Legoland and Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City

It's been a while since I posted.  So much is going on, and I'll talk more about that in another post. 

We had such a fun trip the other day!  On Tuesday (June 26) we took a trip to the city.   Unfortunately my husband had to work.  However, my mom came with me and the kids.  We were given 4 free tickets to Legoland Kansas City and to Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City in exchange for a review.  We also purchased our 2 adult and 3 additional children's tickets for the rest of us.  Then the 2 little ones were free since they were under 3. 

We started off going to Legoland.  My kids have been asking for years to go there.  Actually, asking since before Kansas City had a Legoland.  We were supposed to go last week, but the brakes went out on our van, so I had to disappoint them and reschedule for today.  They patiently waited, and today they got to go!  They were so excited.  

We drove around for a while looking for parking, and finally decided to pay for parking at Union Station. We then went to Crown Center and I got some of the kids to pose with the Lego people. 

We then got our tickets.  The lady at the counter was so helpful and found the best price for us.  I was super happy with how much she helped us.  

There was so much to do in there.  There were rides to go on. 

There were Lego exhibits to look at. 

Then, there was also a play area for the kids to let loose and burn off some energy. 

They also had some areas with activities where you could build Lego sets and have the option to purchase them.  They weren't running those workshops at the time we were in there.  

I was impressed with Legoland, and my kids had a blast. 

We then went to the other side and visited Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City. 

I was just amazed at this place.  My 2 oldest went to an aquarium in Utah last year.  They said the Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City was a lot better.  

The fish exhibits were beautiful.  

The jellyfish!  I was so excited to see them!  The lights changed colors, and that changed the color of the jellyfish. 

I love the seahorses!  One of my favorites!!!

The kids got to pet the star fish.  They loved that!

The lady there even picked one up gently so my little girl could pet it. 

Then, there was my favorite area.  We went under the water.  We had the fish swimming over the underwater walkway. Even my baby Z loved it. 

A shark and giant stingray pass one another above us. 

They also had the Octonauts area for kids to explore.  

We then had the last few aquarium exhibits.  Some of the tanks the kids were able to interact with. 

 

Then we ended with the play area to run off that last bit of excited energy. 

It was such a huge day of fun.  We made it through both in 3 hours.  We could have EASILY spent another hour in each place.  You are able to just wonder through both places at your own pace.  My daughter mentioned that if she could ask for one thing to make the aquarium better, it woul be a stingray petting area.  Otherwise, it was just fabulous.  

Legoland was fun.  The kids loved it, but I felt that Sea Life Aquarium was more educational, more stimulating, more interactive, and held the kids attention much longer.  If I was to pick between the two, I'd choose the aquarium.  

While Legoland was fun, the aquarium was amazing.  

It's Ours!!!

It is done. It is finished!!

Today we met with the title company.  The house is ours!  My grandfather's money from passing paid for our house.  

Thank you grandpa.  I'll miss you forever. This is always a reminder of you.  

Starting Over - Week 1 Day 1 C25K

I took a couple months off from running to try to recover from my foot injury from July.  I just kept reaggrivating it.  I needed to let it heal.  So, on Monday I started over on C25K.  I don't see it as a step back, since I had made it to week 10 of the 10K Trainer.  I see it as a review. 

Day 1

It was a lot harder than I thought it would be.  We started off faster, and it was great.  It was hard though.  My brain knew I should be able to go longer.  My body said no. I was sluggish. It felt good to get moving again. 

Day 2

Today was easier running.  I was a little sad when I had to start walking.  That is, until I got to run 6.  Then I was about done. It was a balmy 21° and windy.  I was so cold from my elbows to my hands.  They turned red from the cold. 

**Don't mind my nails.**

My view of my running partner/hubby. 

My smile when day 2 was done. I always try to keep a smile on my face when I run.  It keeps it fun. 

Every New Beginning Comes From Some Beginning's End

This last year has been one of the most amazing years.  So many new beginnings, and a few ends. 

