The weather has decided to coorperate with us, so yesterday me, Grandpa, Scott, Adam and Zach headed to Burr Oaks nature center and let the boys walk off some energy. We took a 1/2 mile nature walk and saw dead bugs, mushrooms growing out of trees, squirrels and birds. It was so warm that the boys didn't wear any coats. Inside the center we saw live snakes, turtles and fish, and a stuffed bobcat, beavier, eagle and a few other things that I can't remember. After, we stopped to play at Pink Hill Park. We met Grammy for lunch at PT's...a diner that specializes in pork tenderloin sandwiches. We all enjoyed our food and decided we were so full we may not even eat dinner!

Today me, Scott and the boys headed out to Fort Osage, an 1812 reconstructed historic fort overlooking the Missori River. It served as one of the first military outposts and government trade houses in the Louisiana Purchase. You could go into the barracks and lookout towers, which even had old cannons in them! The "Factory" showed how a military officer might have lived...the bedroom and kitchen. The boys decided the bed did not look comfortable. Downstairs was a place where they skinned animals (it has a certain name, but I can't think of it now). There were animal hides around, and the boys were a little leery of the one with the bears' head attached, with his mouth open showing his teeth!

Today we went to Union Station to see the model trains that are set up at Christmas each year. It's become somewhat an annual thing...and even though Adam tells me he's too old for trains, we stood there for about an hour and watched.

Then we walked over to Crown Center and let the boys run off some steam. As a rotating exhibit, Crown Center usually has a room set up for kids with different themes. It's been a forest, "What do you want to be when you grow up" dress up, and this time it was a Crayola obstacle course. The boys were almost to old for it, but they went through it about 20 times and seemed to enjoy themselves.

After that, it was off to the much-anticipated Fritz's restaurant, where a train brings your food to you.

For the grand finale, Adam, Zach, Scott and Grandpa rode the glass elevator to the very top floor and back down again!

The boys were up at 6:01 am today. They came into our room (already dressed for the day) to wake us up to see what was under our tree. We managed to talk them into letting us sleep for about 10 more minutes, then we couldn't hold them off any longer. Favorite gifts included Lego's (as you can see from the video below) and BaKuGons.



After all the gifts were opened (6:45 am), the boys headed downstairs to put their new Lego's together. I made some much-needed coffee and jumped in the shower, and Scott may have gone back to bed for a few minutes. We didn't hear a peep out of Adam and Zach until it was time to open stockings (3 hours later). Mom, Dad and Grandma Agnes came over for brunch of sausage and egg casserole, fruit, and pancakes. Then we loaded up the van and headed to KC.

Snow day!

We put Adam to work shoveling the snow (his idea). After he cleared the porch, he informed me that he should get paid $10 for doing this kind of work.


Here is Zach with his face in the snow (his idea). Then he got upset because he got snow on his face and it was making his face wet. Well, if you put your face in snow, you're going to get wet!

We attended Zach’s preschool Christmas program today. More than 70 four and five year olds…along with about 100 admirers attended this world-class concert. Video cameras were a-rolling and flashbulbs were popping. Zach was in the front row and waved at us as he walked in.








They sang 12 songs including Jingle Bells (Zach’s favorite), Special Star, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.







After the program we had apple juice and apple cider and Christmas cookies...that was the most exciting part of the whole day, as you can imagine.

Here he is singing We Wish You A Merry Christmas.