Mommy Daughter Girls' Night

Tonight Lorelei's friend from 3 months old, Savannah Blake, invited her out for a Mommy/Daughter girls' night out with cupcakes. But when we arrived at the cupcake shop, they were all out! What's a girl to do? Plenty!

This was by the fountains Lorelei loves to splash in.

Here are the girls, dejected after the cupcake shop neglected to bake up a batch for their party (despite reservations--ugh)! They're peering longingly into the salon window next door...

But there's a turn-around coming--we decide that pedicures are even better than cupcakes! Mommy negotiates a bargain: $5 each, which equals 50 cents a toe!

Entering the salon. Lorelei loves pedis!

And lollipops to boot! Yum.

Savannah hops into L's chair--pedis are more fun in pairs!

Tippy toes.

Beautiful girls. They're so posh.

They both picked shades of purple.

Girls just wanna have fun, and we are!

Hannah, one of L's best friends too, is eagerly anticipating her pedi in pinkalicious pepto pink!

That tickles!

Ooh la-la! They even added gems and flowers!

Next, we trot past the fountains toward the gelateria.

Lorelei, Hannah, and Abby in feathers.

Lorelei gobbles black cherry and lavender swirl gelato.

Then it's off to the courtyard for tag games, gymnastics in the grass, and lounging in oversized Adirondacks.

Savvy and Lorelei, with Abby looking on from the yellow chair.

We spend the rest of the gorgeous evening outdoors, splashing for an hour in the fountains, pretending to be water spouts, and enjoying the company of posh princesses and Mommy's good friends, Brenda and Julie. The girls are soaked from feather to polished toe!

Protecting Gryffy in the Storm

The thunder boomed all night tonight, and when Mark went in to check on the kids, this is what he saw--Lorelei, with her hands covering Gryffy's ears. She is so protective and nurturing to her little brother, it's no wonder he loves her so crazy much!

Kaleidescope & Fritz's

This summer is Hallmark's 100th anniversary! We visited Kaleidescope in the Hallmark Visitor's Center (Crown Center) with Daddy one day on an extended lunch break. The place is full of recycled cards and art supplies for kids to let their creativity come alive. Gryffy carries Thomas the Train everywhere (see below) and loves his Croc shoes.

Lorelei made her own princess crown and is coloring a puzzle.

Turn the wheel, and voila--your own puzzle art!

Of course we had to have lunch at Crown Center. We went to Fritz's, also known as the "train" restaurant, because a choo choo train running across the ceiling delivers the meal. The kids, still on their train kick, love it here.

Mommy & Lorelei in their conductor's hats.

KC Wizards with KC Parent Magazine

 Tonight we enjoyed our first professional soccer game with the staff of KC Parent Magazine.

For the second day in a row, we visited T-Rex Cafe (this time, all four of us). From there we walked to the soccer stadium, where my wonderful editor, Margaret, was waiting with our tickets and food vouchers.

The kids couldn't sit still. They loved running up and down stairs, playing on the playground in the ballpark, and watching all the action as the Kansas City Wizards played the Salt Lake City Heat.

The game ended in a near-win for Kansas City, but the last goal somehow didn't count (don't ask me anything more--I'm not a sports person). It was a tie, which I'd like to call a win-win. By the time we hit the road back home (around 9:40) the kids were out!

Gryffin & Mommy's Date

Mark and I love special one-on-ones with our kids. While Grammy had a day of shopping with Lorelei, I asked Gryffy where he wanted to go. "Dino Place!" he said (of course)! So off we went to the Legends T-Rex Cafe, just the two of us.

 My boy loved his dino bone Icee. He finished the whole thing! We sat by the fish tank, and he kept exclaiming "Dory!" and "Nemo!" We had a little conversation, mostly Mommy asking questions with "yeah" responses, and an occasional long monologue from the Gryffster which I tried my best to understand. I just kept telling him how much I love being his Mommy and how he is my superhero--my Buzz Lightyear, my Superman, my Batman, my Cap'n Gryffin John.  He's such a gift!

 Here's the Mr. Gryff, showing off his balance in the parking lot. This boy steals my heart. I love love love him!

Watching You Sleep

My heart just gushes over at our two kids. Tonight I sneaked into Gryffin's room and just stared at our two snuggly sleepers. I don't even have the words for the joy and love they inspire in me. This is the purest love.

Lorelei, you've been gifted by a nurturing spirit of compassion, mingled with a lot of spunk! You are enormously protective of little brother, and bring so much love to him and everyone else around you. You're a Daddy's girl, but we have our own very special Mommy-daughter bond.  I call you my Mini-Me, because we are alike in so many ways, and yet you are always true to yourself--you dazzle us all with your fun laughter, flair for fashion, and love of all critters. And already, you have such a spirit for God and love to pray as a family. I tell you all the time--You're a girl after Mama's heart!

Gryffin, you're all boy, and all joy. Your smile is like sunbeams, instantly warming my heart. You still can't pronounce too much, but sure love to talk, and give it your best shot--this makes me very proud! You also love to show off and dance around in circles. You've never learned how to walk--you either strut, or trot, or go at it full run. And when you get hurt, you insist that Daddy "demonstrates" and laugh your heart out when he reenacts your fall. You are passionate about your feelings and exude confidence. And I especially love your curls and kisses, my sweet baby boy.

I pray over both of you each day, and reaffirm that God has great plans for your lives. And everyday I ask you this question: "What are we?" And you both respond, "We're Family!" I want you to always know that we belong together, sharing life in a spirit of God's unconditional love for each other. 

Mark's in Parenting Magazine

I'm so proud of my hard-working, family-focused, brilliant husband, and I'm gonna brag on him. He's been getting a lot of press for his research on pediatric headache--Reuters, Woman's World Magazine, TV news interviews, Children's Mercy's publications, and on and on.  Here's a write up from "Parenting: School Years" Magazine.  Even my own editor from KC Parent saw it, and e-mailed to congratulate him.  He deserves the recognition for all he does, daily, to help kids in pain.  Go Hubsley!