missouri road trip

Finally getting around to blogging about our trip to Missouri a few weeks ago.

We had been planning this trip for a year, ever since Rhett and I got to visit my parents on their mission last Thanksgiving and Andre didn't get to come. We were a little nervous about the 9-hour drive, but the kids did awesome and it really wasn't bad. (Now we're brainstorming all the other road trips we can take).

We had the best time visiting missionary Nana and Poppy. We weren't even 30 minutes down the road on our way back when Rhett said "I miss Nana and Poppy when I'm not at their house", and he's talked about this trip about every day since we've been home. Definitely a win!

 Union Station! Rhett still talks about this place from the last time we went. The Halloween trains were extra fun and festive. 

 Fritz's, of course. Nothing like juicy hamburgers delivered by train!

 We visited the College Basketball Experience, which is one of the few things in town my parents hadn't done. Definitely recommend! We were basically the only people there and had free reign of the place--Rhett loved the giant basketball in the kids area. 

 Poppy and Rhett as ESPN announcers

 Our favorite game--hit the targets as the light up and the clock counts down. The best was when Rhett, Andre, and I teamed up and did it together. 

 Tessa Kaiser, card shark (note the Uno cards in the bumbo)

 A very windy visit to Adam-ondi-Ahman. Beautiful and so peaceful.

 The country store in Far West with Brother Joseph

 Far West Temple site

 We had to pick up a few groceries and Rhett insisted on helping, so here he is, lugging the basket all by himself. 

 A few visits to the Independence visitors center, of course. Sharon and Toby are the VIPs of that place.

 Just the cutest senior missionaries at Liberty Jail.

A park with giant animals to play on and cute kids? Great day!

And somehow I didn't get any pictures of the amazing BBQ we ate, but trust us that it was a highlight. Thanks for a great trip, Missionary Mom and Dad! 

little moments: september

it is legitimately the middle of October and the site I use to make collages just started charging to save pictures (you're dead to me picmonkey), but better than late than never, right? My posterity will thank me. September!

 These two. All the heart eye emojis. This was the beginning of the few weeks where Rhett wanted a picture on the chair with Tessa almost every day. 

 Soccer started. He's obsessed and it is so much fun to watch. 

 We went to the kite + plane festival and Rhett got to fly a model plane. He was in heaven and the teenage boy who made the plane was so nice to him. 

 Miss Sass is done with the mother's lounge photo session. But those shoes! and the (way too big) headband!

 Broncos pride for the first game of the season

 The cutest face I've ever seen. 

 I think this was the day Rhett declared that he and Tessa are best friends. And note the gingerbread and candy cane socks--guess who picked those out. 

 Tessa's first playground experience. Life is so much more exciting out of the stroller. 

 Some early morning Star Wars reading, of course. 

 Finally used our Butterly Pavillion passes. 

 So many games of "Mom, what word does this make?"

 We figured out that if I jog with the stroller and Rhett rides super fast, we go about the same speed, which made for some fun exercising adventures.