What a crazy fun week we had while mom was in Kansas! I knew I had her for a full week and I wanted to take full advantage of her talents so I made a long lists of to-do's, planned all the days out, and we got a ton of stuff done and had a ton of fun!
She flew in Thursday morning so we went and picked her up right after Jackson's first full day of preschool. We stopped and McD's on the way home for the kids to spend some time in the play place. We got home and Drew went down for a nap so we got started on our projects and mom taught Jackson how to do heel exercises. (Jackson has been obsessed about learning about exercising. Somehow he has it stuck in his head that he is supposed to learn how to exercise at Preschool. After his 1 st day he came home and told me, Well Ms. Patty didn't get on the floor and teach me how to exercise). First on the list of projects were to make valances for my bedroom. We got them measured and cut. (Good thing since we didn't get back to them until Monday night)!
When the boys woke up, we made our trip to the mall. Though we were there for a short time, We did a lot of damage! It was awesome! They boys will be nicely decked out in their fall soccer clothing with shoe and hat accessories. The boys enjoyed going on the carousel and playing in the play place. We could spend days in that mall, but best that we didn't. I came out with 2 new tops and jewelry. It's nice to have something new and cute in the closet!


Friday was a FULL day at the Zoo! What a fun time we had. The boys were all smiles the whole time and I couldn't believe they lasted through the afternoon, much less with smiles! Sweet Drew fell asleep in his car seat before we made it out of the parking lot.





Saturday we headed to Union Station with Adam. What a COOL place! Can't wait to go back!! They had so many cool things there to do and see and the building is absolutely beautiful! The best of all was the model train rooms which was a free exhibit and was perfect for the boys! There was an incredible number of model trains racing around towns, mountains, through tunnels and trestles and the boys were elated! They have done an incredible job and we really enjoyed watching them and seeing the boys so excited with the moving trains.
After the station we hustled over to the Crown Center for a bite at Fritz's and then hurried home for Adam and to go watch Sporting Kansas MLS game with another couple (They won, and played awesome!)
Sunday was also a whirlwind! Adam and I got to speak in church and spoke on temples. I got to teach my first RS lesson in the ward also on temples. It was so nice to have mom their to help.





(Sporting one of my new tops:))
It's a blur to me now, but mom did an INCREDIBLE job with the boys costumes for Halloween. Jackson decided he wants to be Super Snap and Drew will be Superman. (A superhero from an episode of Backyardigans). I say it is a blur because she worked on them in our "spare time" all week. Mostly she worked late and through nap times. We stopped at stores while the boys were sleeping in the car and made late night runs to JoAnns. They turned out darling and I know the boys will LOVE their capes! THANKS MOM!



Monday we went to the infamous Deanna Rose Farmstead! Admission is free, and their are TONS of activities, storytelling, playground and animals to keep you busy for hours! There are also a few charged things that are fun too like hayrides and feeding baby goats with bottles. Again the boys were amazing and had lots of fun into the late afternoon. A few highlights were the misty sprinklers where Drew and Jackson ran and played train, the playground where they could "ride" ride the animal and do pretend racing, feeding the turkeys when Jackson got bit twice but didn't scare him or warrant a concerned whine (I was shocked.), and the hayride.












Tuesday morning we took Jackson to preschool, with his "All about me" poster in hand along with a new backpack from Grandma. After that me, mom and Drew headed to Hobby Lobby to look around for some decor for my mantle. Oh, Hobby Lobby how I had missed you! Walked away with a 16x20 pic frame, lantern, and DARLING picks for Christmas for an arrangement.




We picked up Jackson, went to Chic-fil-a and then to the Mall for a "grandma/Jackson date". Jackson said Drew could come, which worked out great.

We had a wonderful time and it would have been hard to leave... BUT, I'll be home in a month for Time Out for Women so it was just a see you later! Fill me in on what I left out mom! Thanks for such a fun week!

Just because

I wish so badly that I could remember ALL the funny things my Jackson tells me on a daily basis. He is quite the precocious 3 year old that is not a small sponge, but a HUGE sponge. If I say something once, he not only remembers it, but he remembers the words I used and how I used them. Nothing gets passed this kid. Since I can't remember everything he says, let me just have a snapshot of a couple of things from today that I can remember.

I took the boys to the library and I said out loud I wasn't sure if I knew exactly how to get there. I made it and as I pulled into the spot Jackson says "Mom! You made it! We are here and you did it without your GPS! I knew you could do it".

