Johnson Farms Pumpkin Patch

Johnson Farms Pumpkin Patch from Cara on Vimeo.
Just south of 150 Hwy on Holmes road in Missouri. This is one of the best pumpkin patches in Kansas City where you actually pick your own pumpkin off the vine. There is a lot more fun too - animals, slides, corn maze and more.

Hilloween 2010

On Friday before Hilloween I got a voicemail from the daycare. They wanted to ask me an "interesting question." I wondered what my kids had said. I called...

Day care owner: "Carter was talking to his teacher and me today at recess. He said he is going to have a babysitter this weekend because his parents are going to a naked party. Are you going to one of those sex toy parties?"

Oh great.

Me: "Um, we're going to a Halloween party. There will be some girls there who will be spray painted, but I will be fully clothed."

Rewind to the night before. We were explaining to Carter that they would have a new babysitter because we were going to a Halloween party. Of course he wanted to go and we said it was an adult-only party. He started to throw a fit and for some reason Kevin said "there will be naked girls there, you can't go."

And so that's how it got translated at recess.

Project! Daily December

I have always wanted to do Ali Edwards' Daily December project. It has just never worked out for whatever reason. But I have picked up products over the years with the idea that I would do it some year. I think this is the year. I haven't scrapped in quite some time. Far too long. My supplies sat collecting dust in the corner of the dining room all year. I just recently moved it all upstairs to the guest bedroom. Ultimately my plans are to convert the huge walk in closet we have off that room into a scrap-haven. That is probably a project for 2011 but I digress.

The key to this album, as Ali says, is making the actual album in advance. Then you just capture something from that day and add it to the page(s) whether that be a card that came in the mail, a picture, journaling, all of the above, etc. To be honest, I will probably have some days where I add pictures and journaling that really could have been on any day, that really aren't specific to that day. You could have a lot of photos from one day and spread them out over a couple of days. When I think about it, to me it is an album that is really capturing life from that month. The craziness of the holidays, the overall mood, excitement, frustration, joy, etc. Something I would look back at years from now and remember the innocence and amazement of my little ones as they are today.

Here is a video of how some of the base pages were created and the "formula," if you will, of the album. I will probably just buy an album and add something to the cover or make an intro page. I will very likely not make the cover and back. I will probably not use as many transparencies and use more page protectors with pre-divided slots (they are easy) and I will not do any stitching unless I borrow Candi's sewing machine. I do not own a sewing machine and knowing myself that would be a really poor investment... unless there is one specific to scrapping, which there probably is, and if it was cheap.

Anyway. Any takers? Anyone else want to join me on this journey?

I know. I'm a little crazy. I mean really, don't you need something else to do in December? Ha!


Ali Edwards December Daily 2010 Foundation from Ali Edwards on Vimeo.
A video walk-through of my 2010 December Daily album. More information here: http://aliedwards.com/2010/10/december-daily-2010-creating-a-foundation.html

Kansas City Half Marathon

This weekend I ran the Kansas City Half Marathon. I ran this race last year. It is my 3rd consecutive half marathon. I am running one about every six months. I felt great and finished strong. Great weather. Couldn't have asked for a better running buddy and so glad her friend from college also joined us. Great girl time! The only part that sucked was that no one from my family was there to see me cross. My parents were out of town and Kevin had to take Anna to swimming. Oh well. It was pretty crowded. We had trouble finding Candi's hubby afterwards.

Finishing time: 2:27 - That's about 10 minutes faster than the Hospital Hill half marathon in June (which was unbearably hot) and 6 minutes faster than the same race last year.

Disney in Pictures

I have posted all the videos from Disney but some of the best moments were captured on camera.

Ride #1

Magic Kingdom Characters (Carter ONLY took his picture with Woody and Buzz Lightyear. You will notice all the others are only Anna)

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Before

After. (We are still finding glitter EVERYWHERE but especially in the stroller)

Character breakfast at 1900 Park Fair 

Hollywood Studios 

Playing in the water 

View from our hotel balcony

Hotel pool 

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party from Cara on Vimeo.
At Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party there is a Parade called Boo To You, dance parties, trick or treating, Halloween fireworks (they call Hallowishes) and more.

It requires an additional ticket to get in, which means it was much less crowded! After entering you receive a wrist band. Only attendees with wrist bands can ride the rides.

A lot of people dressed up in costumes which was also fun to see. Carter and Alex were Buzz Light Year and Anna was Cinderella.

We had so much fun and give the Halloween party two thumbs up!

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Walt Disney World in the Castle

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Walt Disney World in the Castle from Cara on Vimeo.
Book months in advance!

We booked this at the tip of a friend who had been to Disney World a few months before us. I'm so glad we did! I chose the package where she had her hair, nails and makeup done. It was about $70. We took the Cinderella dress and she changed there. You can also choose to buy a package where you also get the complete outfit, but I thought that was a little pricey (around $190 I think)

There are two locations for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique - one in the Castle and one at Downtown Disney. We did the one inside the castle.

A "fairy godmother in training" comes and takes them to their salon station. Very cute. She chose her hairstyle, makeup and nail colors and comb color. She LOVED it!
 
Tomorrow... Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party featuring the Boo To You parade.

P.S. Yesterday was my 500th blog post. Kind of cool!

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom

We were there for the opening of the park and it was awesome!

Magic Kingdom Opening from Cara on Vimeo.

Tomorrow...Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique!

Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village

Here is a quick tour of part of our two bedroom suite hotel and view from our balcony.

Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village from Cara on Vimeo.
Our hotel room and view from Kidani Village


Our room was at the end of the wing. Just when you think you're there turn about 10 more wings. These hallways might have been one of the favorite things to the kids. They would just run and run and run and run.

Kidani Village Hallways from Cara on Vimeo.

Tomorrow... Welcome to Magic Kingdom!

Anna wrote this on my parent's computer in word this weekend

Click to view larger version.

Can't really argue with any of those.

Surprise...

A package arrived in the mail last Thursday for Anna and Carter:

Surprise...We're Going to Disney World from Cara on Vimeo.
A package arrived in the mail for the kids. Surprise! Mickey invited us to Disney World for the weekend.


Next video and pics... our hotel.