KC Weekend

Today we are getting our lives back in order. We have been out of town all weekend in Kansas City, Missouri. Friday morning, early, we headed out for our car ride. The reason that we went down was because several months ago, Chris asked David to join the band that he was forming to play a gig in Kansas City the weekend that he was organizing a class reunion. The boys have been practicing what seems like every weekend for the last few months to get ready for the show. David was the lead singer and Chris play electric guitar, and they had 3 other guys in the band. So Friday morning, we loaded the kids up, and off we went. David, Alissa and I rode in the van with Jack, Tessa and Cole, and Chris drove the explorer with the rest of the band, pulling the trailer. I was really worried about how the kids would do on the 8-9 hour drive. Tessa is not known for her tolerance in situations where she is unhappy. The kids really did do a great job. There were a few outbursts of tears once in a while, but we stopped like every 1 1/2-2 hours so they could get out and stretch their legs. I was really impressed with how well they rode.

The trip down took about 9 hours. When we got there, we went straight to Gerald and Linda's house where we were staying the first night. It was really great to see them. They may be Chris's family, but they sure make you feel like part of the family. They are so welcoming and loving and a great couple to spend time with. Friday night, we met the Duewel's for dinner, who are our good friends from Calvary. Pastor David used to the be the music pastor there and we grew up in the youth group with Andy. We had a great time seeing them. The dinner, was far from uneventful though...I had made a reservation to meet them for dinner at Zio's, my favorite Italian restaurant. (There was one in Springfield, MO where we used to live). Our reservation was for 6:30. When we got there with Tessa at 6:30, I told them we had a reservation and they proceeded to tell me that they did not have a reservation for us. I said that I called the day before and made one. They looked in their reservation book and found it there, but no one had put it on the schedule for that night, so it was going to be a little bit but they were going to put our table together as fast as they could. We were still waiting for the Duewel's to get there when they called and asked where we were. We said we were at the restaurant, where were they? They were also at the restaurant, and they had a table. Huh. They weren't there. It was at that point that we realized there were two Zio's restaurants, and they were at the one in Olathe, KS, and we were at the one in Independence, MO. I had no idea there were two of them. They knew, and they tried calling both of them to see where the reservation was, but thanks to someone not writing our reservation down, both restaurants told them they didn't have one in our name. None the less, they decided to leave their Zio's and come to the one we were at. It was about 30 minutes away. No big deal, we were going to have to wait a few minutes for our table anyway. We took a little walk outside so Tessa could keep moving. We walked around, then came back and asked for our table. They said it was still be a while. I questioned it because they told us it would be any minute. That was when they told me they mixed up our reservation with another party of 9 and gave them our table. AHHHH!!! So frustrating. So what seems like an eternity later, we got our table, the Duewel's got there, and we had a great time catching up. We got home late, and Tessa was exhausted, but we made it.

Saturday morning we took it a little easy, playing around the house and having some yummy LeMar's donuts and spending time with good friends. Then we got ready and went downtown Kansas City to the plaza. There, I met my awesome friend Joy who I went to college with and I haven't seen in like 2 or 3 years. We met for coffee and just walked around and talked and caught up. It was so fantastic to see her and spend time with her. I miss her so much!! Then we went to meet some other friends for lunch. We met our friends Erik and Monica (and Monica's sister, Jessica came along) at Jack Stack BBQ for some Kansas City BBQ for lunch. It was so delicious. I had a yummy bbq chicken. Delish!!! After lunch, we walked around with them and did a little shopping. We haven't spent time with both Erik and Monica since we moved from Webb City three years ago, so we really enjoyed the chance to spend time with them.

Saturday afternoon, Tessa laid down for a nap and the boys got stuff ready to go for their big show that night. When the babies woke up, we packed them up, went and picked up Chris's mom and Alissa, Joyce, the kids and I went to Chick-fil-A for dinner. Oh, how I love Chick-fil-A!!! So glad that they are finally building one by us, it should be opening this summer. So we had our dinner, then went back to Joyce's house and put the babies to bed. Then Alissa and I got ourselves ready to go for our night out at the band concert. We went to Clark's Place Bar and Grill for the boys' show that night. We had a great time and the guys did so good! We were out really late and got home really late, then of course slept on an air mattress, so didn't get the best night's sleep.

The next morning, we had breakfast with Joyce and got the kids packed and the van packed and were on our way! It was a whirlwind weekend, but we had a great time and really enjoyed the chance to see our friends and spend time with people that we haven't seen for a long time!! I'm not any too anxious to take another long car trip any time soon!

Karson Race Gibbs

Welcome to the family baby Karson! This morning, at 8:48 am, Karson Race Gibbs was born, 5 weeks early. He was a shocking 7 lb 11oz and 20 in long! We knew he was going to be a big boy but were shocked that he was so big considering that he was 5 weeks early! Everyone is doing fine. There was some concern about his lungs being underdeveloped, and at first, he had to work really hard to breathe, but he is doing much better. Mommy is finally getting some much needed rest as well. Karson, we can't wait to meet you! (We're still waiting to see pictures of you! Which I will post as soon as I have them). Welcome to the family baby boy, you have 2 sisters and a brother who love you and 3 more cousins here in IL that will adore you! Love you Karson Race!

Thinking Back

The other night I took a little stroll down memory lane. Tessa had fallen asleep in her bed and I went into room one last time before I went to bed, just like I do every night. Before I go to sleep, I always go into her room and just watch her sleep for a couple minutes. I usually put my hand on her chest or back because I just love to feel her breathing while she's asleep and so peaceful. It brings me so much joy to stand in her room and watch her sleep. She is my life, my everything. So when I was in there standing, staring, it reminded me of that same behavior, but backed up like 14 months ago. In those last few weeks of my pregnancy, after we had moved into our house and gotten everything decorated, and I had already had my showers and had Tessa's room all ready for her to arrive, I used to do that very thing every night. Before bed, I would walk into her room and just stare. I would soak in the pink walls and feel her soft blankets in her crib just waiting for a baby to snuggle around. I loved to sit in the glider and just dream of the day that I would have a baby to rock in my arms. But it was amazing, as much time as I spent in there, picturing what it would be like when Tessa finally arrived, it never felt real. It didn't make a difference that it looked like I was hiding a watermelon under my shirt, it just felt totally surreal, like I was waiting for a day that would never come. Now here I am, 14 months later, with a 13 month old beautiful, amazing little girl who has changed my life more than I could ever imagine. It feels like this time has flown by, and yet at the same time, it feels like this has been my life forever. I don't remember what life was like before Tessa was a part of it. Now, my experiences in her room are very different. Yes, I still go in there every night, but it's to watch my beautiful, sleeping girl. Then, 10 hours later, I am meeting her back in that same room to greet her with a good morning song and smile. She's always waiting for me in her bed anxious for her day to start!

Tessa's room after just getting it finished - still waiting for her to arrive!

Tessa at 9 month old just playing her crib!

Good morning Tessa! Greeting Mommy and Daddy with a smile on the morning of her birthday!