4 years and going strong

Tom and I just celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on Thursday.
4 years is a long time.  College. Presidential Term.
A lot has happened in those 4 years.  We moved from our lovely duplex into our house.  I've taught at two different school.  Tom has had 3 jobs.  Oh yeah, and we had an adorable baby in that time! I certainly can't wait to see what the next 4 years will bring.
Tom took me out to dinner, but kept the restaurant a secret.  We went to Novel.  Apparently, he's been trying to take me here for a while, but reservations fill up months in advance. The restaurant is an old house they converted.  We got to eat upstairs by a window, which was so beautiful! The food was amazing! Best scallops I've every had!
After dinner, we walked around the Liberty Memorial.  4 years ago we were taking our wedding pictures there, so we thought it was appropriate we went back.  Liberty Memorial has the best view of our gorgeous city!

Last night was the 6th annual LaNoue Boo Bash.  My family really gets into the costume aspect of the party.  No one tells anyone what they are going to be. Unfortunately, since the costumes are top secret, it never fails that 2 people dress as the same thing.  This year was the same story.  My parents went as Donald and Hilary, and my cousin and her husband did the same.  Fortunately, they each had their own spin on the costume.
My mom was the grand winner for her spot on portrayal of Donald Trump.  She got to take home the coveted trophy.

Tom and I were Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. Little Miss Savannah was a fairy.  

More pictures of the rest of the crew are coming...

E-I-E-I-O

Savannah loves to reorganize the house.  She has started to move our bar stools around all the time.  Katie (currently living in our basement) doesn't appreciate the extra noise while she tries to sleep.  I do my best to contain Hurricane Savannah until Katie wakes up, but this child is hard to contain.  

She also loves to put things in baskets and boxes.  On Friday, we went to Cuddle and Bounce (our music class) and she was a rockstar at cleaning up all the instruments.  Unfortunately, it wasn't time for clean up haha!  

Monday, I got to step back in the classroom for a day.  I subbed in a 5th grade classroom and Savannah got to spend the day with her friend Ean. While he was at Pre-k, Savannah and Lindsay had a Starbucks date and then a park picnic once Ean was out of school.  Savannah loves spending time with Ean!

Savannah enjoyed showing Joan her new birthday present.  Joan got a kick out of watching Savannah dance and sing to the music. 

Savannah loves Old MacDonald!

Special shout out to Auntie Katie...she took off for Germany on Tuesday.  She will be gone until Halloween and is competing in the CULINARY OLYMPICS! whoop whoop!! Good Luck Kate!

Pumpkin Patch

On Monday, Savannah and I went to Deanna Rose Farmstead and explored their kiddie pumpkin patch. We met up with a friend and got to go down a big slide, play in a corn pit, take a tractor ride, and pick out a pumpkin.  

Savannah wore her serious face most of the day.  She cracks me up when she looks so intense.   

 Best Buddies!

 Savannah didn't make it very far in the tunnel.  She thought she could walk and refused to crawl.  

This girl is an animal lover! 

We had an early softball game this week, which meant that Savannah got to come cheer us on!

On Tuesday, we met up with more friends and went to an indoor trampoline place.  It was AMAZING! Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 - 12, kids are only $5 and I got to go in for FREE! I probably had more fun than Savannah, but that's ok.  Next time, I will be wearing shorts and a tshirt so I can really go crazy.  If anyone is looking for us on Tuesday around 9 am, you know where we will be.  

 After our trampoline fun, we went to visit Joan.  

Savannah was excited to see Ean 2 days in a row! She loves that boy! 

(PS, don't mind her belly hanging out of her clothes.  This is pretty normal around here)

Savannah tried on her Halloween costume that my mom made for her last year.  12 months later and it finally fits (actually it was a little snug). 

 Rocking her new cat outfit that Grandma gave her. 

Story time with dad in the morning is the BEST!

Joan got new shoes this week and Savannah wanted to test them out.  

 If you want to keep this girl smiling, give her food.  Carrots were the snack of choice this day.  

 Practicing the piano with grandma (grandpa in his usual spot watching football)

Random Videos

Random Happenings from recently

Craigmile Crew Came Cruising

I am WAY behind on this.

A few weeks ago, the Craigmile Crew (Tom's cousin, wife, and 3 girls + baby on the way) came to stay with us for the week.  The Ryder Cup was being played a few miles from their house in Minnesota.  Instead of battling the crazy amounts of people pouring into their little town, they decided to make the trek to KC and hang out with us.

To say we had a fun weekend would be an understatement.  Family dinners, Royals vs Twins, Mani/Pedis, backyard kickball, two park visits, Cranium, Cribbage...the list could go on.

Savannah was along for the ride! 

Libby won this girl's heart over...all the girls did for that matter. 

I believe they were playing "puppies".  Hannah and Madeline were so sweet to entertain the little ones.  These two are great role models for our girls!

We visited one of our favorite parks.  Everyone loved it!  

More car time! 

 The Twins happened to be playing the Royals that week so we had to go cheer on our home teams! It was a beautiful night to be at the ball park!

How precious is our God Daughter!? 

Getting all 4 of these gals to look at the camera and smile at the same time proved to be impossible.  We had fun trying!

 Savannah and Emma - I know they won't remember this week, but they are building a bond that will hopefully grow for years and years.  I love these two!

 One last picture of the 4some!

 2 dads and their girls...I can't wait for Feb to find out if they are bringing another girl into this crazy mix, or rocking everyone's world and adding a little brother!!! Either way, this group is only going to get better!

 Savannah loved playing with these munchkins!