Tea Party

I was going through my photos tonight and came across these little gems. Mia was invited to an intimate little tea party at her friend Olivia's a couple months ago where she got to dress up, enjoy a beautifully set table full of goodies and a photo shoot. No 4 year old girl could think of a better way to spend the day. These photos just crack me up...

The Wallace Visit: Science City

On Steve and Francine's last day, we headed back downtown to Science City at Union Station, but not before stopping off at Oklahoma Joe's. It's KC barbecue at it's finest. It's in a gas station, people, and the Z-Man sandwich is to die for. Brisket in any form is fine by me, but Oklahoma Joe's does it right. Anthony Bourdain even said that it's one of the 13 places to eat before you die...that's what I kept telling Mike while we waited with 10 kids in a line full of college kids and business people on their lunch break...in a gas station. I'm thankful that Francine said "it's all about the experience," and it was. Mike was a tad underwhelmed, but I can rest knowing that I exposed them to some proper KC BBQ (we also went to an adults only dinner at Jack Stack, another BBQ fave).

It was a feat getting seats close to each other. Note Bob in his BBQ-induced stupor.

The kids agreed with Anthony Bourdain...

Next stop, Science City

The boys...

The Wallace Visit: Crown Center

On the 4th day of the Wallace Invasion, we headed into downtown Kansas City to Kaleidoscope at Crown Center. Hallmark is based in KC, and sponsors the free art sessions. The kids can run wild and craft, draw, glue and paint to their hearts' delight. It's really a very special place, and the kids enjoy themselves every time we go.

One of many, many snack times on the go...

Mike's expression is priceless...I get this look a lot from Bob's brothers.

Aidan & Kyle

Uncle Mike is mighty crafty!

Next, we headed over to another perennial kids' favorite, Fritz's, for lunch. It's a diner that's famous more for the atmosphere than the food. It's famous for the trains that deliver the food on a little track that runs overhead. It NEVER gets old.

You place your order on an authentically crackly old fashioned phone.

Watching for the train...

Keep an eye out for wild animals on the tracks...

The cool kids...

You probably thought that the Wallace family had its fill of activities for the day, but noooo, after lunch, we headed out to the famous Crown Center fountains for some fun in the water. It was a blast...all the kids (except for Jack) loved it.

Some of my favorite photos...

One little Sarah...

Hey Mia!

Here comes Stevie...

The Wallace Girls...


Super Conner

The Wallace Visit: Blueberry Pickin'

On Day 3 of the Wallace Invasion as it has become fondly known, we headed out to The Berry Patch in Cleveland, MO, about 15-20 minutes from our house, just over the state line. None of us have ever been blueberry picking before so I thought it would be a nice, Midwest thing for us to do. The whole week we could never get out of the house before 11am, so by the time we arrived, there was an insanely long line of people waiting to pay for their big bags full of beautiful blueberries (read on, and you'll find out why I say that with sarcasm). Who thought so many people would be out picking blueberries on a Tuesday morning? Anyway, we got our instructions, tied our buckets around our waists, and headed out.

Olivia demonstrating proper blueberry picking form. Grasp the bunch of blueberries in your hand and gently detach from the branch.

Steve demonstrating. Of course, he managed to turn it into something gross.

Stevie showing us how it's done.

Our crew of pickers...how many berries will end up in the buckets?

Once we got to our designated patch, we soon discovered that all those crazy people in line had thoroughly de-blueberried the blueberry patch like a swarm of locusts! So a tip from another picker led us to another patch that basically consisted of all the missed and under ripe berries. We still had a TON of fun finding viable berries and swore to find a way to make them into something yummy.

We did use those blueberries several times that week. One morning we had pancakes with homemade blueberry sauce. Another day, we had blueberry waffles. I cooked up a batch of peach and blueberry cobbler that was pure heaven. With the leftovers, I made a few jars of blueberry syrup. Not a single blueberry went to waste!

We were pretty wiped out by the time our picking was done. This is one of my favorite photos of Sarah melting down and Stevie at her side, consoling her. Cousins are the best!

The Wallace Visit: Deanna Rose

Anyone with kids in the Kansas City area knows about Deanna Rose Farmstead. We go several times during the spring and summer, and we love every visit. It's beautiful, laid back, nearby and free!

We packed a lunch and started out at the picnic area. Poor Bob was having a back flareup and couldn't make it to the farm with us. Steve and Mike were available for comic relief...I can't look at these photos without cracking up.

Playing in the water...

Uncle Steve and the BFFs...


One of my favorite photos...sums up perfectly Aidan and Kyle's relationship.

Feeding the goats...note Jack pulling the goats' tails.


Riding the ponies...

Merci doing the Jack expression...

The Wallace Visit: Day 1

Mike and Heidi and the kids showed up late Saturday night after a three day drive. Since Steve and Francine were arriving with the girls Sunday afternoon, we decided that it should be a day for relaxing. We took the kids to the park and just hung around the homestead. The cousins took to each other almost immediately...isn't that the best thing about cousins? I remember having a blast with mine.

Doing what kids do...finding opportunities to fall in muddy water.