hairspray anyone?

wow! wow! and wow! i was not expecting that to be my response to this movie, but it was in a big way...kinda like the hair in this movie. back in the day, 1988 that is, my sister and i watched this movie over, and over, and over again. we absolutely loved it (even though ricki lake kinda annoyed me). we knew every line in that darn thing. so when i heard they were making another movie (from the musical...which i haven't seen) i rented the old one because i thought kylee might like it. she did of course....so i thought it would be fun to have a little girls night and go see the new one last night.

and "oh my gosh" it was so awesome. the casting and the music were fabulous!!!!! it completely over exceeded my expectations. i was tapping my foot the entire time, and kylee was literally dancing in her seat (big surprise, huh?). she kept turning to me and smiling. it was so fun. i want to go see it again. i think i might even like the soundtrack. all morning long i've been singing the "good morning baltimore" song.

so if anyone is in the mood for a good musical, this is a must see!!!! A++

(the only casting flaw i thought was john travolta's part, i don't think he was the best pick...even though i think he is great, just not for that part. but what do i know? the man can dance!)

splish...splash...

rainy day fun! alan took the girls outside tonight to play in the rain. it was so fun to watch. lainey loved splashing around...actually, marching was more like it. up and down the curb they went...splishing a splashing. there is nothing like a warm summer rain.

sweet, simple moment

kids say the darndest things i tell you. yesterday i was caught by surprise by something kylee said....."mommy, when i am bigger and i am a mommy (everything is when "she is a mommy"), can i keep alaina?" of course i told her that she would have to check with alaina, but my heart was soaring. i love those simple moments of hope. a hope in which, despite all the bickering, screaming and pinching (alaina) that there is something deeper there between the two of them. i just relish in these moments of "pure love" for one another. we don't see that side as frequently as the screaming in frustration, the "alaina's pushing me", blah, blah, blah....because after all...they are normal little girls....with a pretty normal sisterly relationship. so you can see why like to emphasis the sweet things!

....now, did all that make sense?

ten years....really?

can i just say "oh my goodness....so freakin' weird!" last night i attended my ten year high school reunion. has it really been ten years? am i really approaching my thirties? i am in shock.

i am not sure what to say about last night...yet i feel like i want to say something. it was so bizarre being in a room (...or should i say "bar") with so many people that i interacted with on a daily basis for four years (some even longer)....yet haven't kept in touch with. i must explain that my junior and senior year were a little different and difficult. i was dealing with a few personal issues at the time, i was a little bored with the party scene and i graduated at semester. i guess you could say i became a little disconnected. so i was a little nervous about going, but thanks to mike and julie, and patsy n' company i felt much more at ease. i actually stayed a lot longer than i thought i would. my how people have changed...and some not so much. but who am i to talk, i have changed a lot since high school...praise the lord for that! and something else i noticed after looking at the picture above....what happened to my upper lip....where did it go? i used to have one....i think?

i can't believe that i have lived in kansas city my entire life and have never been to the overland park farmers market! seriously, that is just wrong. for my next outing i would like to go to the river market....yeah, never been there either. ridiculous! there are so many really neat places in kansas and i haven't been to half of them. it is something i really want the girls to experience. i guess the girls and i are should start having our very own field trips and start


learning a little more about k.c.. what made the event more special was that my dad joined us. we spent a little time at the market....buying every kind of fruit kylee could find, then went and took a few pictures at one of my favorite spots, then went to the plaza for lunch. how great is that? thanks so much dad for spending your morning with us. we had a great time.


tip of the day: when choosing a place to dine with the kids,

outdoors is the best. lainey typically does not sit still for very long, but being outside there was plenty to keep her attention...the music playing (which she couldn't stop dancing too), the birds eating her large crumbs on the ground and even an ambulance (sirens blaring.)

all in all, a great saturday morning!

a little peak

this is what it comes down to. the poor girl absolutely hates to have her diaper changed. i think it is because she has to stop moving. they just get heavier, and heavier....until there is no other way to go but down, down, down! alaina honey, i know you will one day not like that i posted this, but i couldn't resist...what parent could? at least you are somewhat covered. compared to most of my baby pictures, i was always buck naked. what the heck mom and dad? (just given' you a hard time.)
i absolutely LOVE this picture! on the forth of july we spent a little time downtown having our pictures taken. i had to twist donna's arm (not really) to take a few family shots. seeing as how the last ones we had was when alaina was only four months old. man, i can't believe that has been over a year ago. unbelievable where the time goes. thanks donna for doing this...they turned out great.

and i think i finally got a few good shots of the girls together....thanks to alan getting alaina to smile. she can be a real tough cookie when it comes to being photographed. a little non compliant if you know what i mean.

sunday snack

yummy, yum, yum! nothing better than warm chocolate chip banana bread and a cup of iced coffee on a cloudy sunday afternoon (though the sun did make an appearance). the kids were napping, the bananas were halfway out the door, so i thought what the heck....i'll bake. one large loaf, three mini loaves and eight muffins later i sat down to enjoy a wonderful treat. kylee came down after her nap to enjoy a few slices and a muffin....my little bottomless pit. i wish i could eat all that she does. it really doesn't seem fair, does it?

after naps we went outside while daddy cut the grass. bicycle lesson, chalk, umbrellas and balls....yeah, umbrellas (aliana loves them.) what a nice afternoon with the girls.

oh, here is the recipe for the banana bread...i.e muffins, bread, mini loaves....whatever.

3 T milk

1/2 tsp baking soda

3 bananas

1 C sugar

1/2 C margarine

1 egg

2 C flour (i used whole wheat)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

miniature chocolate chips (how ever many floats your boat)

Mix milk and baking soda. Mash bananas and add to mixture. Mix sugar, margarine and egg. Add this to mixture. Add flour, baking

powder, salt and vanilla. Stir until well blended. Bake in a loaf pan at 350 for one hour, or bake in cupcake pans for 20 min. (I think I baked the mini loaves for 30 min.)