How to Put a Lego Vehicle Together...

...without throwing it out the window!

Ah... you have to love Santa!  For months our precious son has been asking for the MTT... what is a MTT?  It is from a Star Wars movie and it is a big vehicle that apparently carries a lot of droids.  Leo had to explain this to us, because while we have seen the movies, we had no idea what this particular request was!  Well, since it is well-over $100 and also no longer in stores, Santa had to do the E-bay auction thing and after losing many to people with bigger wallets (or at least someone more willing to spend an arm and a leg) the illusive MTT was won.  

Little did we know that it would take over 5 hours to put together!

Russ organizing the pieces...
The 2 hour mark...

the 3 hour mark...
the 4 hour mark...
Janet taking Russ' pulse as he retreats into his happy place... oxygen standing by!
after 5 hours and change the MTT is assembled and ready to be destroyed by a 5 year old.
TA DA!!!!!

Christmas Morning

Okay!  So we drilled the kids before bed last night... do NOT get out of bed before 7am... do NOT go into the living room... yadda yadda yadda...  I think I overdid it because Leo's little lip stuck out and he teared up and said "but what if I forget"?  heart breaking... so I laid off.

Oh the excitement!  7:01 to be exact, we had two little monkeys jumping on OUR bed... then of course they ran into PK's room to wake her up as well...  

Putting together the MTT (apparently in is a robot transporter from Star Wars...  Santa is a rock star!

so... I also have a video from the morning but I need to figure out how to upload that...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  WE MISS YOU ALL!

We had a girl's night out for Lauren's birthday!!!!   Haven't stayed out that late in a long time!

Russ and I and David and Lauren went out on a double date to an awesome seafood restaurant in downtown Kansas City...  very pricey... but the best seafood I have had outside of the gulf coast!  YUM!

yes, that is Lobster Bisque in the photo... almost licked the plate!

Just some Catch Up!

I haven't updated this thing in a while!  The month of December was a whirlwind and I have to admit that I let Christmas catch up with me unprepared!  At the beginning, I was unmotivated and pretty down on the whole thing... the commercialism is really irritating.  I love to do things for people and give gifts, but the pressure of the season is daunting.  I like it better when I come across something that make me think of the person it would be perfect for... not the whole "you must by now and give at THIS time.  ugh.  But I got over myself and got my act together... albeit a bit late!  So here are some Thanksgiving (I told you I was late) pictures as well as a few random ones...  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!  May we all take a break and remember Jesus Christ!  He was happy with a drummer boy playing him a song!  

The new babies!  Leo and Savanah

I was able to visit with my friend Jackie King for a bit... expecting baby #2 any day now... in this picture anyway.  Gage was due the beginning of December...
A house divided.  
Leo Krumpe

Savanah!

The Turkey Trot

russ, the kids and i ran the Turkey Trot 5K race.  Leo rode his bike, but emma ran it with us...  well, we finished, but there were a LOT of tears and complaints.  At one point she almost quit, but she decided to finish and she was very happy that she did.  It was definitely one of those defining moments as a parent.  Being at one point so ticked off at your kid for whining and complaining, but at the same time knowing it was you who signed them up to do it.  Then sheer elation at the smile on their face when they finish...

Halloween!

more pictures to come...  out camera was dead, so these are just those sent to me so far...
This is me modeling the new flight suits... Russ' will have black fringe...
a few of the kiddos from the neighborhood...

Mr. Leo was a clone trooper... if you look very closely, you can see the duct tape on his blaster... he broke it immediately of course.  Emma was a girl jedi... she is in the middle of the group picture.  I will post more as my friends send them to me!
There were over 350 trick-or-treaters that came by last night...  

Emma's Girl Scout Initiation

Emma's Troop




I have a little girl scout!  Never thought that I would be the one walking her around the neighborhood to sell cookies rather than opening up a door to buy them!  Yes, she is taking phone orders!!!  

Pumpkin Patch with Leo

It was a rainy day at the Red Barn Farm...Walking over all the mud
petting the chicken



I did the Kindergarten Chaperone plunge to the pumpkin patch.  There was a farm and we got to tour all over and meet the animals!  Leo got to pick out his pumpkin and learn about all of the different types of pumpkins!  Of course it rained on us...  but it was a fun day!

