KC Fun

We spent a day in Kansas City with friends- yeah! First we went to Kaleidescope and the Hallmark visitors center and then we went to the dinosaur exhibit in the crown center mall. Such a fun day!!

Watching the machine make a wrapping bow- they each got their very own bow!

Kennedy, Boyce, and Rielly

Gavin loved the "balls" of course

July 4th

We had so much fun on the 4th- despite the sweltering heat!! We started out with the Lenexa parade, which was only a block or two away from our new townhome, so we just walked there- very convenient! We took our squirt guns though and plenty of water bottles because it was HOT! The kids loved it though! Then we went swimming with some friends and got cooled down in the water- so nice! After that we went to Uncle Richard's house for a BBQ and then walked from there to his park to watch fireworks! Gavin wasn't a huge fan of the fireworks (I think he was just exhausted) but the rest of us enjoyed them!

Some people gave out American flags and the kids loved waving them during the parade!

Watching the bubble machine before the fireworks started

I think my camera got shot by the squirt gun- can you see the water spots?

Best Buds- Max and Gavin

Nauvoo

The wagon ride around Nauvoo

smelling the flowers

Rielly made beds and put the baby dolls to sleep- my little mom

Even Chris got into the Pioneer spirit

Rielly got to make a hat and walk in a children's parade

We stayed in Keokuk and spent two days in Nauvoo. We went into a lot of houses and saw some funny shows (Rielly's favorite part was the dancing and singing boys and girls!). It was such an amazing feeling to be in that historic town where so many faithful saints lived and gave everything they had to live the gospel. What a tremendous example of faith and devotion that those early saints are! How wonderful it is to see the Nauvoo Temple built there again after the saints had been driven out of the state so many years before and had to leave it behind. God works in miraculous ways!

Church History Vacation

Adam Ondi Ahman- so beautiful!

The walkway to Carthage jail was lined with these plaques- Rielly stopped in front of every single one wanting me to take a picture of her- "Cheese!"

Carthage Jail

Checking into our hotel in Keokuk- the kids loved to help push the luggage

 

 Day 1- the drive, not too bad, only a few hours. We visited Adam Ondi Ahman, Carthage Jail, and the hotel swimming pool!

Gavin is TWO!

He loves to watch and play any sport that has a ball! He also enjoys not wearing clothes!

Basketball cupcakes- it was a learning experience for me :)

blowing out the candles

Friends to share the day with

A firetruck stopped by the park we were at and let all the kids get in and look around!

Lots of trucks from Grandma!!

I can't believe my baby boy is 2! He is always full of energy and smiles! His favorite things are balls, trucks, and anything soft- although his stuffed doggy is his favorite. We had a party for him at a park with water balloons and squirt guns- everything is better with water right?!

Fun for Free!

A kids concert where the kids get to play along! Gavin loved the beat- afterwards he made his own drum, and Rielly made a "shaker"- I will have to get a video of them playing and post it later!

Fun with markers and stamps!

We picked a good time to jump- almost the only ones in there!

making a necklace

Face painting! Rielly got a unicorn, Gavin got a spider (he loves spiderman!) and our friend Beck got a rocket- Gavin and Beck were enthralled with the water behind them!

Playing in the water

First time bowling- I never thought bowling shoes were cute... until I saw them in kids sizes!

The bowling alley was the nicest one I have ever been to- nice big couches, and the most amazing sweet potato tots!

Kansas City has Family Fun Days one Saturday a month during the summer and early fall- and everything is absolutely FREE! We have fallen in love with Kansas City!! Thank you to Leah for telling us about it! We will definitely be going back next month!

KC Royals

 It was a great game to go to- both teams scored by the second inning, there were home runs, and the Royals beat the Red Sox!! We got free t-shirts (although they were all XL -hence the "dress" on Rielly), tattoos, and little foam fingers. The kids did surprisingly well, all the way up to the 7th inning stretch! Then we let them play on the playgound and walked through the hall of fame museum. A late night for the kids, but totally worth it- we already want to go back!