days in the life of a
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March 2009
March 21, 2009
ON THE HUNT
While we've had a lot of fun checking out Kansas City and surrounds, our PRIMARY GOAL and the PURPOSE OF OUR TRIP and the REASON WE DROVE ALL THIS WAY is to secure an apartment for Kamaron to move into the end of May before beginning his Hallmark job on June 1.
It's been an interesting two days!
Before leaving home, Kamaron had worked with a realty agent here in KC to set up appointments to see apartments in 7 different complexes. Then he got online on his own and added 1 more.
Criteria to consider:
>PRICE!>Location and commute time to downtown. Kamaron would like to be able to ride his bike to work some of the time. >PRICE!!>"Green Space." I have yet to determine exactly what that is. Does nicelandscaping count? Are we talking parks? Woods (not too prevalent in thecity? Green-painted buildings?>PRICE!!!>Storage space for their 5 (yes...5!) bicycles!>And...did I mention...PRICE?!!!!Our very first stop was quite a doozy! The price was definitely right...and proved the truth of the adage "you get what you pay for." And also taught Kamaron and Anique that what you see on the Internet doesn't tell the full/true story.
The complex was run-down, trashy, and a little creepy. We didn't feel safe there, even in the middle of the afternoon.
This was the "green space." I don't think this is what the kids had in mind.
Every apartment had its pros...and cons.
Very nice, pretty affordable...
...nice bike trail...but noisy, busy location behind a big hospital and mall.
New, luxurious, lots of room...quite pricey and not really bikeable (is that a word?).
Well-kept, good location, nice apartments...but a little on the high side pricewise and no great place to put their bicycles. Not a deal-breaker, but definitely a consideration.
And then...
THEY FELL IN LOVE!!!
Not with each other (that happened a long time ago!), but with this place!
Nice kitchen...
...and its own laundry room.
Great living room/dining area with large windows to let in lots of light!
Good-sized bedroom...
...with a great walk-in closet!
Love the bathroom...very roomy for a one-bedroom apartment!
And...the kicker...it has a 4'x6' outdoor storage closet off the deck!!! Perfect for their bicycles!
This is the building their unit is in...
...with a view of the woods ("Green Space," baby!)...
...and she threw in the carport for free! It's a great bargain, a perfect match for the two of them.
PLUS, it's only 7 miles from downtown Kansas City and Hallmark headquarters! It has the best of both worlds...the residential, country feel and the convenience of the city.
All for an unbelievably great price!
They looked at one more apartment complex, canceled their other two appointments, filled out the application, and went back to the office to turn it in and pay their money.
Kamaron and Anique...happy and giddy, thrilled with their new North Kansas City digs. SUCCESS! Mission accomplished! We celebrated with a big meal of famous Kansas City barbeque and we're heading home this morning--exhausted but relieved!
March 22, 2009
KANSAS CITY SCENES
The Plaza. THE trendy spot in Kansas City.
High-end shopping (think Tiffany's and Coach) mixed with quirky boutiques alongside mall-type stores. Something for everyone, in a fun setting.
Towering over all is the Giralda Tower, modeled after the original Giralda Tower in Kansas City's sister city, Seville, Spain. Amazingly, Seville was Anique's Spanish home during her semester studying abroad. In a strange way, by moving to KC Anique will be coming "home."
"Lovebirds" Kamaron and Anique on the observation level of the Giralda Tower.
Two other "lovebirds" on the tower!
The canal runs through the Plaza area.
The architecture is an eclectic mix of Spanish influences, Arabic style, and good-old
American!
...lots of tilework and spires...
But throughout the city, Hallmark reigns! Almost everyone we met has a parent or spouse or close friend employed at Hallmark.
We ate dinner at Jack Stack Barbeque for a meal of Kansas City's signature tastes.
Check out these onion rings! WOW!!!
Basketball fever was in full gear! The NCAA Men's Basketball tournament was holding first and second round games that weekend, along with the NAIA Basketball championship.
Lots of basketball teams and fans everywhere!
Crazy and hectic around the Sprint Center, where the NCAA was being held.
Kansas City, Missouri...where my son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law will make their home!
