we decided pretty last minute to take a little mini vacation over some of spring break.
we didn't go far... Lawrence & Kansas City.
we stayed at my parents house...even though we told Annie we would go to a hotel... we never made it.
we started out with swimming at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.
my kids were all so content to play on the diving boards that i bought myself some goggles from the front desk and swam laps for 30 minutes... and it was awesome.
i have never put on goggles before?! what is up with that?
it made a HUGE difference.
i kind of like swimming now. :)
then dinner at Chili's where annie ordered a half slab of RIBS... and ate them all!
the next day they chose to go shopping.
they really never get to do that with us so we agreed to go.
my girls were commenting on all the clothes and so happy to be there.
they tried on a bunch of clothes and shoes...each buying those shirts with their own money.
my boys left after no more than one minute.
i heard they spent most of their time at Nike and watching the games at Dave & Busters.
even though they said they wanted to shop.
i guess they forgot how awful shopping... with girls... really is.
because my girls took over an hour in just Old Navy!
we got a treat at the chocolate shop.
we picked up the boys.
we didn't eat at T-Rex.
but we looked around again.
it's a super long wait to get in so we went across the street instead.
to Sam's Club.
:)
because when we have to feed this many people... it's what we do.
and they LOVED it.
the boys chose to get their own table away from us.
funny.
next stop was the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City.
this place is way cool.
i think we lucked out because it was sunday afternoon and it was empty.
seriously? shaquille o'neal wears size 23 shoes?!!
craig brought the car around since it was raining and freezing!
annie and talby were running up and down those steps to warm up.
the NEXT stop was SKY ZONE... an indoor trampoline park!!
this was my kids most favorite place they have ever gone!
they were all dripping with sweat when we were done.
and by we..... i mean them.
i have had five babies.
i do not jump any where at any time.
i can't even sneeze.
you know what i mean....
the next day...
i went out for a run by myself that i thought would be short.
i took a turn and it took me an extra 20 minutes to get back.
but oh well... i did it.
craig took the boys to shoot baskets at the gym and the ladies went to downtown lawrence.
i did some damage at Sarah's Fabrics.
it is the best fabric store in kansas, i am pretty sure about that.
if you disagree... plese tell me where else i need to go.
i love it because of the creaky wood floors and big windows too.
my mom shopped with the girls while i shopped for fabric.
then we met up to get lunch.
talby was sitting here with me and i said "Bill Self just walked into this restaurant behind you"
they girls were pretty excited about it and nervous to talk to him.
but together talby and annie got brave and walked over to introduce themselves.
(he is the KU basketball coach)
he was very kind and sweet to them both.
annie said (while touching his knee)
"do you know my brother?! His name is Scott Duerksen. He came to your camp last year"
he winked at me and said "there were a few kids that came to that camp."
i said "just a couple" (about 3500...)
but he said to Annie "i am sure i would remember him if i saw him"
she was so proud.
they couldn't wait to tell the boys who they saw!
there is always wrestling going on at some point in our day.
this is scott, talby and annie wrestling while craig doesn't even notice.
we tried to go to the Nelson Art Museum but it was closed.
more window shopping at the plaza since our musuem plan was shot.
dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.
then a decided to go see Oz the Great and Powerful at 8:25 for an 8:30 show.
afterwards they tried to run up the down escalators
and since we had the place to ourselves at 11 PM on a monday night we let them.
we went bowling on our last day.
the boys were relentless in trying to beat each other.
boys.
what is that about?
everything is a competition!
annie was most excited about the vending machine.
and we got to play the jukebox with all the popular songs they like!
taylor swift while we bowl was perfect.
all five in one shot!
that is a big deal.... they are a good group.
so proud they are mine.
it was snowing on spring break... all day long!
we left the bowling alley and went back to the trampline park again!
it's all they wanted to do.
we drove home late and everyone slept so hard.
such a good trip.
Maybe. JUST maybe... they are all old enough that we can do this vacation thing differently.
there is much less crying than there used to be.
and even less fighting.
but probably the key is finding a trampoline park WHERE EVER we go on vacation ever again.
trampolines = happiness to the Duerksen kids.
