Pumpkins!

Just a few more weeks until Halloween and the question remains … when do I go get my pumpkins? And where do I go get my pumpkins? I’m so tempted to hit the easy button and just go to Sam’s Club and get those big pumpkins that they have the big bins for $4.98. Stock up kids! But what fun is that! There’s no hay bales. There’s no corn maze. There’s no large pumpkin bouncy pillow. It’s just a big ‘ole warehouse that has big ‘ole pumpkins.

Today would’ve been a perfect day to venture out to the pumpkin patch. But guess what … it’s raining. And who likes to go to the pumpkin patch when it’s raining. Walking through the fields and fields of pumpkins in the mud. Dragging the pumpkins back to the car and loading them up. Getting mud and dirt all over my nice, clean car. Why, why do we do this? Because it’s tradition and it’s fun and the kids faces light up when we do it. They really enjoy finding the biggest pumpkin out in the field. And the joy they get when they load up that pumpkin into the wheelbarrow and lug it out to the car … it’s priceless! Then they let it sit on the front porch for days and days knowing that they searched long and hard for that one wonderful pumpkin

So, while the easy button sounds nice, traditions will always win! Even though my boys are getting older, there is still the thrill of the pumpkin hunt. And until that thrill is gone (and maybe afterwards) … this tradition will always remain!!!

Swope Park Rangers

OK, so if you haven’t gone to a Swope Park Rangers game with your family yet – you need to!  The Swope Park Rangers are the USL (D2) soccer team in KC.  They play all of their home games at Swope Park Soccer Village.  Tickets are relatively inexpensive and the atmosphere is pretty family oriented – as long as you don’t mind a few hecklers!  And if you are going with small children, you might want to stay away from the Zoo.  These supporters are fun and keep the energy going,  but a little rowdy at times!

Here is what you need to know if you are planning to attend a game:

• The schedule
• All home games are at Swope Park Soccer Village
• Parking is free and close to the field.
• The price of tickets range from $7 – $15 per person.
• Their mascot is Hat Trick Harry.  This video explains where he came from!
• The seats are bleacher seats.  You might want to bring a cushion to sit on!
• The bathroom.  Let me tell you about the bathroom.  It’s a porta potty.  BUT it’s not just any porta potty.  It’s a luxury porta potty.  You walk into a trailer and it’s a fully decorated “bathroom”.  (At least for the ladies.   Sorry guys – not sure what your side looks like!)
• Keep your eye out for current SKC players wondering the stadium.  We went to a game last year and Peter Vermes was there with a handful of players.  My son was ultra excited when his favorite, Nuno Coelho, was there and gave him a high five!
• After game autographs!  Enjoy watching the kids line up against the rope as the players walk off the field and sign autographs.  Even after running for the last 90 minutes, they are all very personable and awesome to the kids (and parents too if you want to step in there!)

So there you have it.  Now, go get your tickets!

Be a tourist in your own city.

Sometimes the best things are staring us right in the face.  We try so hard to make the most of every precious moment with our kids.  To make sure they have BIG experiences.  To make sure they have childhood memories that will last forever!

But really matters most to our kids is just the time that we spend with them.  We could take them on a tour of a used car lot, and as long as we were spending time with them, they would be happy.  Well, some would!

I recently saw a video of guy that was at a park with his kid.  He was too busy with his eyes glued to his phone that he didn’t realize that his kid had been lured away.  Now, of course, we know it was a set up and the child was safe.  But truly, point made.

If we don’t stop what we are doing – focus on what’s important – our kids are going to slip away.  They are going to go to high school, then college, then they will get married and have their own families.  (insert tons of tears here.)

Wait a minute …. I am supposed to be talking about being a tourist in your city.  How did I get off on that tangent?!?  Because what I want to talk about is this – don’t try and re-invent the wheel.  We live in a pretty cool city.   Take advantage of it.  Take in the fountains.  Take in a Royal’s game.  Go to Deanna Rose.  Go to Sea Life Aquarium.  Go to Kaleidoscope.

Just Google it!  This is what came up for “the best family things to do in Kansas City”.

• Crown Center
• Liberty Memorial
• KC Zoo
• Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
• Nelson-Atkins Museum
• Science City
• Oceans of Fun
• Truman Library
• Worlds of Fun
• Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
• American Jazz Museum
• Swope Park

Once again, this is a pretty cool city we live in.  Just need to see it through the eyes of child to remember everything we have here!

Happy summer!

 

Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center

If you grew up in Johnson County, you probably recognize this building…

King Louie Bowling Alley and Ice Chateau was an iconic staple in Johnson County from 1959 until it closed and locked their doors for the final time in 2009.

Fast forward to 2017, and the building is getting a face lift and a new tenant …

The Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, formerly known as the Johnson County Museum, or as my kids called it, the “Fun Museum” will open their doors on Saturday, June 10th, 2017.

Of course, no grand opening is complete without a day jam-packed with family fun!   And, even better, it’s FREE!

