Let's Catch Up!

Hello everyone. I can not believe that it has been over a month since my last post. How about I do a brief run-down since my last post!

April 24th- the kids and I rode back to KS with Aunt Libby as she went to KC to visit Jared. I would have to say Aunt Libby probably didn't get the Moore children at their traveling best. I also nixed the idea I had previously had for purchasing a car as our next trade-in. I had to leave Maclaren's stroller in SEMO!

April 25th- Andy was not on-call that Saturday so we drove to Independence, KS (about 35 minutes from Chanute) so I could test drive my dream bike at the Trek Store. Afterward, we noticed a pretty busy park so we ended up eating Arby's under a pavilion and watching a game of church softball. We walked quite a bit and discovered a "Zoo". It was decent-great for a free zoo with cheap concessions-cotton candy for a buck, twenty-five. You can't beat that. They had bears, monkeys, a donkey, some snakes, sugar gliders, kinkajou, among a few others. The cool part of Independence is the huge park with lots of equipment. I am extremely surprised by the height of the equipment-there is a slide that's at least 30' tall-maybe more and a "fireman's pole" which is also pretty tall. The town was home to Thomas Sinclair, some may remember him by the old Sinclair gas stations. I promise that will be all my KS trivia for this post!

May 1st- My baby boy turned 4-years-old! Jackson woke up bright eyed that morning and ran into my bedroom. He jumped on the bed and looked at me and with a big grin said, "Mom, I'm four today." This was the first year that he has remembered that it was his Birthday when he woke up-and more importantly he knew the significance of the day. Mid afternoon he received a bouquet of Spiderman balloons delivered by the flower shop from down the street. As I read the card from Zsa Zsa, Pappaw, and Aunt Libby, Jackson was busy tearing into the Spiderman bag. As colored tissue paper flew he yelled out the he got a "Fpiderman" movie (Spiderman 3). The real excitement, however, came after he took the movie out of the bag and he saw the Reese's Peanut Butter cups in the bottom of the bag. He went crazy over the PB cups all day! I'm still not sure that he understands who actually sent him the goodies, because all day he kept saying how nice it was of that man to bring him his pb cups! When Andy got home we ordered our favorite Opie's Pizza, opened presents, sang the "Birthday Song" and ate cake. We had planned to take the little guy Cosmic Bowling but he must have been tuckered because he fell asleep to the point of no awakening before we made it to the alley! We did take him the following night but had to do regular bowling-he loved it just the same!

May 7th- We all drove to MO in preparation for Jackson's MO Birthday Party. We stopped in Springfield on Thursday night and ate at Bandana's with Mark and Steph. Uncle Mark (and Steph) got Jackson some cool Cardinals Baseball cards as well as a Cardinals wallet. Jackson has been asking for a wallet for some time now! We actually didn't get to the Moore's until May 8th as it was after midnight when we finally pulled in!

May 8th- We had a redneck weenie roast! It was raining so Pappaw put some firewood in an old metal filing cart and we roasted hotdogs and marshmallows that way. No one can deny that they were good and we didn't have to go far because we did it right in the front yard!

May 9th- Jackson's Party Day. We rented a bounce house and had so much fun! We partied and bounced pretty much all day! Jackson got lots of great presents and Andy and Pappaw made cotton candy for all the kids-talk about a sugar rush!

May 10th- We celebrated Mother's Day and then Andy drove back to KS. The kids and I decided to stay a few more days as I had an appointment in PB on the 11th as well as a shoot in Kennett on the 12th. I also did some engagment pictures for Libby and Jared at the Claudia House on the 13th.

May 14th- We rode back to KS with Grandma and Grandpa Moore. I drove all the way and didn't have to use the GPS or directions! The kids were extremely good for the trip. They rode great and didn't complain much-even when I bottomed the Space Ship (aka the van).

May 16th- We took the grandparents to Independence to visit the "Zoo".

May 18th- Grandma and grandpa decided they had enough excitement for a few weeks and drove back to MO!

May 22nd- Andy had enough OT to take off 1/2 a day. Mike and Jennifer (and Ellie) came later that day to visit. They are our friends from Ponca City, OK. Andy started playing WOW on the internet with Mike and Jennifer, well-- almost five years ago. We met them a couple of years ago when Chuck and Colette lived in St. Louis. Ellie is so adorable!!! Jackson had a blast playing with her. I told him I was going to have to take him to the Dr. because his lips were going to turn black and rot off because he wouldn't quit kissing on her! I managed to get a few shots of them playing before they left on Saturday.

May 23rd- We chilled like chinchilla's all day long! Andy fixed a huge breakfast for us before our guests left. Afterward, the family went for a drive around the outskirts of Chanute. We came back home and sat on the front porch and took in the beautiful day. We watched a little tv, then carried on a Moore family tradition (and yes, I even gave in) and took a nap. The girls in the King size bed and the boys in the Queen! When we woke up we went to the Park and let Jackson ride his bike and play. He even got to touch a perch that a gentleman caught in a net. The nap proved detrimental- we were still awake at 12:30, mommy wide eyed (but in bed) until after 1am. Maclaren woke up at 2:30 and finally went back to sleep at 4:07am! It was a good nap, but that's exactly why I usually don't participate in them!

May 24th- Jackson called Aunt Libby and sang Happy Birthday to her.
We did a little afternoon driving and got Jackson a surprise as well! A new addition to the family...Jenny, our new kitten. What were we thinking? I don't know, it seemed like a pretty harmless request. I mean, he didn't ask for a python or anything like that (which, by-the-way he will never get!) She's cute and we are all having fun watching her play around!

May 25th- Happy Memorial Day! Happy Anniversary!!! Andy and I were married 7 years ago today. I can't believe we have been married for 7 years-that's so crazy. Oh my, I am getting soooo old!!!