On deck

It was a sunny fall day so, after lunch, I set up the baby gate outside and let Landon discover the deck. I left the sliding door cracked open and he loved the freedom of going in and out on his own.

Kindergarten field trip

At the very end of September, Leslie went with Jackson's class to the Red Barn Farm (I got to go last year). Looks like they had a great day.

Acting like an apple tree. Jack (on the right) must've gotten pruned.



Time to see the animals.


Kids these days...

In the chicken coop.


Charlotte?

I thought this was sweet. (Claire, lives just up the street from us and her mom and Leslie play bunco together. We first met her and her family when our houses were still under construction, in the summer of '08; we have the same floorplan and they moved in just a week before us.)

Snuggle piggies.


After their sack lunches.


On your marks...

Get set...

Go!

Jack with his little friend ... and his buddy, Quinton, too.

A.G. @ BW3

Alex was shocked when I told him a couple weeks prior, that neither Leslie nor I had ever been to Buffalo Wild Wings. So that's exactly where he chose for us to go, for his birthday dinner. The big 1-7.

The boys of ... September

The last time I took Jack to a Royals game, he was 18 months old. And although it was down on our list of things to do this summer, we never made it. So when some neighbors recently offered us free tickets and a parking pass, we jumped at the chance. It was a Sunday afternoon, the seats were great, the weather was ideal and it was the last home game of the year!

Zack Greinke walked right in front of us — from the bullpen down the first-baseline to the pitcher's mound — and brought the whole stadium to its feet. On Nov. 17 we find out if he wins the Cy Young Award.

The day before, we bought some fundraiser candy from a kid who came to our door, and I brought it along. Jack waited patiently 'til the fourth inning to tear 'em open.

After a little while longer, we got up to walk around and explore "The New K."

You never could go behind the outfield, at this level, before.

I still remember taking a family "vacation" from Nebraska to Kansas City for the weekend when I was little — probably about Jack's age (oh man, I sound old) — and coming to my first Royals game. And being enamored with the fountains.

The Outfield Experience has lots of activities for all the little Royals fans.

I let Jack choose one activity, and he picked this one where you sprint to first base and get to compare your time with a current Royals player.



Then we found the Hall of Fame, where even the sign was interactive.

A real A-hole.

I can't decide which of these next two pictures I like best ... so I'm including them both.


After playing, we snagged some new seats and sat down again to catch the end of the game. The Royals beat the Twins, 4 to 1!

Final harvest

Miranda's birthday party

At the end of September, we were invited to our (awesome!) neighbor's birthday dinner with several other couples — at Trezo Mare in Briarcliff Village, overlooking downtown Kansas City. We had heard about how fun last year's celebration was and knew that everyone had high hopes for a raucus repeat.

It didn't disappoint.

Woo-hoo — no kids!

The ladies.

The gents (with Miranda ... and the moon).

Scott & Miranda.

Miranda and Leslie.

We spent the whole leisurely evening outside on the patio, under the night sky. Knowing that those opportunities are fleeting (and the raging fire nearby) made the autumnal chill bearable.

Tim.

Roasting a skewer of marshmallows over burning everclear to put the finishing touch on the s'more martini. It was a new item on their fall menu that wasn't supposed to debut until the following week, but we convinced the waitress to let us "experience" it early.

The finished product. Voila!

Miss Marianne.

I don't remember their names. But at that point, I don't think they did either.

Besties.


Story of the night: Wine...

Martinis...

Then coffee.

Happy birthday, Miranda!