• Tour the new museum exhibit “Becoming Johnson County”
• Play in the new Kidscape.
• Enjoy some drop-in art classes.
• Take in the transformation of the building!

The fun doesn’t end with opening day!  Here is what you can expect to see from the new center:

• the Johnson County Museum
• Kidscape
• JCPRD will host classes
• Theater in the Park
• Lots of entertainment for children.  Already on the calendar for June:
  • JoHo Storyteller (6/16)
  • Dino O’Dell (6/20)
  • Jim Cosgrove and the Hiccups (6/28)

For more details, check out the Johnson County, KS website:  http://www.jocogov.org/dept/museum/home.

 

Kansas City’s Family Fun Activities for June 28th – June 29th!

June 28th – June 29th

Maker Faire, Union Station,

Repticon ~ Kansas  City Reptile and Exotic Animal Expo at the Abdallah Shrine

“Guys and Dolls” (Rated G) at Theater in the Park at Shawnee Mission Park

T-Bones vs. the Railcats

Royals vs. the Angels 

Heart of America Shakespeare Festival presents “The Winter’s Tale”  (ongoing through July 6th)

Saturday, June 28th

Time Travelers at Shawnee Town 1929

Annual Bonner Blast in Bonner Springs ~ Kelly Murphy Park in Bonner Springs ~ 8:30pm – 10pm ~ Free!

Great Lenexa BBQ Battle

Longview Charity Horse Show

Sunday, June 29th

 Art of the Machine Cars ~ City Market

Art+Family = FUN at Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

Cinderella at Wonderscope

Family Summer Camp at Bass Pro Shops ~ Olathe

Super Sunday Family Day at the Bay Water Park

Kansas City’s Union Station ~ Family fun activities and events for Saturday, May 10, 2014!

Celebrate Train Day! 10am – 3pm

Activities included:

· A rare look at historic and unique rail train equipment will be presented by Amtrak Vacations.

· Kansas City Southern Locomotive Display.

· Chuggington, the hit preschool television series on Disney Junior, will provide free train-themed kids’ activities including arts & crafts, photo opportunities, and train play tables.

· Free admission to the KC Rail Experience.

· Union Station’s family-favorite Model Railroad Experience.

· Rocky Mountain Express showing in the Extreme Screen (paid admission).

· Dovetail Games will be offering a free download of the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner version of the hit game “Train Simulator 2014.

· Operation Lifesaver, whose mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at railroad crossings and on rail property, will be handing out free giveaways and providing interactive opportunities to learn more about rail safety and promoting its new “See Tracks? Think Train” campaign.

· Amtrak Sweepstakes give away (must be present to win).

 

Check out The Discovery of King Tut!

Go see The Amazing Spider-Man 2 on the region’s largest movie screen ~ the Extreme Screen!

Visit Science City!

Celebrate Astronomy Day!

Enjoy a showing of Sid the Science Kid, the Movie! {free with a paid admission to Science City} ~ Union Station’s City Stage ~ 10am and 11:30am

 

Kansas City fun for the family ~ Saturday, May 10th!

Fun in Kansas City ~ Saturday, May 10th

 7:00 AM          Mission Family Festival

9:00 AM          KC WildLands Workday at Ernie Miller Park

9:00 AM          Celebrate the Beauty and the Best of Downtown Shawnee

10:00 AM        Lenexa Art Fair

10:00 AM        National Train Day @ KC Parks

10:00 AM        Astronomy Day at Science City & Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium

10:00 AM        National Train Day ~ Union Station

11:00 AM        Lakeshore Learning Store – Celebrate Mom Event!

11:00 AM        Sprint Family Fun Days Super Heroes!

1:00 PM          Meet Me at the Museum Drop-in Tour ~ Kemper Museum

1:00 PM          Art + Family = FUN

1:30 PM          Wonderpalooza Concert at Wonderscope

 2014 KSC Spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

 Belton Train Rides

 Star Wars Weekend @ Legoland

 Schoolhouse Rock Live @ the Coterie Theater ~ 2pm & 9pm

Family Fun Events for Sunday, May 4, 2014

Time to wrap up the weekend!  Here is a list of a few things you can check out Sunday, May 4th!

9:00 AM          Special Swim at Matt Ross Community Center

10:00 AM        Warm Springs Ranch Tours

10:00 AM        3rd Annual Kansas City Chihuahua Parade at Barney Allis Plaza

10:00 AM        The Dinosaur Show

11:00 AM        29^th Brookside Art Annual

12:00 PM         Kids’ Outdoor Skills Challenge at Bass Pro Shops Olathe

1:00 PM          Art + Family = FUN at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

1:10 PM           KC Royals play Detroit Tigers

2:00 PM          Coterie Theatre Dramatic Storytime

3:00 PM           Sporting KC plays Columbus Crew

3:30 PM          The -A-Lone Ranger

75 Years of Oz, Oh My! Last day at Crown Center