All America Trip

We were lucky enough to travel as delegates for the All America City competition last week. We traveled to Kansas City, Missouri for the competition. Out of 250+ applicants, the City was chosen as one of 10 winners! It was such an amazing and fun trip for all of us. It was a lot of hard work but so rewarding and neat!

We lost our camera charger so we didn't have a camera (bummer!) so these pics are from Chet's phone. There were plenty of pictures taken from other delegates so I will wait and borrow some of theirs.

Out of everything we did, the girls truly preferred their time "working". They loved handing out City items to the other city groups, collecting stuff from other cities and cheering for our city!

*Enjoying their rare Coke from a city in Georgia where the Coke plant is located.

All wiped out- poor thing got very little sleep all week.

We did work a lot as City representatives but also had some time to enjoy the sights of KS. There is so much to do in Kansas City- a lot of it was within walking distance of our hotel.

*Union Station (a beautiful train station from the early 1900's)

The World War I museum in downtown. Who knew there was a museum of this magnitude in Kansas City??

Jesse James' home
This was a neat experience. The house looks exactly like it did when Jesse lived there- very old and run down- the girls thought it was creepy.

~Goodbye Kansas City~

Happy birthday to us!

8 years ago, I was bummed out that my first child didn't arrive on my birthday. Julia decided (well, no, she was yanked out!) to arrive 2 days after my birthday and I couldn't be happier. I love having a birthday so close to hers yet still allowing her to have her own special day. Julia LOVES birthdays and looks forward to hers for months.

Usually I am perfectly fine with my birthday taking a back seat to Julia's special day. But, I turned 35 this year and wanted to celebrate a little more than usual. So, tonight, Julia and I did get to share a small birthday celebration. I loved sharing the moment with her!

Chet bought a decadent cake for us. Julia and I both love chocolate and cherries but Chet couldn't find our favorite black forest cake so he bought a yummy chocolate cake and a can of cherry pie filling. :) It was so sweet of him and SO yummy!

Birthday celebration- part 1

We celebrated Julia's 8th birthday with the family this last weekend. Since we no longer have a pool and summer birthdays in Arizona are either indoors or in a pool , Nanny and Papa offered to have it at their house.

Chet/Uncle Chet with all the kids

My mom trying to contain Camille who loves the water!Time for a nap!

Julia is easy when it comes to birthdays- she has always been happy with parties at home. Throw in some cupcakes and gifts with her name on it and she is thrilled!



The birthday celebration continues all month- next Sunday on her actual birthday and later this month with her friends.

Happy birthday month sweet Julia- we love you!!!