FRMS Trooper Football

Chad's folks are always sure to visit us each fall and attend one of his games and last night was the night.  Fort Riley hosted Chapman, and although I don't remember the exact score, FRMS won.  That's all that matters right?  Hey, atleast I know THAT much, as you can imagine Riley was the least bit interested in the actual game.  She did make it through a quarter and a half of just sitting and soaking it all in, though.

 

Soon enough we became more interested in middle school girls belting out cheers, concession stand pizza, running the halls of the school and making piles out of the sand that surrounded the field.

 

I particuarly like this image, you can see Chad on the sidelines in the upper-left corner.

You gotta love middle school.  Kids are so awkward and sizes are all over the place.

 

 

One thing's for sure, Riley was sure happy to see her Daddy (as was he to see her).

 

 



If I throw it, they will get it

Video from our Houston weekend...looks like Riley has Marshall & Baylee trained.

I Heart Pinterest

This past weekend my friend Kiley and I together hosted a wedding shower for our friend, Sydney.  We've known about it for awhile, so I was able to put my pinning to good use and make a couple projects/gifts for her and I'm pretty proud of them if I do say so myself. :)

First up was this name sign.  Sooo incredibly easy.  I 'sic'ed Chad to find the wood and he was able to nab a piece of already-cut scrap wood at Menard's.  Win win.  I wish I would have done the main board the wine color and the frames white, but I guess I'll know for next time.

 

Next up was the towel cake.  I've seen gobs and gobs of diaper cakes in my day, but it wasn't until a friend made a towel cake for a wedding shower that I got the idea.  I began looking up the concept on Pinterest and saw a couple ideas.  The one I was going to tackle used THIRTY kitchen towels.  Who ever needs 30 kitchen towels?  So I decided to go to the Google king and I found this gem.  We didn't necesarily have a "theme" to the shower, so I used the bath towels and decorated it with kitchen utensils.

 

 

I attached the flowers with ordinary ol' sewing pins.  I wasn't sure how to go about keeping the entire thing together until a lightbulb went off:  a paper towel holder.  And it worked like a charm!

 

Lastly, we made truffles of which I made these wonderful Cake Batter Truffles.  I made the mistake of making them ahead of time, freezing them, then thawing on the counter so they cracked.  Boooo.  Either way, they were absolutely heaven-ish.  Kiley made the peanut butter and oreo truffles which were also to die for.  I guess you just can't go wrong with a truffle, am I right or am I right?!

 

 

Here's Sydney modeling her towel cake.

 

And her with us!  It had been awhile since I had been a part of a wedding shower (too many babies these days) and can't wait for the wedding NEXT weekend, woohoo! 



17 months

We are at the 17 month mark.  She loves stacking her blocks, Dad's shoes, getting her toenails painted, being outside, EATING, playing with our new neighbor friends, when her Da-da gets home, giving Holly treats (and feeding Holly from her fork), Mom's bracelets, and repeating words.  Or atleast trying to repeat them.  Usually they all come out the same, but one thing is for sure, she most definitely understands them!

Did you know crickets fly in Texas?

So this past weekend we (Mom, Riley, and I) made a surprise visit to Houston, Texas, for my aunt's 50th birthday.  We flew out of Kansas City Friday morning and had time to kill before the flight.

 

They were "hiding" from me around a corner...Boo!

We want YOU to sleep on this plane ride!

 



Of course, a trip isn't a trip without a few minor setbacks.  For instance, I know from experience that if you lose your driver's license after entering through security you freak out because you don't know how you'll be able to return.  But then are super relieved once a TSA agent finds it and brings it to you.

 

We arrived in Houston and had reserved a rental car since Hobby Airport is approximately one hour from Magnolia (where we needed to be).  We arranged for them to have a carseat ready for Riley, which they didn't.  "No biggie, here is a carseat," as she hands it to me.  I have never. installed. a carseat. in my life.  Chad always does it.  This began freak out mode in the 100%+ swamp-like humidity.  Luckily it was one you could just put the seatbelt through, whew.  Setback #2, conquered.  We head out toward I-45 and decide to eat at the first restaurant we see.  Las Hamacas, sounds perfect!  Until we realize they don't speak English.  At all.  Well, except for the manager, she spoke "un poco".  Turns out we were in little Honduras.  Those Hondurans make delicious quesadillas, though!

 

We surprised Jill at a restaurant in Bryan (Grandma & Doug drove from Dodge).

 

 

 

Afterwards we watched Marshall's marching band at the Bryan Rutter vs. Magnolia football game.  Yes, THIS is where the flying crickets made their appearance and in mass quantities.  Creepy.

 

The next day brought playing around the pool,

 

 

 

 riding in golf carts,

 

 

drum lessons,

 

 

and surprising Aunt Jill AGAIN at a surprise birthday party!

 

 

We decided that Riley needs her own personal teenager.  She loved Marshall, Baylee, and their friends.  Anyone know where we can find one she could call her own?

 

 

We had to drive back to the airport the next day.  Tear.  We had no clue how early to leave Magnolia and have enough time to make it through downtown, return our rental car, and go through security.  Turns out we were off by about, oh, say, two hours or so.  This is when the creativity came out regarding airport toddler entertainment and we pulled all of our rabbits out!

 

 



Mini-Wildcat

So we haven't yet taken Riley to an actual K-State football game, but that doesn't mean she can't support them from home! She donned her K-State cheerleading uniform for the K-State/Miami game the second weekend of September.

It's impossibly hard to get a good picture of her anymore. Especially because she ignores me when I have the camera in my hands. *sigh*

Meanwhile, Aaron's bachelor party was this day and Chad hosted the gang to watch the game on TV and then play yard games all afternoon before the real festivities took place. Riley ate this up.

Holly seemed to look outside and pout because we wouldn't let her join them. It sure is rough being a dog (that thinks she needs to rendezvous around the neighborhood at any given opportunity).

Peacocks, an unwilling Da-da, & no pants

Ok, so I've reallllly been slacking on this whole blog thing for the past month.  I apologize, I have no excuse other than pure laziness.

Labor Day weekend we happily spent at home.  We usually take advantage of the extra day by traveling, but every once in awhile it sure is nice to just stay put, so that is what we did.  We (I use that term loosely) decided to take Riley to the zoo, her FIRST visit, woohooo, yay, how exciting, right?  Well not for every member of the party.  I love Chadder to death, but some things he doesn't show much interest in and zoos are one of them.  Top that off with 93 degrees/93% humidity and Riley dabbing her sippy cup of milk all over her pants on the trek there causing her pants to be soaking wet with milk we were all happy campers!  I thought we needed to go back home to change her (note to self: make sure you ALWAYS have an extra set of clothes, duh).  Chad thought otherwise.  We were either going to go home and stay home or let her run around with no pants on.  So, we were "those" parents that let their child run around half naked.  Go us.  She did have her bow on, so that balanced it out, right?

 

She liked the monkeys and honestly, they are my favorite part of the zoo, too.  I could watch them for hours.

 

That evening we visited the Moody's and baby Amaia (who was 7 days old!).  Riley wasn't too sure about her and was NOT going to allow for her momma to hold the baby without holding her too.  She did warm up eventually to the idea.