Almost done!!

It is so so so crazy to think that our journey here in Kansas is coming to an end.I wanted to write a post, mostly to document for myself my feelings about this experience.
Boy has this been an adeventure! It has been so fun to see what another state has to offer and do some things here that we don't have back home in Utah.
This experience has been a lot different than I thought that it would be. It has been easier in the fact that I am LOVING having friends so close that I can literally walk across the parking lot and hang out with a number of different people. I have built some really great relationships with people that I just met through this job and I have gotten to build and make better, ones that I already had. I am so lucky that I got to come out here with so many friends. Honestly, would never have been okay with doing this if it wasn't for them!
This experience has been so much harder than I thought it would be in that it is such an emotional rollercoaster! There is no telling what the day is going to hold and no 2 days are the same. Rob can have this best week ever and then the next week have his work week. It is hard to see others having success when you aren't and hard not to be jealous of that too. I have learned that what everyone else does in there lives has no affect on what is happening in mine so there is no reason to compare it because everyones situation is different.
I am so grateful for the success that Rob has had with this job! It was a true test of faith coming out here because there is literally NO way of knowing how well you are going to do at this job til you get out here and do it and this is NO easy job! It is so awesome to see that Rob is #11 out of 272 first years doing this and #61 out of 380 people total. I would say that is success! He is working SOOO hard to make a better future for our family and I am so grateful for that! This job definitely is not for everyone. Our relationship has grown so much because I appreciate him a ton for working so hard and such long days and he is realizing just how much I do when I stay home and cook, clean, do laundry and take care of 2 super active kids all day.
Although some days (especially lately) I have a hard time keeping a positive attitude, I am still glad that we chose to come do this. I have a whole new respect for Rob and am so grateful that he is so willing to do whatever it takes to provide for our family. I have definitely grown closer to my kids and found alot more joy in being a mom and building a real relationship with Kaydence, now that she is getting older and more strong willed. I am so lucky to be their mom!! I couldn't ask for 2 better kids! I think that when I get home I will look back on this and realize that I have taken much more from this experience than just the obvious things.
I have a stronger testimony of prayer and how much it helps in our lives. There are so many days that I don't know how I am going to make it all day without freaking out or crying and I feel so lucky to know that all I need to do is pray and I will recieve the comfort and the strength that I need to make it just one more day. My dad gave me a bracelet when he got sick and it says "One Day At A Time" on it and I have tried to wear it every day this summer to remind me that every day here is different and there is a great chance that if today is crappy, tomorrow will be better. :)
I am SOOO excited to get back to our home and life back there! I have missed my family and friends so much! I really have taken for granted having my whole family live so close and having so many friends that I am still in contact with. Things will definitely be different when I get back!
The kids and I will flying home on Monday (for my little sis Cassie, her hubby and baby to get sealed in the Temple, YAY!) and Rob will be home the next week, when the season is over with. Can't wait to see everyone and wish us a safe trip home! :)

Don't forget to scroll down and see my other post from today! :)

Canoeing!

And the winner is... Stephen, Kim and Jake (Our techs that install the systems) :)

Tyson, Rob and Ben








Water fight! Taelie and Kaydence

Ready to go!





We went canoeing with the whole Platinum gang at the lake in Shawnee Mission Park. It was so much fun! The guys, of course, had to flex their muscles and start it off with a couple races and it was hilarious to watch them! They all get so intense and serious when it comes to competition. After that they brought out the water balloons and we attacked them from the dock as they came back in. Half the guys ended up in the water when their canoe flipped or they shoved each other off the dock. Too funny!
After the guys were done, the families took turns. I swore I wouldn't get in because I am not a fan of the water at all but they talked me into it. But yes, I was the ONLY adult wearing a life jacket. LOL! Another fear conquered in Kansas City. :) Kayence was pretty scared at first and cried when the canoe was rocking as we were getting in but once we showed her how to row she loved it. Easton was just as chill as usual. He just wandered around in the canoe and put his hands in the water.
I am so glad that we got a chance to do it with all our friends. Good times!

A day at the farm!

