Benefits of the Recession?

So we celebrated National Running Day by enjoying an evening of perfect weather, a picnic in the park, and ended the evening with free root beer floats from Sonic! Tonight from 8-12 they were giving away free floats to all!

It seems like a lot of restaurants are giving away freebies during these tough economic times...a couple of weeks ago we enjoyed a free dinner from KFC thanks to Oprah and the Colonel.

We won't complain...just reap the benefits of this recession!

Ethan loved his root beer float tonight. It was his second icecream experience this week. Last week the 3 of us went on an awesome jog/walk along a really pretty trail along the river here. Right now Des Moines is so green and the weather is so perfect. Our jog ended at Van Dee's ice cream shoppe. While Ethan was enjoying his baby cone we started to hear chanting and marching...it sounded like a small army coming. Sure enough, around the corner came a marching pre-school class all chanting "ice cream, ice cream, ice cream," then as they got closer they started shouting "Van Dee's, Van Dee's, Van Dee's..."it was so cute! When they got even closer half of the class took off running for the small ice cream shoppe while the teacher was screaming at them, "stop, stop, stop...you crazy Indians are impossible to control." Clark and I were trying not to laugh, and then busted up when one of the little kids turned around and said to the teacher, "we aren't Indians!" That kid was awesome, the teacher not so much.

On these perfect summer nights watching the fire flies it is hard for me not to chant, "Van Dee's, Van Dee's"...thank goodness for the free root beer floats!

An additional note: Ethan said duck tonight. It was cute. He is constantly jabbering and talking and every once in a while we are so excited when it sounds like a real world. My favorite is that he paces around the house holding the phone to his ear having pretty long and complicated conversations...I wish I had a translator!

A Road Trip with my FAVORITE Boys!

Clark finished his first year of school last week! We have had so much fun having him all to ourselves this week! (He starts again tomorrow).

We decided to take a last minute road trip while he had some time off. Thanks to Priceline for cheap hotel rooms for last minute travelers we had quite a good little trip enjoying laughing, jamming out in the car to Ethan's new favorite rap song "Chicken Soup," seeing new places, and visiting some inspiring church history sites!

We first headed south toward Kansas City.

We stopped at Adam-ondi-Ahman on the way. It was a peaceful little walk for us and Ethan loved playing in the sunshine!

Even short little distances seem really long for a 1 year old boy that loves to stop at every rock, stick, and blade of grass along the way.

For Weston and James: No, he did not make this trip!

About 16 miles south we stopped at the monument at Far West. The original cornerstones for the temple that was going to be built there are still there. The temple was never completed because the early church members were driven out of Missouri because of intense persecution.

Royals Game

We got into Kansas City just in time for the Royals Game! This was mine and Ethan's first ever major league baseball game. We loved it! Once the sun went down the weather was pefect. We thought Ethan would be so tired and cranky, but he absolutely was mesmerized by the excitement of the stadium. He loved the bright lights, dancing to the music, and chillin in his own seat!

The stadium had really cool fountains that danced with the music.

The firework show after the game was the best!

The Royals didn't win...I honestly can't remember a lot from the game. One guy hit a homerun. What I do remember was the fun people watching, and the homemade kettle chips topped with melted cheese, sour cream and bacon...now those were good times!

Kansas City

Home of the BBQ and fountains! Who would have thought. We didn't know much about KC, but it is a really fun city to explore!

Finding a parking spot downtown was a little hairy because Rockfest was going on...we noticed we were the only people with a stroller and not carrying beer...we avoided Rockfest and instead went on a tour of Hallmark visitor's center (definitely a different crowd from Rockfest). It was really neat to see the creativity behind the cards. In the Hallmark square there was lots of fun shopping and cool exhibits.

Ethan of course found a big bear to love at the visitor's center, he has a thing for big bears!

The Lego exhibit! The artist makes all of his sculptures solely from Lego's! It was so cool!

I got really excited in the Crayola store! Clark thought I was a little out of control but I think any past elementary school teacher would feel the same way. It was amazing! They had so many fun products. This is a giant color wheel of all the different crayons available. Aren't you getting excited just thinking of a Crayola store?

Our next adventure was at the Legends plaza. This was an amazing outlet mall where we enjoyed shopping and some good ol KC BBQ! (It really was really good).