All the birthdays for the year are over.  I turned 34 this year.  I was pregnant with my 9th baby, and excitedly awaiting his arrival in April.  Joy turned 1, Bekah turned 4, Zech was born, Abby 10, Moses 6, Sadie 16, Jake 2, Brent 40, Hannah 13, and Brigham 8. 

Hannah (purple jacket) was a munchkin in the Wizard of Oz in January.  She had a blast and hopes to get in this next play as well. 

We went to Branson over spring break and stayed in a house with Brent's parents and sister's family. They found out I was expecting baby Z at 37 weeks into the pregnancy. 

I had baby Z at home on April 25, at 40w5d.  His oldest sister caught him.  He's such a happy and sweet baby. 

Brent left to Arizona the first week of June.  He had a job with his friend and another to finish his sister's basement.  It was supposed to be 6 weeks. Sadie and Hannah went to Utah to visit Brent's family until he was finished and would take them home. I stayed home with the kids 10 yrs-newborn until they got back.  What a disaster.  I was overwhelmed.  Brent's job was delayed by weeks.  His sister never did get the loan for her basement. She didn't even apply until middle of July, when he was supposed to be coming home.  

His dad insisted while in Branson that we bring the family out and they would pay for gas. Come end of July, I hadn't seen Brent or the girls for almost 2 months.  There was no end in sight, as his sister was just getting around to applying for a loan for the basement. He talked to his parents about us coming out, and they could meet baby Z for the first time.  Brent said it was all planed, so I went out and bought $50 in snacks for the trip. It was going to be like a 50-60 hour round trip, and I needed something to keep 6 kids happy, plus baby (so I got a few baby things).  I was planning on my brother riding out with us, then flying back home.  When it came time to get my brother's ticket and finalizing when we would come out, his parents told Brent they never said they offered that.  Then they said they did, but instead we opted for the Branson trip (which was not something Brent and I were wanting to do). Things blew up between everyone.  I blocked his family temporarily on facebook because of all the junk going on.  A week went by and Jake turned 3.  They never called, texted, or even acknowledged his birthday at all.  The only child to be completely ignored by them for his birthday.  Well, other than Zechariah, that never had a welcome to the family acknowledgment from them.  That hurt me.  I never once mentioned it to Jacob.  I didn't want him to realize that his grandparents didn't care enough to even email a happy birthday note. 

That passed.  Brent said to forget the basement. He lost 2 1/2 months of Z's life, all our money was spent, and he wanted to come home.  He drive all night to go get the girls, slept 2 hours in the car,  picked the girls up, and drove home to Missouri.  Things again got ugly between his family, and we decided to just cut them from our lives.  Not forever, but a while.  

Then, good things began to happen. We got into several more festival last fall.  That was a huge blessing.  Come November, we had to make a choice with our water where we live.  Either sign up, and be stuck with a water bill forever, even if we don't use the water or disconnect it. Or, not sign up and lose our water service when the new system is installed.  We decided not to sign up.  Then, something good happened.  

The next day, we found a house, put in an offer, and it was accepted at $33,500.  It's needing work, so we are still not living there. It's 3000 sq ft, 5 bd, 2 bath. 

It's beautiful.  We can't wait to move in. 

Then, the end of a legacy. 

Hannah turned 13 on Dec 10.  We took her out to eat.  She came home and I was making her cake when I got the phone call. My grandfather, 94 years old, had fallen.  He said he was ready to go.  My aunt beeped in and my mom let me go.  She called back a few minutes later. Hesitant to answer because I just knew.  She said my grandfather had passed away. 

A strong man. He was buried with military honors.  

The next week I got a call from the newspaper. They wanted me to contribute with a story about me on homebirth.  They saw this blog.  It was featured on the front page on the Christmas Eve edition. 

Since then, Brent's friend Sean has moved out here.  They are out today talking to people and pricing things to get their business started.