Our visit with Santa

Our family tradition of visiting with Santa Claus started last year when Destin was 9 months old. And of course she cried, even with mommy holding her. So now with our two under two girls...we had to go visit Santa Claus this year too! We decided that going to Bass Pro is the best place ~ here is why:

1. Seeing Santa Claus is FREE (it is everywhere!)
2. There are plenty of things to look at, play with (including toys, fish, stuffed animals, etc.)
3. You get a FREE pic of your child & Santa Claus
4. You also get a FREE kids meal to their restaurant at Bass Pro
5. Santa gives your child a candy cane :)
6. Someday Destin & Arwen won't be scared & will get to share what they want for Christmas :)

So, in case you were wondering...Destin did cry :( even with me holding her - lets hope next year goes better. Arwen was just in amazement of Santa's beard - we even got a pic of just her & Santa :) It was so cute! So here are the links for thier pics:

http://images.pictureu.com/Photos/BW39/01/highresFB/BW39016718.jpg (Destin, Arwen & I with Santa)
http://images.pictureu.com/Photos/BW39/01/highresFB/BW39016712.jpg (Arwen & Santa)

Here are some more Santa events in the area:
http://www.kcparent.com/KCParent/10-11-08/Santa_in_Kansas_City_2010.aspx
This link shares where you can get letters, phone calls from Santa, visit Santa, eat with Santa, etc.

My weekend...

We had a pretty good weekend...other than Pat having to work 10 hours on Friday & Saturday :( It just sucks that he has to work so much - I know he wants a break & so do I! We miss him and I know Destin would love to spend more time with him...he is such a great man working so much for us!

Sunday, I went to Walmart & bought some stocking stuffers & survived the crowded aisles in Lee's Summit! Oh my goodness was it packed! I am hoping to get most of my Christmas shopping done online this year - we will just have to see what happens though...I need to write down exactly what I want, look for deals/coupons/discounts/etc. and go from there. I am planning on buying 1 Black Friday deal - the $88 Power Wheels Jeep for Destin. I know she would love it and its such a great price! Hopefully they aren't all gone when I go to buy online at Midnight this Thurs evening (yes, Thanksgiving!). Can you believe they are starting Black Friday deals at Midnight now? Wow! I can't imagine going out to get all those deals - but some people will do just about anything to find a deal.

Well the rest of my Sunday (and well Saturday) I cleaned the entire house - floors (sweep, mop, vaccuum), dust, rugs, all the laundry, dishes, organized the playroom, and more! Even though it doesn't look like it now, I felt accomplished when I finished. My mom, Jeff & Joe came by to have dinner & play with the girls. It was nice to have them over for a little while. I know Destin loves when they visit :) And then after they left, Patrick found my earring that I thought I lost in the shower drain last week - YAY! It was a gift from him for Mothers Day this year - so I was very very upset when I thought I lost it - but yay we found it! Woo hoo!

This week, I am getting prepared for Thanksgiving - getting my recipes, cooking, baking stuff ready. I am planning on making Green Bean Casserole, Mini Cheesecakes (my mom's recipe), cookies & possibly pumpkin bread. We are going to Patrick's mom's house for Thanksgiving - so it should be fun to see all of his family. The last time we saw everyone it was April! And no one has met Arwen yet, except for Pat's mom (last month!). She will be 4 months old soon and she is growing so fast!

Its still pretty hard to believe that I am a mommy of two under two. A mommy to two beautiful, adorable little girls that I love with all of my heart and soul! I am so lucky to have such an amazing family :) I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend & has a wonderful week ahead of them :)

Going Places

Living close to Kansas City definitely has its perks - there is always something to do! There are museums, parks, play places, nature centers, shopping centers and more!

I am not sure how often I will get out to travel with being a mom of two under two, but I thought I would share some things I have found that are either free or pretty cheap for young and some older children. Some of these places we have been to, and others we have not.

Indoors:

Paradise Park (Lee's Summit) - Every Monday Mom's get in for free! Destin loves this place!
http://www.paradise-park.com/

Gymboree (Lee's Summit & other locations) - They offer a free class to new members
http://www.gymboree.com.hk/

Xtreme Gymnatics (or any gymnastics place in the area) - Most of them provide a free trial class just to see if your little one is interested. All you have to do is call and try it out!