A great place to live!!
And another vacation destination for Kim and me!!
March 23, 2009
QUIET. VERY QUIET.
It's very QUIET around here this morning.
When you have college kids, it's feast or famine.
They fly in, create a whirlwind of laughter and laundry and love, and then they fly out.
Last week was Spring Break for Kamaron and Kyler.
Kyler came home on Friday and dumped every piece of clothing he owns in a dirty pile on the laundry room floor. He brought his youthful energy and fun spirit and we loved having him home for a couple of busy, crazy days.
He left early last Sunday morning for a mission trip with 6 other IU students to work with the homeless in Boston.
Kamaron came home Sunday afternoon. He brought HIS youthful energy and fun spirit and it was his turn to fill our home with joy for a couple of days.
Anique came to join us on Tuesday afternoon, bringing her own special spirit and love into our home as well.
We went to Kansas City and on Saturday night, everyone returned. It was a full house again...Kim and me, Kamaron, Anique, and Kyler.
Sunday morning Kamaron and Anique headed back to Bloomington. Sunday evening Kyler followed...
...leaving in their wake...
QUIET.
And memories of a fun, gratifying, successful, character-building, bonding, rewarding week of laughter and accomplishment and anticipation for the future.
But now it's quiet. Very quiet.
And I'm never quite sure if I like it or not.
March 24, 2009
DEAD TREE DILEMMA
This elm tree is dead. Has been dying for a few years now, but it's now officially deceased.
Dead trees are a dilemma around here.
How do we [safely] get rid of them?
Several summers ago, we had a huge pine tree in the orchard that had died and Kim decided he would cut it down. He didn't mention it to me, and one Saturday afternoon he had my two youngest boys (teenagers, then) out in the orchard working with him. I went out to take them some ice tea and check out what they were up to.
I was horrified to see Kim with his chainsaw, over halfway through the trunk of the tree, having my two precious sons trying to push the tree over! Are you kidding me?!!! I thoroughly chewed him out and let him know I would not have my boys and husband killed by a falling tree! Of course, they all thought I was overreacting and the boys laughed and assured me that they could most certainly outrun a falling 40-foot pine tree! I was so angry/worried that I was even crying! Kim promised he had it all under control and sent me back to the house, where I watched out the window and waited for the worst to happen.
When the tree DID fall, it did not fall the direction Kim thought it would. It toppled sideways...right into the side of our rec room and (after breaking a few shingles) rested against the building. It was wedged in there tightly (thank you, God!) and Kim couldn't budge it.
The next day when he was at work, I called the tree removal service who scolded me (I was Kim's whipping girl!) for even attempting such foolishness and it ended up being a more difficult removal than it would have been to begin with and I paid them about twice as much as we would have if we had called them originally.
I made Kim PROMISE he would never pull such a stunt again.
When he mentioned the elm tree's inevitable demise, I reminded him of his reluctant promise. I rarely put my foot down about things involving the farm/outdoors/garden/ chickens...but I did this time.
So he decided to burn it down.
We've been burning it for three years now.
Last May, Kyler and his IU buddy Eric made a huge burn pile at the base of the tree and set it on fire. They were so proud of themselves!
It burned for days, completely killing what was left of the broken-down elm.
But it didn't burn down.
We felt sure that a strong wind would knock it over, but so far it still stands.
And, when the wind is calm and the weather allows, we're still burning.
I could've saved Kim a WHOLE LOT of trouble if he'd just let me call the tree experts.
But then again, maybe we'll just ponder the dead tree dilemma for awhile longer!
March 25, 2009
LOCKS OF LOVE
Favorite daughter Emily is sporting a sassy new look! I hardly recognized her at church on Sunday!
She needed a change and traded in her long tresses...
...for this cute new style!
The really cool part is that Emily is giving her cut-off hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that uses donated hair to provide hairpieces for disadvantaged children who are suffering from medical issues that cause hair loss.
I see now why it's called a "ponytail," don't you?
Imagine how Emily's hair will help make a bald little girl feel pretty and normal again! It's a wonderful win-win situation for everyone.
I've never seen a cut-off ponytail up close before.
