2017 :: week 11

March 12

Several weeks ago the kids started asking where we going for Spring Break. Last year we went to Utah and had a great time, but we've been to Utah twice since then. We have a few trips planned with family in the coming months so we decided it would be best to do something small. We've also talked about going to the Omaha Zoo for months. It seemed like the perfect time to do so. After church (ward conference where Anthony gave a great talk on charity) we drove the three hours to Omaha. Our first stop was the Mormon Trails Visitor Center at Historic Winter Quarters. It was actually our second stop because I accidentally put the address to the Kanesville Tabernacle in Council Bluffs. I didn't even know that existed! It closed right before we got there or we would have stopped. The kids weren't pleased with my little detour. Our visit to the visitor's center was really fun. It was good for Anthony and me to brush up on our church and family history.

March 13

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo was the centerpiece of Spring Break plans. You always hope for the best when you make plans in advance, but as I checked the weather as our trip got closer I started to get concerned. Lots of people told us not to worry, that much of the zoo is indoors. Freezing temperatures and snow were not my idea of fun. It was 22 degrees, windy and snowy as we walked in to the zoo. Luckily that was the low point of the outing. The zoo is impressive! We were there for about six hours. Our favorite parts were the aquarium, jaguar, white tiger, and jungle. I think. There was so much it is hard to remember.

March 14

Last summer I bought a membership to a science museum that is part of the ASTC Passport Program. We were able to get into the Omaha Children's Museum for free! It's a pretty good museum! Other than losing Lauren for about two minutes right after we arrived (it was spring break in Omaha too and with the bad weather it was crowded!) we had a really good time. And incredibly enough, we ran into two people we know from KC. After lunch we headed home. It was a quick trip, but we were able to fit in a lot of stuff and make some fun family memories.

March 15

We were all pretty tired after we returned home from Omaha. We were off to a slow start Wednesday morning until I saw a post on facebook that some friends were going to be at the Lenexa Open Gym. The kids were excited about the prospect of going, so we all hurried to get out the door. Elliott was left alone in the kitchen with a cereal box that hadn't been put away. He was incredibly pleased to show off his handiwork as I walked into the TV room.

March 16

The forecast promised sunshine and (relatively) warmer temperatures for the latter half of the week. Our ward has recently started weekly meet-ups, and the kids were excited to participate, but when we arrived it was windy and I was not sure if we'd stay long. I hate wind. We ended up having a really good time. Several friends came and the wind died down. Elliott is getting to the age where he wants to participate in everything the big kids are doing. He can't quite keep up and often gets in the way of what they are trying to do. He also ate some dirt, which Lauren found pretty unimpressive.

March 17

Friday night we went on an adventure. We drove to Anthony's work and parked our van, walked to a streetcar stop, rode to the City Market, picked up some beingets at the City Market then walked along on the riverfront. The Missouri River looked gorgeous as the sun set. We had such a fun time together, the kids really like navigating their way through town.

March 18

I gave all three John men haircuts Saturday afternoon. Our friend Tay got baptized that evening, so after Anthony and Will helped at two different moves we squeezed in the haircuts.