A couple weeks ago we went to the Deanna Rose Farmstead. It was so much fun! They let you feed and pet some of the animals, ride ponies, go fishing, ride little tractors and mine for treasure. The kids absolutely loved it!
We went fishing and Kaydence caught her first fish! She was so excited until she saw the hook in his lip and then she started to cry cuz the poor little fish was getting poked. She is such a sweet girl! We told her that it wasn't getting hurt but she didn't want anything else to do with it. Good thing Rob was there to put all the worms on the hook cuz I never would've done it. LOL!
We fed bottles to baby goats and Kaydence laughed the whole time. She was very selective in which goat she would give her bottle too. She only picked the little ones that wouldn't jump on her. She was like such a cute little mommy! There was one goat that would not leave Easton alone. He was running and trying to dodge it and started to cry and want me to hold him when he couldn't get away. It was too funny!
There was a huge buffalo that Kaydence kept calling a "Dumbalo" it was too cute to correct her. She would've sat there and watched that thing all day. She also loved watching the pigs roll around in the mud.
Being here in Kansas, we have gotten to do so many fun things as our little family. We only have Sundays to spend the whole day with Rob and we try to make the best of every minute of it. :)
Here are lots of pics! Enjoy!


Feeding the goats



Easton wasn't sure what to think. The little brown one behind him was the one following him everywhere! LOL!








Kaydence's trophy fish! It was flopping too much to really get a good picture of it.







Fattest bunny I have ever seen!


Cutest kids ever! I am such a lucky mom!


My little catepillar


Cheesy


Old fashion rock game


Kaydence loved to watch the "dumbalo" (buffalo) as she called it! LOL!


Easton kept calling the fishies "dishies". LOVE my kids and their comic relief!


My cute little fam! I am SO blessed!


Sliding fun


Easton did not like these goats at all!


I wouldn't even feed the goats but Kaydence loved them licking her hand.


Checking out the stinky turkeys. Kaydence actually thought they were gross. LOL!


Smile! You can tell how hot it was that day. Red cheeks and lots of freckles. LOL!

What summer is all about!

When I think of summer I think of 2 things, bbq's and water fun! Go figure that these are the 2 things that we've gotten to do most being in Kansas city!
We've gotten to eat at a bunch of different restaurants that we don't have back home in Utah. Last week we went to one called T-Rex Cafe that had huge dinosaur replicas and every half hour they would have a shooting star show on the ceiling and the dinosaurs would move around. They also had huge fish tanks with all kinds of fish. The kids LOVED it.

Hanging out with the Noerrings, Caden and Alyssa




Easton and Alyssa chatting it up




While in the BBQ capital of the U.S we've tried out a bunch of different BBQ places in Kansas City and have found one that is BY FAR our favorite! It is called Backfire BBQ and it is amazing! It is really cool because it has a motorcycle theme and has tons of different vintage motorcycles and cars. Also it has some new ones and was featured on the popular show "American Chopper". One of my favorite shows! They build custom and insane motorcycles. The food there is AMAZING!! If you are ever in KC you HAVE to try it out, Yummy!



Easton does so well at our late night dinners!


Some of our good friends! Ben and Jen Arthur and April and Gentry Ramsay.


Trevor, Johannah (Rapunzel, as Kaydence calls her) and Taylor Eardley


Kaydence was obsessed with this bike and asked if we could take it home.




We spend A LOT of time at the pool! The wives all go during the day to help pass some time and we often play pool volleyball at night to help our hubbies cool off after a long day in the heat. :) It is definitely gonna be missed when we go back home.

First haircut!

A couple weeks ago I decided to give Easton his first haircut! I had been debating doing it for awhile cuz I really didn't wanna cut off his cut curls he had in the back but he was starting to look a little mulletish. Also, he had these long, random fly-away hairs all over his head that he had since the day he was born. We called them his "old man, comb over hairs". LOL! Finally, I decided that it was time.
He did so great! I put him in his booster and gave him a few snacks and he was as happy as a clam. :) Just one more example of how he is the calmest, easiest little guy ever!

Here are some before and after pics:

BEFORE
The precious little curls


BEFORE
Not much to work with on top


AFTER
All done!!


FOHAWK!!!


What a little stud!!


Seriously, can't get enough of my little man!