1st Annual Gaylord St Festival After Party

Memorial Day weekend in our house was a blast.  Ryan was home from work "early" on Friday evening and the fun began Saturday with a surprise party BBQ for his co-worker Justin.  On Saturday night we even got to enjoy A House of Cards episode and act like it was only Friday night.  On Sunday we slept in and then quickly got to work on the final prep for the 1st Annual Gaylord St Festival After-Party at the Heimer Haus.  Gaylord St was host to the Halloween fun and Hayride I have previously blogged about.  They are definitely most famous though for 34 straight years of a street festival on the Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend.  The fun at the festival includes vendor booths, food, live music, plenty of adult beverages and plenty of fun for the kiddos. 

Wichita friends Blake and Betsy (who live here now) were thrilled that one of their favorite bands played. 

 

We were there from about noon until 3 on Sunday before Ben made it very clear that a nap would be very important to him surviving the day.  MeeMee and I walked him home and when I laid him down to rest he just repeated, "Ben have fun, Ben have fun," as he tried to get up.  Ryan made it home shortly after and took him for a drive to force a nap.  If only we'd known then how important that would be.

Ben was a lone dancin' fool :)

this inflatable Ninja Course was Ben's favorite.  It wasn't long before he realized he was unreachable when in the middle of it.

People started arriving right at 4 so we fired up the grill a little earlier than promised.  Throughout the afternoon and evening, more than 40 of our friends and family came for short and looooong visits to help us Welcome Summer.

 

we were ready for the onslaught of little kiddos

our new table with both leaves fit ten people with ease :)

Friends Jay and Onie and their son Peter and new addition Maura were in Denver visiting other friends and they all came for the fun.  My one regret of the day was not having more time to talk with Onie as she and I had lots in common when we lived in Wichita.

 

Here Ben is trying to bargain with Aunt Amy to skip the hot dog.

 

 

the Stramel clan including New-roof DeDe

 

Most people were gone by about 9pm but a smaller group stayed and we all chatted on the deck until just past 11 while the kiddos watched a movie.  Ben finally settled to sleep a little before MIDNIGHT!! I kept thinking I was being such a bad mom but I was surrounded by a table full of equally delinquent parents and the kids were all having a blast so, cest la vie!

We all slept in very late Monday, but we had drink and ride tickets left from Sunday to use at the festival so we wandered back for a couple hours.  A few trips through the obstacle course for Ben and a couple strong cocktails for Mom and Dad meant we were all ready for the 3 hours nap that shortly ensued.

We enjoyed chilaquiles al fresco Monday morning.

 

 

The sun through the jars Monday morning was amazing.

The weekend and late evening were all so delightful that I was quoted as saying we'd host the same every Saturday all Summer.  I'm not sure our neighbors or waistlines would be too pleased with that but I'm certainly looking forward to next year.

HE LOVES ME!!!! and Tante too :)

Tante is in China for school and a couple nights ago she was on the receiving end of the first human "I love you," from Ben via FaceTime.  I'm still convinced Jelly received the actual first.
Today I got my first few and it feels just as wonderful as I'd hoped.  Ben's vocabulary is just absolutely taking off right now and it's very fun and still quite shocking when he repeats nearly everything we say.

I had kind of been thinking Ben's napping might come back into play and this week could just be a factor of his sickness but..........

 

One minute he was playing happily with that newly re-batteried (it's a word in toddler parent circles) book and the next....silence.

So, for a while I'm going to give him the option at about 2:30 every day to lay with Jelly in his room and we'll see what happens.  I did try that today and he wouldn't have it.  Clearly he was still in need and I'm glad he finally gave in.

I love you too my Prince!!

"Anna OUTside"

In today's miracle occurrence, Ben just put himself down for a nap!! Walked in his room, grabbed Jelly, laid down and was out in less than 3 minutes.  He was under the weather with a fever but no other symptoms this week so he's been napping but he's also been chattering away in the middle of the night.  I was hopeful he'd skip the nap today so I'd get a more restful night's sleep but clearly he needs a break after being back at school today.

So, here I am with some unexpected blogging time, (what dishes? what laundry?)  I had noted to write this post a couple weeks ago when we started playing outside on the regular.

Ben is VERY loving and gentle to both his dogs but interacts with Luke a bit more, most likely because Luke is more mobile.  He is always on top of me about giving Anna her vitamin (medicine) though and since outside play has begun he always wants, "Anna OUTside!"  He magically notices if she goes inside to escape the heat and follows her in and calls her back out. 
Anna's hips work less well everyday and she will be 14 in November.  I'm not sure how many months she has left with us but my heart is warmed with each and every interaction Ben has with her. 

summer is here!!