Emily thinks it's kind of creepy! I think it's pretty cool.
And she's one cool, caring, and daggone cute daughter!
March 26, 2009
MURDER EVIDENCE
One of the hard lessons of life is learned best in the country.
Death happens. Animals (and people) eventually die. It's a natural part of country living.
When you have livestock or pets, you realize that dying is just a part of the circle of life. (I could get really dramatic here, and wax poetic about Simba and "The Lion King" and Elton John's beautiful song, "Circle of Life"...but I won't...)
Kim made a gruesome discovery a couple of nights ago.
Evidence of a brutal, cold-hearted murder that occurred on our very property.
It appears that one of our lovely peahens (female peacocks!) was attacked, killed, and her beautiful feathered body dismembered just outside her chickenhouse home.
photo from www.weforanimals.comThe prime suspect...a coyote (one of several!) that has been heard in the vicinity numerous times recently.
Putting the pieces of evidence together, we theorize that Ms. Peahen somehow got out of her enclosed pen one day and couldn't get back in. During the night, the stealthy coyote scoped out the henhouse and saw the helpless lass, snatched her into his jaws, and...
...well, you can guess what happened next.
Other critters like a fox would have snatched her up and carried her away before doing the murderous deed. A dog would probably have pounced on and tortured her by playing around with her, then after killing her he would have left the body.
But a coyote is brazen. Bold. And since we've been hearing them so much lately, he became our chief suspect.
Apparently, there wasn't much to eat on the peahen's wings, so he ripped them off and carried the body off to his lair...
...leaving behind two feathered wings as evidence and a warning to all other residents of the chickenhouse that the enemy lurks just beyond the safety of the fence.
And we are left with one less peacock. Such is life in the country.
March 27, 2009
ANNALS OF HISTORY
I guess I should warn people ahead of time that I'm videotaping. You would think that when they see me trying to steady my HandyCam as I'm crawling around on the floor, they MIGHT REALIZE that I'm up to something and not just acting dorky.
Or not.
So while my adorable, beautiful, intelligent grandson Karter is the primary star of this video, there is an unseen supporting cast that is just as entertaining. Listen carefully...
Kristoffer, apparently bored with the whole thing, lets out a huge, noisy yawn...which Karter thinks is hysterically funny.
Triggered by a scene from "Jon and Kate Plus 8" on the out-of-sight and muted television, Kim chimes in complaining that he never gets a Valentine's Day present.
{WHOA! HOLD ON! Valentine's Day is for MEN to spoil their WOMEN, showering them with flowers and chocolates and an evening on the town. It'salways been my opinion that my Valentine's Day gift to Kim is...ME! He gets tospend his entire life with a woman who adores him, and of course I SHARE myflowers and evening on the town with him (...the chocolates...I admit, I get a little stingy with them sometimes!). What more could the man want, for cryingout loud?!} Then, when I inform them that I'm videotaping all this, Kristoffer proclaims that to be good, that it will be recorded in the "an-nals' " of history.
{Those of you who know our family can attest to the fact that many of ourfamily conversations could be fodder for a "Sienfeld" episode. We're the nerdyfamily that pulled out the dictionary or encyclopedia during almost every meal, tosettle debates that came up daily. So, after the video camera was off, a hugediscussion transpired over the word "annals"...properly pronounced "an'-nals"...as opposed to "an-nul' " (as in annul a marriage), and "a-nal" (we all know whatthat means...and maybe describes us as well!). A lot of hoopla over a word that no one uses, except my child!}After that, you can hear Grandpa Kim making silly sounds to get Karter's attention.
Karter stares at his crazy Papaw...then laughs at him.
{I wonder how many times that scenario will be repeated in the years to come!Karter staring in disbelief at his silly grandpa, then laughing at him...hmmm...I've done that a few times myself!}My annoying voice joins in, encouraging the "Da-da"/"Daddy" connection, with Kristoffer reinforcing the relationship as well.
And...the whole while...sitting QUIETLY on the couch is Dana, the smartest one of the bunch, silently laughing while the rest of us make fools of ourselves...
...and probably wondering (as she has many times before, I'm sure!) what kind of looney family she married into!
