. Next thing we know, Gracyn was asking, "Where bow go?" Her first sentence!








This baby girl was exhausted! We got back to the hotel, she took a bath and watched some cartoons, then was out!


Watching cartoon as we pack up to head home!