Camping Trip

Well, we just returned from a camping trip in Oklahoma, Russ mom, dad, and grandpa met us there for a few days.  We did a lot of fishing (of which I caught a bunch of sorry looking very small good for nothing perch) and the kids spent a lot of time getting dirty...  so once I get this campfire smell out of everything I own, I will hopefully get some pictures up!  I will have to get some e-mailed to me since apparently my picture taking skills were not very good on this trip!

Running Ten Miles

Well, most of you know I am crazy, there are some who don't... so here is the story.  When you move to a new place (which I do every 2 to 3 years) it takes you a while to find your niche.  Some times you fall into a group of gals who like to go to lunch... some shopping... some scrapbook and/or quilt.  Well, in Leavenworth, I fell into a group of gals who like to run.  WHAT???  But I don't run!  Well Lauren and I were both in the same boat.  We did the occasional aerobics class and we liked to go to the gym... but that was the extent of it.  This became my social outlet, which I must say is better on the waist line than going out to lunch all the time! 

 Then came the "why don't you come running with us?"  

After my initial shock at the very idea of running, I managed to get out... "because I don't run."

That being said, Lauren had the same answer, but we decided to go on a 'walk' with them one day.  What the heck, let's try to run.  The first time I ran 2 miles (VERY SLOWLY I MIGHT ADD)  I cried and cried.  But I decided it was just a passing fancy, "run" a few miles a few times a week just to be social.  And by "run"  I was always embarrassed at the fact that all my friends were running 10-11 minute miles, me?  14 minute miles.  But they were very encouraging and never let me give up.  Slowly over the months my pace increased.  Not by much mind you, but I could start to see little improvements over time.  Then came the invite:

"We are going to do the Army Ten Miler in Washington DC... come with us"

Sure, I will go just for the girl trip!  What fun!  I can't run ten miles anyway... the farthest I had ever gone was 3.  Then there was a 10 K I did with Russ... but I can't do 10.  So I started attempting.  I would run 2 miles twice during the week, then on Saturdays Russ and I would get a sitter and go for a 'long' run.  (Russ by the way was my coach and my cheerleader.  He didn't let me give up and he was so supportive and encouraging).  Our first long run was 3 1/2 miles.  Worked up to 4, then 5, then 6 then 7 then 8...  THEN... foot injury.  I couldn't walk or move.  UGH!  So the verdict was... no more running because it would do more damage.  The race was in two weeks...  well, I road a bike or did an elliptical machine 3 times a week until the race and this past weekend, I accomplished something I never thought in a MILLION years that I would do.  I ran the Army Ten Miler in Washington DC.  My foot was not healed, so it wasn't pretty and it took me 2 hours and 10 minutes... but I did it.  I cried my way through mile 9 and limped across the finish line... but just doing it was one of the (outside of my family) best accomplishments of my entire life.  26,000 people were in the race... many of them were soldiers who had lost limbs in combat... what an inspiration.  The race began and ended at the Pentagon and the route took us by so much history it was inspiring and just surreal.  

They would not allow cameras, so I will have to wait to download the 'professional ones' taken at the race, but here are the before and afters!!!!  

Picking up the race packets!!!!!  it took us over an hour just to find a parking spot!
This is when we had finished the race... but it took us a while to get back to the camera...
Lauren and Katie finished at about 1 hour 50 minutes.... awesome!  Annalee a little less than that.  I took 2 hours and 10 minutes... but I did it!!!!
The best sign ever... it meant I was almost done!
We made time for a little bit of site seeing!

After the race, we hung out at the hotel and had a much needed cocktail!!!!!

Soccer Season has commenced

Emma and Leo had their first soccer games yesterday.  Unfortunately, they were at the same time on two different fields, so Russ took Emma to hers and I went to Leo's.  They both did fantastic.  I was really proud of Leo, he would have played the entire hour if they would have let him.  He really went after the ball with gusto!  Russ said that Emma did the same and had improved even though she chose to take a break from soccer last year.  Here you go!

They didn't get their jerseys until they showed up for the game...
Mr. Man and his bad self...
My future David Beckham
He was so funny, it was hot so he kept pouring water over his head just like 'a big boy'
cute...