Wonderscope (Shawnee, KS): I came here a few years ago with my mom & little brother (before Destin). Here are the prices: Ages 3-63 - $7; Ages 64 and up - $6; 1 and 2 year olds - $4 ; Infants under 1 year/members are FREE
http://www.wonderscope.org/

Tunnel Voyage (Lee's Summit) - This place closed 9/30/10...we only got to go one time :(

Johnson County Museum - This place is FREE. We have never been here but would love to check it out!
http://www.jocomuseum.org/EXH/kidscape.shtml

Jumping Jax (Overland Park, KS) - I would like to check this place out...Prices: Under 2 is $4.00; Age 2 and up is $8.00 for your first child,$5.00 each additional child. Parents are always FREE
http://www.jumpingjaxparties.com/

Monkey Bizness (Shawnee Mission and Olathe, KS) - We have never been here but the prices aren't too bad, $7.50 for children over 1; $5.00 for crawlers; parents/infants are free.
http://www.monkeybizness.com/index.html

Chuck E. Cheese (Independence)
http://www.chuckecheese.com/

Midcontinent Public Library
http://www.mymcpl.org/

Paul Messner Puppet Shows
http://www.paulmesnerpuppets.org/company.html

Build A Bear Workshop (at the Indep Center)

Dave & Busters (at the Legends shopping center in KS) - This place is FREE, but of course you have to pay money to play the games and/or eat there!

T Rex Cafe (at the Legends as well) - Fun place eat, and lots to look at!

Matt Ross Community Center Indoor Playground (Overland Park, KS) - This place is FREE

Zonkers (at the Great Mall & Oak Park Mall) - some type of playplace with video games...we have never been before.
http://www.zonkers.com/DNN/default.aspx

Outdoors:

Deanna Rose Farmstead (see previous post on blog)

The Kansas City Zoo - We love it there! We have a family pass & go all the time!

Nature Centers (Burr Oak Woods, Lakeside Nature Center, ...)

Local Parks in your area

Pumpkin Patches/Farms - there are too many to list!

Festivals in the Fall/Spring/Summer - we usually go to all of the ones in Lee's Summit

Most of these places I found just by driving by, or I found them at http://www.kcparent.com/. This website (which is also a magazine) provides hundreds, if not thousands of places to go, events, contests and more for the local KC parent.

Making money from home

I have been a stay at home mom for almost 2 years now...before then I was a teacher. I substitute taught grades K thru 6 in Blue Springs & Lee's Summit. I graduated from UCM in 2006 with my BS in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, but was never able to find a job with it. So I subbed...the money was decent, the timing was great, and I could work as much or as little as I wanted. I did this upon graduating all the way up until Destin was born in Feb 2009. I also taught for a short while in Belton - this is something I don't like to discuss; so I did manage to find a job, but not a great one. I also want to note that I have applied to work at all the local school districts as a teacher, and in the past four years I have had maybe four interviews. Pretty sad. I decided to go into education because I thought the need for teachers was very high. But now, due to the economy/government/education system, there are more teachers laid off than being hired.

Since staying at home, I have always been on the look out for working from home, or making money from home. There are lots of things out there - selling products like Makeup, tupperware, children's books, health products, etc. Doing parties - Pampered Chef, pleasure parties (for adults). Being a telemarketer from home. Delivering papers. And all sorts of other misc. things on monster, craigslist and career builder.

My dream is to find a job working from home teaching online. I have my Bachelors and Masters in Education - I could teach anything from early childhood, elementary, technology, math (my fav subject) or I could even tutor. I have looked just about everywhere I can think of to find a job online - colleges, the job sites, tutoring sites and believe me, I have applied for several jobs.

I love being a stay at home mom. I have never missed anything - I have seen Destin acheive every milestone (rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, running, talking and more!). And now I will get to see Arwen meet all those milestones as well. Being a mom is the best thing I have ever done and I don't want to miss anything. I love my daughters more than anything and I would do absolutely anything for them. Its crazy to think that I am a mommy of two under two!

I just hope that someday in the near future, I can find something to help support our family. I know that I provide support by taking care of our house - cooking, cleaning, paying the bills, running errands, and most importantly taking care of our children. But I would like to help Patrick, financially as well. I feel so guilty sometimes because he knows we depend on him for everything. If he did not work we would have nothing. I am so thankful for him and what he does for us each and everyday.