Oh, Dana...if you only KNEW!
March 28, 2009
PINNACLE OF POULTRY PERFECTION
Got this poster in the mail the other day. When I ordered our baby chicks from the hatchery, with a $50 order came a free poster. I'm never one to turn down something FREE, so I ordered it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this is what we got.
It shows all the different breeds of chickens, ducks, and turkeys available from this hatchery. These are the kind of chickens we raise for food. They grow fast, have lots of meat, and are easy (relatively!) to clean and dress (that is...butcher!).
And the Golden Comets are Kim's favorite egg-layers. Over the years, we've tried several different breeds, but the Comets seems to be the best overall for us.
So...what does one do with a poster of chicken pictures? It's not exactly home decor. We considered hanging it in the rec room, where most of our random posters end up.
But Kyler had a better idea...
...hang it in the chickenhouse!
That's what I did, just outside the chicken pen. It brightens up the dull, drab, spider-webby interior walls. And now the chickens have a standard to strive for, an example of what the perfect chicken should look like.
Kind of like a centerfold for chickens (not that I've seen many centerfolds...!).
What must the hens think? Does the poster make them feel inadequate, unattractive, like they'll never be good enough?
Or will they comfort each other by agreeing that the model Golden Comet has been retouched, artificially enhanced, and that those breasts of hers are not REAL?
Do they worry that their man will be sneaking a peek when they're not looking, ogling the gorgeous model-hen instead of directing his affections toward them?
I hope we haven't stressed the girl out, unnecessarily placing unattainable expectations on her...
...to reach the pinnacle of poultry perfection!
Because she's beautiful just the way she is...the REAL DEAL is always the best!
March 29, 2009
REUNION WITH AUNTIE EM
Karter hadn't seen his Aunt Emily for three months, so he thoroughly checked her out.
Keeping her at arms' length while he studied this strange new person in his house...
...then giving her the coveted SMILE of approval!
Karter loved the new book Auntie Em and Uncle Zach gave him. Lot of doors to open!
Karter loves it when Auntie Em goes "walkin' " with him.
And, of course, wherever Karter is there is lots of smooching going on!
He LOVES playing "Superman"...
...listening to stories...
...and, in true Gray-man fashion, eating! While pulling his socks off, of course!
Karter loves his Auntie Em...
...and the feeling is mutual!
March 30, 2009
BATHTIME, BABY!
This is the face of a tired, dirty baby! Who can resist the charm of those big blue eyes, surrounded by dried squash and guacamole (yes...little Karter eats guacamole!) a crusty nose, and who-knows-what-else?
But he perks right up when it's bathtime! I've never seen a child who loves taking a bath like Karter does. Even when he was teeny-tiny, he enjoyed his bath.
I think Tunkin just likes to get naked!
It's a new place to explore...and taste!
Now that he's pulling up on EVERYTHING, he wants to pull up in the tub too, which is quite a slippery (and dangerous!) process.
Karter is sporting some new battle scars, proof that he's a busy into-everything-and-afraid-of-nothing little guy. He cried about 10 seconds over his forehead bruise, when he fell and crashed into the leg of the end table. Then he wanted down to try it again!
What a body! He's got the most precious little rolls and cheeks!
What a happy Tunkin!
I know I'm a tiny bit biased...but isn't he just the most adorable little boy you've ever laid eyes on?
March 31, 2009
TEA TIME
Kristoffer and Dana enjoy a cup of hot tea in the evening.
Not just any old tea...gourmet tea!
And while they do have a vast selection of various flavors of teabags, the very best tea involves the use of a tea ball.
Where in the world did my tough-guy, quarterback son learn about tea balls?
His father certainly didn't teach him!
It must have been living in Minnesota.
I guess when the winters are this long, you resort to desperate means for comfort and amusement.
It's incredible to watch him use a tea kettle and tea ball to make gourmet tea for an evening treat.
How special am I?! I got to drink my blueberry white tea from a Tinkerbell cup!
At the end of the day, we all get a little tired and giddy...and silly! This was just one of many giggly moments of the evening.
Playing Skip-Bo and drinking fancy tea...it doesn't get any better than that, does it Em?
