Derek and I have had a few airline miles saved up for a while now and had been trying to decide how to use them. When Karlee and tanner announced that they were getting married and would be married in the Kansas City temple, we knew that our kids (who adore both of them) would love to be there, so it seemed the perfect way to splurge some airline points.
The kids were all super great on the our late night flight. We left about their normal bedtime. Both Liv and Carter fell asleep on Derek.
I had Camden with me who never fell asleep and it was a pretty bumpy ride so at the end he was pretty scared and tearful. We arrived pretty late on Wednesday night and pretty much just got our rental car, drove to our hotel, and went to bed.
Thursday morning, we got up and went into downtown Kansas City. We took the kids to Legoland which they seemed to enjoy.
They loved building legos...we made our mark on the lego wall.
Liv and I built a big castle.
And she found her Lego Friend namesake:
All the kids enjoyed the 3D movie and the rides.
Then, we had lunch at this neat place called Fritz.
You sit at the table, call in your order on a telephone, and then a train delivers it to you. The kids loved it and they give you these cute little conductor hats to wear.
Then, I guess Hallmark's headquarters are stationed in Kansas City and they have this super cute free service they give to the community called Kaleidoscope. It's an art session for kids and it's free. You sign up for an hour session and they let the kids in and they have free access to all the art supplies in the room. Paint, markers, old hallmark cards.
My kids loved the puzzle maker. They give you a cardboard square and you can color or paint it and then when you are done they have a puzzle cutter to cut it into a puzzle.
They also loved the glow in the dark room that had glow in the dark paint supplies. Super fun and I couldn't believe it was free. We also toured the Hallmark museum which was so cool. They had cards on display from all the years they have ever made them and stuff from every year's Christmas ornaments. Super neat.
Then, we met up with Steph's family at the liberty jail and took a tour. Our kids were amazingly well behaved during the missionary presentation. I kept hearing noisy kids and would look around to tell them to be quiet only so see them quietly and attentively listening to this missionaries and that it was the other people's kids who were making all the noise. We went to multiple church history sites and at every single one my kids were, reverent, engaged, and answering questions. It was awesome.
That night we met up with Karlee and Tanner for some Kansa City BBQ at Q39. While waiting for our table the kids put together the lego sets that they each picked out from the Legoland gift store.
Liv picked a little bride and groom set where you could change the hair out accordingly. She made a little Tanner and Karlee. Q39 food was definitely super good and once again the kids were on incredible behavior sitting in their seats, not running around the restaurant.
Then, that night we went to Steph and Jon's Embassy suites and swam with the kids and Tanner and Chase. The kids (including Tanner and Chase) all had a blast playing Marco/Polo.
Friday morning we went out to the visitor's center at Independence. Once again incredible behavior from the kids. They loved answering questions and participating in the missionary led discussions. They had this cute little pioneer play place for kids in the Independence visitor's center. The boys loved driving the covered wagons:
After that tour, Derek and Jon's family went to the Nation WWI museum which I understand was incredible, and I took the kids back to the hotel to swim in our pool. That night was Karlee and Tanner's reception. The kids had a blast playing with Chase and Karlee's cousins. The kids totally got into all the wedding traditions a game where Karlee and Tanner raised a shoe in response to who was better with directions/money/made the first move, etc..., the cake cutting/eating. Somehow Karlee even convinced Liv to sing A Dream is A Wish dedicated to Karlee and Tanner for everyone which was adorable. Then, when it was all over every single one of my kids went up to Karlee's mother and asked, "how can I help clean up?" and then when they were done wit that task they would ask for another on repeat for a good 45 minutes. At some point, someone remarked to me how well behaved my children are and with how amazingly well behaved they had been on the trip, I couldn't do anything but agree (though I will agree that they were uncharacteristically well behaved).
Saturday was the day of the wedding. We started it out with you guessed it, swimming in our pool. Then, everyone got ready and headed to the temple.
Chase and Karlee's cousins watched the kids while all of us were in the ceremony which was incredible. Derek was a bit of jerk and instead of telling his sister congratulations at the end...he took the opportunity to inform her that she was officially old. Went we got out, I took a picture of the babysitter's club.
I also managed to catch this gem of a photo right as Karlee and Tanner exited the temple.
Then, we all took family photos. Once again out of character, my kids acted better than they ever had for any family photo sessions we have ever had. The took all the pictures requested and smiled through all the heat and humidity. Karalee really wanted a pictured of a twin kissing each of her cheeks and then a similar pictures with their twin cousins (Tanner and Chase) kissing her cheeks as well.
After pictures, we took Chase and all the kids to get some much deserved slurpees. Then, we went back to our hotel to kill some time until the family dinner later that afternoon. Chase and the kids spent the whole time playing Flappy Golf. The family dinner was nice. The kids were thrilled to be invited to help decorate the get away car.
After this was over, everyone was pretty much pooped from all the festivities and we just went back to our hotel and watched tv and read books. T
The next morning was Sunday. We caught sacrament at local church. It happened to be a fast Sunday in the first Sunday at a newly divided ward. Everyone was new and no one recognized that we didn't belong. The Testimony meeting was mostly be invitation to the leadership of the newly formed ward. Derek and I both felt like it was the most wonderful fast and testimony meeting we had ever been to. So many simple and motivating testimonies. I was quite glad we decided to pop in.
Then, we headed back to the hotel, packed our bags and headed to the airport. Steph, Jon, Chase, Tanner, Karlee, Jon's parents, and our family were all on the same flight home and somehow we managed to get seats all together. The kids all sat by Chase and played Flappy Golf the whole way home. He said it was the most fun he had ever had on a flight. They boys actually got to sit in a two seater all by themselves which they were pretty excited about.
Overall, such a great trip. With some amazing spiritual experiences for our family. And it was so awesome to be there in the temple to support Karlee and Tanner in their decision to be married for time and all eternity.
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