I see your peony...

and I’ll raise you a peony.

Faith & Family Day

Leslie and I went to the Royals game this afternoon, with nine other couples from church.

It was the first time I've seen a Major League Baseball game in person without having a child along in 10 years.

The game itself was forgettable, but it was against the Angels and afterward, Luke Hochevar, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton each spoke about their personal walk with God.

Lastly was a concert by the band Crowder. Leslie likes to sit as close as she can; I'd say we did pretty well!

“!!!!!!!!!!! Check this out!!!!!!!”

Getting an email at work from Leslie with that as the subject line definitely got my attention. Then, watching this video she attached definitely made me smile.

Landon’s last day of preschool

(Though it was pushed back an entire week because of snow days...) Landon’s school had a little program today for the last day of school.

One by one, students demonstrated a part of the morning routine they do each day. Landon’s job was “the calendar.”   

Landon’s bud, Max, shows off his color-recognition skillz.

Saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

Then all of the classes met in the sanctuary for a couple of songs together. Landon was front and center.

Back in the classroom, their snack tied in with the lesson they studied that week, “Under the Sea,” and they got to assemble it themselves.  

Even more than all of the specific things Ms. Angie taught Landon this year, I most appreciate that she made it fun for him to learn and that he liked going to school.

School’s out for summer!

Where did Landon fall asleep today?

What can we say? He plays hard and sleeps hard.


Picking Jackson up from school — Monday, Nov. 5, 2012; 4:12 p.m.

In our bed — Friday, Nov. 16, 2012

 

Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012

 

Christmas night — Dec. 25, 2012

 

Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013; 3:55 p.m.

 

Friday, Feb. 1, 2013; 9:47 p.m.

 

Friday, Feb. 22, 2013; 4:14 p.m.

 

Saturday, March 23, 2013; 2:39 p.m.

Sunday, April 7, 2013; 2:56 p.m.

Saturday, April 20, 2013; 6:10 p.m.

In Nebraska — Saturday night, May 4, 2013

On our bed — Saturday, May 11, 2013

Tour o’ tulips

April 30 — with Jack.

May 1 — with Landon. (The very next day, it snowed!)

May 11 — up close.

May 12 — on the mantel ... and I thought last year’s tulips were tall!

He’s a character

During the annual “art show” at Jack’s school tonight.

The first thing she commented on was his eyes.

Hut, hut...

At the request of a former supervisor of mine, I’ve been doing some pro bono work lately for the Trent Green Family Foundation.

It’s all been building up to this event last Thursday night for Phoenix Family, an organization that provides critical support services to more than 5,300 residents at 32 low-income communities in Kansas and Missouri. After learning about the impressive work it does, seeing how legit it is and recognizing several names on its board of directors, my first thought was, “Why haven’t I heard of this before?!?”

Phoenix Family’s executive director said during one of our meetings that they throw a good party ... and she was right (it’s probably the only benefit dinner I’ve been to with drag queens). Here, Leslie and I bid on some silent-auction items during the cocktail reception.

A couple pics Leslie snapped of the pre-set desserts.

The menu described them as 1. Emerald Mint and Milk Chocolate Mousse Tower served on a Chocolate Painted Yellow Brick Road (above), and 2. Chocolate Ruby Red Slipper filled with White Chocolate Mousse with painted Over the Rainbow Trio of Sauces (below).

After dinner, Trent made the biggest announcement in the foundation’s 14-year history:

A quarter-of-a-million-dollar donation to create the HIKE Reading Achievement Program! It’s a five-year commitment to help instill the key to education and raise reading levels for the more than 2,000 Kansas City-area children in Phoenix Family communities. As he said from the podium, “HIKE combines the best practices from literacy, volunteer and youth development programs across the country to create an approach to the literacy issue that hasn’t been done here. Simply put, it's a game changer.”

It was a great night, despite the crazy snowstorm outside. But, after all, it does snow during “The Wizard of Oz,” too.

Now that we’re off and running, it’s been great to have so much positive feedback; such as these comments to The Kansas City Star’s online article...

...and a response and a retweet from Kansas City Mayor Sly James.

Stay tuned!

Nebraska in springtime

We went to see my family for a 48-hour visit this past weekend. (It was Leslie and Landon's first time there in a year!) Late Saturday morning — despite a low temperature that day of 32 degrees, and a high temperature of only 46 — Mom, Landon and I ran to this great small-town nursery to check out its stock. Its geraniums are so good, they're worth driving from out-of-state for.

They also have a bunch of fun flower combinations and whimsical statuary on display. So Landon thought he'd borrow her glasses...

...and try them on himself! (Yes, it's May and he's wearing a winter coat, zipped all the way up.)

That night for dinner, we all went to one of my favorite restaurants — El Bee's. I don't get it: We can put a man on the moon, but why are the best tortilla chips I've ever had only available in Waterloo freakin' Nebraska?!?

G-pa with two of my nieces. Does he look 91 to you?

Despite the chips and salsa, margaritas and all-around hubbub, Landon just kept on drawing. He'll learn.

Sunday at lunchtime, Jack's still trying to teach G-pa "Plants vs. Aliens" on his DS.

Can't wait to do it all again.