This is how Ethan enjoys shopping...with some food, and his sippy cup. He cracks me up when he puts his feet up and just relaxes. Seriously, he has the life!

Getting ready for church. I had to put this picture on because Clark forgot to bring shoes on our trip (besides the brown dress shoes he was wearing when we left. We got him these lovely ones at Wal-Mart. We also all forgot swimming suits. So we made due with what we had. I bought a pair of workout shorts at Wal-Mart and we all looked pretty awesome at the pool!

I think my favorite part of Kansas City was the Plaza. It looks like a little version of Spain with the architecture. There were tons of fun shops, restaurants, out door concerts and fountains to view as we strolled around the Plaza.

Ethan successfully fed himself a few bites with a fork for the first time...and what better place to do it than Cheesecake Factory!

Enjoying chocolate mousse cheesecake by the fountain!

What a good life!

Pefect weather, chocolate cheesecake, what more could a girl want?

Liberty Jail and Independence Visitor's Center

While in the Kansas City area we visited Liberty Jail. It is really neat because there is a visitor center built around the actual jail. We loved being able to visit the place we have been learning so much about this year. A few weeks ago I actually had to teach a lesson on Liberty Jail and facing trials in our own lives. What a beautiful lesson that no matter what we are going through in our lives the kindness and love of the Savior will never depart from us.

We also visited the Independence Visitor's Center. We learned about the living conditions and persecutions that the early pioneer members of the church endured. I'm grateful for their sacrifice.

At the end of the tour there was a little play room that Ethan loved! (and I'll be honest, Clark and I did too).

Right after taking this picture, I went to sit on a bench so I could get a better shot. Somehow when I sat down the bench wasn't there anymore. I had a pretty bad fall, skirt and legs flying everywhere. Then somehow Clark fell to the ground laughing so hard. We both commented that we were glad no one was there...and then we saw there was a security camera in the room...NICE!

Clark was really competitive in this game of checkers.

Side saddle is the only way for a proper lady.

Henry Doorly Zoo - Omaha

Our next stop was Omaha. We visited the zoo! It was a huge zoo and I was quite impressed. The first exhibit we went to had 3 levels of a rainforest jungle. The animals just climbed and flew around. It felt like we were exploring the jungle. Ethan loves animals and stuffed animals, so he was in heaven pretty much all day!

This little red haired monkey came right up to Ethan's stroller. He started cooing at it like it was one of his stuffed animals. I started freaking out when the monkey showed its sharp little teeth...I knew Ethan would grab it if it got any closer. I've never been to a zoo where monkeys can jump on strollers!

Talking to the monkey!

We rode the SKYfari!

These birds scared Ethan to death with their loud squaks! At first he tried to imitate them, but they always answered much louder!

This orangatan wanted the apple of a little girl standing next to us. We were surprised at how much of the monkeys and gorillas behavior reminded us of people we know! HAHAHA!

Sometimes it seemed like we were just a little too close to the animals for my comfort level (like this large beaked pecking bird for example). When walking through the butterfly and insect room I found a sign that said, "look up at the Madagascar spiders hanging from their beautiful golden webs...don't worry they won't come down." BET ME! I hate spiders and these things were HUGE! I physically couldn't make myself walk under the spiders. I pretty much ran out of that room. Clark felt like the desert biome exhibit with all of the animals creeping around was a little too much, especially when the snake cages were empty.

We did have a lot of fun at the zoo! We also enjoyed our progressive dinner that night...Wendy's side salad, pizza from Pizza Hut, and drinks from QT gas station!

Kanesville Tabernacle and Winter Quarters

While in Omaha, we visited Kanesville Tabernacle. There was some really neat history that took place there.

We also visited Winter Quarter's Visitors Center, which was so inspiring.

And before coming home the temple.

It was a perfect way to end our trip! We had such a great time as a family. Some of the best moments were watching Clark & Ethan's heads bob in synch to the music on the i-pod while driving in the car! I am so blessed to have Clark and Ethan in my life! Ethan was so excited to see his toys when we got home. He played with all of them and his birthday bear got a 10 min. bear hug! I guess there is no place like home.

This is his new way of running when he really wants to go fast...arms straight back (maybe this would help my running?)