Jack's birthday week (Saturday)

Jack's birthday week (Friday)

Jack’s birthday week (Thursday)

These two minutes already have me looking forward to the next 10 years. (Unfortunately, YouTube didn’t like my original song choice — “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan.)

Jack’s birthday week (Tuesday)

Jack’s birthday week (Monday)

Testing the new fishing lures he got from Aunt Laurie!

Jack’s birthday week (Sunday)

Landon’s first day of pre-K

Landon’s pre-K open house

Great and mighty things

Just a little “printable” I made during lunch.

Jackson’s first day of fourth grade

Last night when putting Jack to bed, I asked him if there was anything I could do to help make his first day of school a little easier. His answer? “Just please don’t try to give me one of your pep talks.”

Jackson’s Back-to-School Night

Last week we learned that Jack’s 4th grade teacher would be Mrs. Jellison; he was actually excited because he said that she’s the teacher he wanted!

In looking through previous years’ back-to-school pictures, the first thing we noticed compared to last year is how much greener the grass is now. Then I realized that someone has really put some time and effort into maintaining this sign — it’s been stained and the rusty hardware’s even been replaced.

Three Gables

So our friend's brother just bought a little fixer-upper.

According to the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, "This house originated as a simple two-room building constructed circa. 1824, and the substantial brick addition was added in about 1860. The building is a center hall Gothic Revival style house, and is a rare example of this architectural style both in this community and statewide. [It] is possibly the oldest structure in the Kansas City area." Wow.

It's a three-acre property with monsterous oak trees. I wish someone was standing at the base of 'em so you could tell how tall they are.

All of the trees make it feel really secluded...

...which is surprising, because it's now surrounded by suburbia!

The sense of history you feel just by being there is pretty incredible; from the real, functional shutters on the windows outside...

...to the individual ax marks you can see on the wooden beams, inside.

But it's been vacant for some time and needs a lot of TLC. I believe Andy made some reference to a 1980s Tom Hanks movie with the words "Money" and "Pit" in the title.

These bricks comprise the sidewalk that wraps around the house.

As we were walking through this area between the garage and the barn, Leslie discovered a huge patch of wild/volunteer strawberries!

A window to the past?

And some heirloom apples.

Then flash back to our house in the 21st century, for some cherry pie from the farmers market yesterday morning. Landon loves his bud, Mr. Mackey!

Just hanging out

The Twin Drive-In

We surprised the boys and took ’em to their very first drive-in movie last night. Think we got there early enough?!?

Leslie did a great job packing a bunch of food and snacks for each of us. Jack was all set with his shoes kicked off, box of Junior Mints and bowl of popcorn in his lap. (Look for that denim blue bedspread to be in the Smithsonian some day.)

It was a gorgeous night with not a cloud in the sky. That’s the crescent moon to the right of the screen, and Jack and I both saw two shooting stars!

Career day

Brutally honest