We were headed home from the library and I went home a different direction which included going over railroad tracks. He said, Mom, why are you going over these tracks, we didn't go over any on our way to the library?



He is adjusting well to the move and seems to enjoy the bigger house and outside yard. He still seems to get a little confused everyone now and then about not living in Lexington. When we went to KY for the Bylundfest, the night before he asked me, "But aren't we going to take any of my toys?" He was so sincere. I think he thought we were moving back to Lexington.

A couple days ago we passed a house with a swing set that looked a lot like his cousin' Ashley's. He said "Mom, that is Ashley's swing set." and followed up a couple minutes later with, "Why aren't we going to go and visit her?"

Potty training was a MAJOR success!! It deserves its own post, but I figured I would put this in since I am thinking of it. I put him on the potty a few days ago and noticed his underwear was a bit wet already and I said, "Jackson, did you have an accident?" and he said, "No mom! Accidents are when the pee pees come out and go down my leg. I did NOT have any pee pee come down my leg, See?." And proceeds to point to his dry legs. Ha Ha.

This little baby of mine Drew is growing by the day now! He is up to Jacksons' shoulders in height now and watches Jackson like a hawk all day long. He tries nearly everything Jackson does including the fit throwing and whining--he will often intimate these while Jackson is doing them and he has absolutely no reason to be upset, he just watches and intimates him.

He is starting to say words though that are not always distinguishable, but he is obviously trying to repeat things as he has the tones and inflection of words we say just perfect! He gets oh so excited over any kinf of construction vehicle and especially enjoys "Choo choo" trains!!! He loves to bring me books all day long to sit down and read. They are usually cars, trucks, airplane or flap books. He loves bringing me his shoes almost just as much and almost as often. His sweetness has been proven again when he gets devoured by the misquitos here in KS. He can barely walk outside our house before he gets one.
He is a great eater and is not one to turn down food. He finds cups and pulls them out all the time holding them up for me to fill them drink. He is a great signer when it comes to crakcer, please, thank you, more, and all done. He has started saying many of these now, though only his mother who is with him all day understand them.

They have started to play and enjoy each other more and more. The bathtub is one of their favorties and they do really well together.

I sure love my little buddies!

Reynolds meet in the middle!

I had know idea that living in the center of the country would really ever have any perks. But this weekend it totally did!
While we were in California I was talking about how tough it would be for me to go back to Kansas after the Bylund reunion--(that's, right, I did NOT call it home... not yet. At some point I will try. Just not quite ready). She quickly chimed in she had nothing going the rest of the summer and would love to come see where we live! She knows how I love anticipation, and this would give me something to look forward too! LOVE YOU WENDY!
So we hadn't been back in KS for 48 when I get a call and she has found a ticket and is ready to click purchase! As things evolved over the next few weeks it worked out that the weekend she was to come Larry could have flown home to CA but instead, they met each other in the middle at our little Casa de Reynolds! Wendy flew in Wednesday morning and Larry flew in Thursday night. It was such a fun few days for a whole family!! Pretty much everything we did we all did together for the first time. First Costco run in KS, first movie trip, first time to Liberty Jail, first up close drive by at the temple, first time to Home Goods. But then there was the famous trip to Fritz that no one will go without if they come to visit us!:)

A picture of Jackson inside Liberty Jail with Joseph Smith in the background. Jackson kept saying he didn't want to leave and he wanted to hear the story again. He knew a fair amount about the story because he was fascinated by the picture of Joseph kneeling in the jail that is in the Gospel Art Kit. He reminded me on our way home that the Joseph in this jail was just plastic and not real.

We are soooooo soooo soooo excited there there will be a temple in Kansas!!! WAHOOO! We have heard lots of rumors of when it will really be done, but have not seen anything in print from the church for an official opening. The outside is done, there are still windows to be worked on and landscape is in progress. Should be fun to watch it and be a part of the dedication and open house. Who wants to come and visit us when it happens...!? We have an extra room and basement! ... any takers?


Each time we go to Fritz at the Crown Center we also go to the little explore play place put on by crayola. Right now they have a rainforest exhibit. Jackson loved being the explorer complete with real binoculars (He's been really into those recently), compass, flashlight and vest.
We went up to the clinic before going to dinner so Larry and Wendy could really check out the clinic and envision what Adam does all day. Since it was Friday evening there weren't really many patients so the boys got to sit in the chairs and Adam gave them a little water and air from the tools.
Love this look of Drews'. It's classic. He likes to look up at you first with just his eyes before bringing his head up.



Papa keeping Drewsies awake so he'd take a nap when we got home from our adventures!