Family

Today, my mom and I took Micah and Tyler to Union Station in downtown Kansas City to see their favorite thing: TRAINS! After looking at the huge, elaborate model train display, and walking across the Link to Crown Center to color in the Crayola Store, and then back to eat a greasy lunch in the…

I arrived back in Kansas City last night to find my nephews, Micah and Tyler, spending the night at my parent’s. SLEEPOVER! I know that I say this all the time, but there is nothing that brings me more joy than spending time with those little nuggets. Late in the evening, Tyler, who is 2…

In the days before Grandpa died, he was in-and-out of consciousness, and uncommunicative. There are many funeral details that never had the chance to be discussed – many of which we are sorting out today. But he was very clear about what he would like to be buried in: black pants, a flannel shirt, and…

My dad and I are flying to Richland, WA, today to say our goodbyes to my grandpa. We bought last-minute tickets, and needless to say, the past 24 hours have been chaotic. One of the tasks I had last night was to find something appropriate to wear to a memorial service. Now, given the circumstances,…

For the first time in months, I am experiencing a quiet moment. I suppose that I have had plenty of quiet hours in the car by myself throughout the fall, but this is the first time that I have been still, silent, with a hushed heart and nothing vying for my attention. There are different…

Well, hello, pretties. Were you beginning to think I had abandoned you? Never. My deepest apologies for taking a few days off from blogdom. The Giving of Thanks took up much of the last couple of days. My holiday can be summed up as thus: all 9 members of my immediate family in my parent’s…

Driving flies past when you have a purpose. Yesterday, my purpose was to get from Nashville to Kansas City in time for my nephew Micah’s 4th birthday party. I cannot believe that he is 4. I cannot believe that it has been 4 years since the cold night when I stood on the sidewalk outside…

After a long-stretch of time with my nephews, Jeremy and Ashley arrived home tonight to relieve me of childcare duties. I am now excused from monitoring bowel movements (“I’m DUUHHH-un!”), re-telling the story of “The Lion King” every hour, receiving already-chewed gum into the palm of my hand, and being presented with a special gift…

Once, I was known far and wide as being Annie the Nanny. Annie the GOOD Nanny. Annie the Nanny who could handle anything that came her way, tirelessly cycling through all of the things one does with kids: play, feed, change, wash, play, read, sing, play, love. There was no problem I could not settle,…

It’s hard work to be a model. I should know. My sister-in-law, Ashley Parsons, generously took an entire Sunday afternoon to help me out with a photo shoot for, well, “my career,” I guess. I have to be honest and say that when it comes to “packaging” myself, I am severely uncomfortable. I have never…