Homecoming Week 2025!

 This week was HOCO (as the kids call it) and Daryl went all out. He participated in the spirit days, built a float with the LINK crew, painted his chest for the football game and had fun at the dance on Saturday. 

It was fun to watch him all week, just enjoying the High School experience. I kept asking for pictures but I didn't get very many. Oh well, that's having a teenage boy I think. Alex, Grandma and I went to the football game on Friday. It was a really good game and the band was fantastic! 

So thankful mom came up to be with the kids on the weekend while Jeff and I left for a work trip. 

I know she got better pictures of Daryl dressed up than he would have done for me. I especially love that she got our Halloween decorations in his photo! 

One Birthday and One Anniversary

 Need to do a September catch up post! Joseph had his 11th birthday a couple of weeks ago, so happy to celebrate him and to finally get the kids' ages back in order! I like it when they are all two years apart and for awhile now our kids are 17, 15, 13, 13 and 11. Whew, that just feels better. 

We asked Joseph what he wanted to do for his party and he said Legos and Nerf War, so that is what we did. He had some buddies over and had a great time! 

Last weekend Jeff and I celebrated our two year anniversary. Awwww, it really has flown by! I guess time flies when you are having fun or when you have five kids, either way. We celebrated with all of our favorite things in Kansas City. We had Blue Sushi, saw our favorite comedian Nate Bargatze, sang our hearts out at a Dueling Piano Bar and ate at Home Grown for breakfast twice! We really love that place. 

So many celebrations in September, it has been really fun! We are in homecoming week so there are more posts to come in September! 

My favorite honey latte at Home Grown. Yummmm

Just a Funny Story ...

 Last Sunday Jeff and I were walking up to the T-Mobile center to see Linkin Park in concert. 19 year old me couldn't have been more thrilled! And I don't want any Emily Armstrong hate, she is amazing! We all miss Chester but the band still rocks and I'm so glad they are on tour and I got to experience their music live. 

Ok, back to the story. We are leaving the parking garage and there is a bank ATM on the corner. The ATM was beeping loudly and when I turned around there was a big stack of cash hanging out of it! I grabbed the money and the receipt and looked around. That's when I realized there was no one on the block. 

Jeff stares at me and asks, "why did you do that?" 

"Someone is going to steal someone else's money. I bet they thought the transaction failed and they just walked away."

Jeff very confused, "The bank is closed what are we supposed to do about it?" 

We looked for a drop box and then just decided to take it back to the car and head to the concert. On our second trip back to the T-Mobile center I asked Jeff if he was mad and he said no, but he suggested next time I shouldn't take the money.

Fast forward to Wednesday (I was busy on Tuesday and forgot to call the bank), I call a branch of Arvest bank and let them know that I found some money at one of their ATMs and would like to get it back to its owner. The very nice woman on the phone was so shocked that I wanted to return the money. She said she has never ran into this before. I let her know I had the receipt and the time I found the money so the ATM people should be able to get it back to the right person. I e-mailed her a picture of the receipt. 

Her branch manager called me back and was so thankful and happy for what Jeff and I were doing. She said I was such a nice person and so thoughtful she was sure this good deed would be returned to me. 

What the manager didn't know was my good deed was returned by how happy everyone was that I did take the money and Jeff will never be allowed to forget, that was the RIGHT thing to do. He drove to KC this morning and returned the money and receipt and the branch manager had gotten me some flowers and a card. Thank you Jeff for taking the time to finish something I technically started, Mwah! LOL

All's well that ends well and I share this story for two reasons: 

1. I've already told Jeff my first instinct was affirmed, and I will always take the money hanging out of the ATM and try to get it back to its person!

2. There are good people in the world and when we get to be that person it feels better than finding money.

Yay for finding a person that puts up with your nonsense!

The concert was fantastic. However, I would love for headliners to start at 7 and not 9....but that's just me!