Final Day of Spring Break

Swimming took precedence, per the boys, over anything else while we still had hotel access. So I waited 4 painful hours before we checked out and I went down the street for a cup of decent coffee at oddly correct. After that, we hit Science City. Best decision, ever. It turned out to be free for us as members of the Des Moines Science Center, and the kids enjoyed it so much, that I think it was far better than LegoLand, no question.

Why, oh, why, don't they sell these at Target?

Lunch in Union Station at Harvey's, followed by a visit to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a "ride home treat," and our vacay came to an end.

Spring Break Day #2

Started early with Legoland Discovery Center

Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium in Legos

Soccer stadium

Lunch at Fritz's Railroad Cafe was a request

And of course, there was a lot more swimming at the hotel pool, followed by dinner in the Westport district again. Dinner was good, but Westport was one giant street party for St. Patrick's Day-- we were officially the only people with kids. Anywhere. At all.

Kansas City Spring Break

Day 1 was a success

Powerplay

Laser tag was a big hit with this crew

Race winner

Embassy Suites

Beer Kitchen was pretty darn tasty. Love having a hotel in the Westport district.

Ended the night with Insomnia Cookies!

Birthday weekend

Brunch at Le Jardin

Ummm, Hiland Park Bakery champagne cake

Good day

Making solar power adjustments on this rainy day.

My heart is warmed

By all the birthday love at work at home and with my friends. Thank you everyone!

Mike purchased La Mie lunch for all of my AmeriCorps colleagues at work, then sent me to a massage, got dinner reservations and tickets to an improv comedy show tonight, and also bought tickets to a locavore cooking class next month. I came home to a clean house, and freshly baked banana bread and roses from a friend. I'm feeling pretty loved right now.

Not to mention that this picture is probably the best gift a six-year-old could give his mom for her birthday.

Jack the BBall Guy

Jack has enjoyed being on a basketball team for the first time this winter. His last game was yesterday, and his team made marked improvement throughout the 8-week season. It was a fun way to spend Saturday afternoons!

1st Science Fair

Jack and Benji teamed up for their first Science project at their school's first ever Science + Art Fair. They asked the question, "Will covering one eye improve shooting ability in basketball?" Our small sample of 4 family members seemed to be not enough to prove one way or another that covering an eye affects shooting ability. But they typed up the hypothesis and conclusions, and had a nice display!

It always comes back to the food

For me, at least. Triple chocolate mocha cookies and homemade chai, and now making plans for clam chowder and lemon rosemary biscuits for dinner. Dare I say I'm rocking this snow day. And that is NOT typical for me. I have a history of getting excited about being snowed in with my kids, and then spending 80% of that time grumbling about how difficult and grateful they are. Today I've managed to get them to make some valentines (a never-ending task when each kid has 25 classmates and grandparents to cover), read (Benji read an hour- huge goal and accomplishment!), get delicious, homemade food on the table (because it always comes back to the food, for 

me), worked from home for two hours this morning and planning in two more this afternoon. Life/work balance is surviving. Not on a full-time scale, of course, and that balance was achieved by allowing more screen time than I feel comfortable with, but I'm still allowing myself to call this one a win. Not a sustainable win, but a win nonetheless :)

First snow day of the school year

Baked french toast, bacon, and my favorite Kenyan coffee over a rousing game of Connect Four on a Tuesday AM. Winter may be my least favorite season, but I enjoy a good hibernation every once in awhile.