Well, technically our VERY late Spring is just finally here but with days near 90 this week, it sure feels like we just skipped Spring.  Thankfully we've calmed back down and even have some mid-60's forecast next week.
We didn't hesitate to get the water table out and it entertains Ben for lots longer periods this year than last. :) I'm not sure yet how filling it daily works in with our incredibly strict drought watering restrictions but I'm thankful it's well-hidden in the back yard.

Mother's Weekend

Mother's Weekend at the Heimer Haus was quite delightful.  On Friday evening Tante stopped by for some camera tutorial as she is heading to China for two weeks and bought the same camera we have to capture her trip.  I needed to buy a gift certificate so we all headed to Bonnie Brae for the good stuff.

Ryan had to go to work for a few hours on Saturday morning and Tante happily stayed to watch Ben so I wouldn't miss my run.  Up next was Ben's classmate Shea's birthday party at The Butterfly Pavilion.  Each kiddo was allowed one guest so I sent the boys and got busy.  A mowed lawn, 4 loads of laundry, 3 finished Mother's Day gifts, and a clean house later, they came home just in time for the Mother's Day relaxing to begin.  Ben had actually fallen asleep and we miraculously transferred him to his bed for a little nap.

On Saturday evening we headed to MeeMee's to BBQ at her request.  It was fun to be together as Molly will be gone on MeeMee's birthday and it was nice to have the whole weekend so each Mom could spend some time doing what they really wanted.  We ended up watching The Secret Life of Timothy Green which I've wanted to see forever and (despite everyone asking me if "I really wanted to do this" after I was bawling only moments in,) which was a great Mother's Day movie.
Mother's Day began early as we choose the 8 am seating at Sassafras American Eatery.  3 weeks before it was either 8am or 2 pm so I'm thankful we're all morning people.  The food and historic house were scrumptious and we will go back.  Ben also had his first taste of juice here and loved it-of course.  I gave DaDa the look and juice will continue to be a rare thing in our house.

After breakfast we attempted some family pictures with sad results.  Tough lighting in the most inspired spots and a Daddy and a MeeMee who can't keep their eyes open meant almost half the pictures were immediately no good.  Tante and I had done some quick coordination and our outfits were nothing short of fabulous.  Now that she has a great camera and great teachers we will try again soon.

So much potential in these alleys.....about 2 hours earlier or many later for better light.

I wonder if Ryan has a remote in his hand??

this one sums up what was wrong with many...all in one shot.

my handsome prince

Ben LOVES playing in the front seat of the car right now:)

After pictures we parted ways and my little family headed home to finish some gifts for Nana and to the local nursery for some flowers and plants.  I hadn't planned on planting this day but nothing could have made my heart smile more than my boys playing b-ball and football in the yard while catering to my planting demands. Eighty degree temps and a slight breeze completed the amazing afternoon.

During one break in planting I came inside so some delightful gifts on the table.....

Ryan took these last weekend while I was volunteering and framed them to surprise me.

I've been coveting this print from fave graphic artist Chloe Marty for nearly two years.

The sentiment is fantastic and it will hang in the hallway outside Ben's room.

I received my first ever dough hand-print last week from Ben's school.  I cried all the way home! :) I'm sure I'll shadowbox frame it.

After planting we quickly prepared to head to Nana and Papa's for celebration of the trifecta.  May 12th is Nana's birthday, was her 40TH anniversary this year and also fell on Mother's Day.  Talk about lots of need for celebration!!  Ben is wonderfully happy at both his grandparent's houses and quickly fell into his routine at Nana's of playing outside mixed with running upstairs to check on the ceiling fans. We were joined here and there by other family stopping by with well-wishes and the delicious meal and company were the perfect end to a great weekend.

Ben begged to be pulled in his Dad's (I think) old wagon by any willing participant.

Great Grandma Lola 

The same wedding-day pose, 40 years later

such a happy monkey

***

Ryan and I spent lots of time this weekend reflecting on Ben's birth and his birthmother.  She is never far from our thoughts and our gratitude was felt extra strongly this Mother's Day.  We also joked now that we know Ben what a handful he would have been to her being the 3rd kiddo.  We are so fortunate and blessed that she chose us to parent Ben.  We don't take for granted her gift or forget the many people still struggling as we did to become parents.