Date Night - Out of Town

Beaumont?  I know people are saying where is that?  Well,  it is in Kansas - off hwy 400 - East of Wichita. Game night has ended - guys won and we decided to go spend the night in Beaumont at the bed and breakfast hotel.  The hotel has been there for 100 years.  This is a little town with a lot of history.  The main thing it is known for - you can fly your plane, land on the small air strip, drive it into town and park across from the hotel.  People come in from all over to eat at the cafe and the hopes of a plane coming down the street.

The first thing I noticed when we arrived was how quiet it was - perfect after a long week at work and a noisy two year old.  I think one other couple spent the night besides us.  We had the place to ourselves.  If we wanted more ice - we had to go into the kitchen in the cafe to get it.  We joked about frying up some hamburgers later that night if we got hungry.  The cafe (50's style) closed at 9:00 and then it was just us.  They have a sun room that we spent most of the evening in.

We sat outside waiting for our friends to arrive

Russ tried to get a picture of everyone in the dinning room during dinner

We had so much food - it was very good - stuffed I couldn't eat dessert, but Dea sure did

Pan Fried Catfish was the special

Don't ask what these two were doing - I don't even know

After dinner we took a walk outside - Dea wanted to explore the inside of this building.  She found out that it was for sale - I think they were asking $30,000 or so for it.  It was 4,000 sq feet.  Perfect for a business and then you could have your living quarters in the back.

Historic Water Tower

Dea and Adam

Can see why I need to work out!

Dea and I thought it would be funny to look we were tied to the railroad tracks

Dorks - I know

Some how we got to talking about crossing your eyes

Russ always thinks he is doing it (but he can't)

Sooo to prove to him and Adam that they weren't doing

I took a picture

Our breakfast the next morning - it is included - you can order anything off the menu

While we eating breakfast this little plane flew in.   Earlier in the morning there had been three others.

It was a great time getting away from the responsibilities of home

Thanks - Amy & Frank; Adam & Dea for going

It was a great time!

We decided that we will have to make it a yearly trip.

For more information click  Beaumont

"Nymastics"

This is how London and I spend every Thursday from 5:00 - 5:30 PM.  Each day when I pick her up from daycare she will ask  "nymnastics today?"

They warm up by running, skipping and doing different stretches

London doing a V-sit

building strength

log rolls down the mat

forward rolls

She is working with her teacher to do cartwheels

Trying to do them on her own and trying to kick Rianna's hand

getting the feel to do back walkovers

practicing the springboard

The bar is not one of her favorite things to do

but here she is trying to walk up the mat and then we will  help flip her over

They get to jump and play in the "pit' at the end.   When we first started I could barely get her into it.  Now, she will jump and ask that we throw her into it.

She really enjoys gymnastics.  It gives her some time with Mommy and other friends outside of daycare, she builds coordination and strength, and learns to follow directions.  Last week she was able to walk on the balance beam herself, make some small jumps and did a V-sit on the balance beam.  She was very proud of herself.

Thursdays are fun days

Block Party

We had our annual 4th of July Block party on Friday night

It was a good thing because it basically rained the rest of the weekend

We started by having the street blocked off and the kids got to ride their bikes in the street

Bonzai Falls - It was a big hit again this year

Everyone enjoyed it - except London

I am a mean mommy

I did send her down once - she politely  informed me she did not like it

but Megan said she would of done the same thing

London choose to show off her cartwheel abilities instead

Amy J mixed up some sidewalk paint

I think this was London's favorite activity - she painted until it was all gone

Real simple - you mix equal parts or cornstarch and water and add food coloring

mix it with a hand mixer and presto - you've got paint. 

Our street looked great. The paint gets brighter as it drys

Sweet Baby Gretchen enjoying the activities

We also had a firecracker walk

Water balloon toss

I think it turned out to be more of a water balloon fight

London not sure what to do with them

Then came out the food

It was great - we had way more food than we needed (as always)

This was the last picture I took

not sure what happened but I guess I was enjoying the visiting and eating

just enjoying the moment - watching all the kids have so much fun together

 The firework display was great

Thanks to all the guys that took time to shoot them off

I think it was  11:00 PM by the time I took London into bed

Sorry I missed the adult after hour water balloon fight

Once again we've proved we've got the BEST neighbors

My neighbors blogged it  - you can see all the pictures I missed

amy d blogged it here

amy j blogged it here

megan d blogged it here

Our weekend was packed with 4th of July activities

Saturday morning we got up and went to the Chisholm Trail parade

with some help from Jackie Quiring and Jackie Wedel 

she learned how to be aggressive and get the parade candy

then it rained all afternoon

John and Shanna came over for dinner

I must say - it was a very fine dinner - steak, crab legs, salad, potatoes and apple pie

Don't ask what these two are doing - DORKS

who loves each other more?

the rain stopped for a little bit so we shot off a few fireworks

waiting for snakes

London learning to do sparklers

I remember that we took sparklers and would throw them into the air

probably wasn't very safe - but they did look cool

No mosquitoes around here tonight

I love those fountains

Thanks John & Shanna for coming over

It was a great time together!

Watch out for the little one with sparklers

Sunday we woke  up and yes, it was raining again

I did a brunch

Later in the afternoon we went to John and Liz's house for a BBQ

they invited us out early to swim - to hang out an relax

very disappointing with the rain taking this opportunity away from us

The rain did quit once we got there

London decided to get into the pool - even though her swimsuit was at home

this is Morgan - another little girl - they had fun splashing around together

 

John & Liz have a beautiful home - the deck is awesome and now the backyard is finished

with a pool and this beautiful landscaping

Liz wanted to make sure that something was always blooming, flowers to cut & green in the winter

I always enjoy spending time in their backyard

heck I could take just the deck/pool/yard and be very content

I have this beautiful landscaping - what a photo opportunity

Yes,  this is what I got

Really - Pocket Baby would it be that hard to give me a smile with your eyes open?

John & Lizzy (as London calls her) - thank you so much having us over

We had a great time and always appreciate coming over

Liz is probably one of the best hostess I know - always goes above and beyond

That was the end of our fun weekend

Monday - work day at home