Trip to Kansas City: Day Three

We woke up in our luxurious Sioux City hotel after a wonderful night sleep. Tyler and the kids were thrilled that the hotel provided a full complementary breakfast and I enjoyed a shower and getting ready in peace and quiet.

We met up with the Grandparents that morning. My mom and Ken had arrived in Sioux Falls several hours behind us and stayed in a different hotel. They were taking a different route to KC than we were but wanted to say hello.

After we parted ways we got the heck out of South Dakota and into one of my VERY FAVORITE states. Iowa. I LOVE IOWA. I would live there in a heart beat. Iowa is not what you would expect. It is green with rolling hills. I have told Tyler for years that Iowa is not what you think it is going to be like. I love those deep green hills with white farmhouses. It is an extremely beautiful state. Pictures don't do it justice...so I didn't really try. Go to Iowa people. It is awesome.

We took a very long scenic route. I wanted Ty and the kids to really SEE Iowa and to truly experience it so we traveled the back roads and drove across the state. We saw Ames and Des Moines...because seriously when will we be back that way? Might as well see it then. Tyler didn't get to see my favorite town of Ottumwa. Bummer. It was a little too far out of our way.

Guess what these pictures are of?

Iowa!!

Not what you expect huh? Of course there are cornfieldy areas but it still isn't flat and nasty. It is still really really pretty...in a quiet and peaceful way.


One of my favorite stops was in some random little town in Iowa to eat shaved ice. Spokane is seriously lacking in the shaved ice department. It was heavenly to eat some in Iowa. Did I mention how much I love Iowa?

One of our favorite areas was Madison County. I had never been there before. It is stunningly beautiful. The books don't lie. It is a magical place. Well worth checking out if you are ever in that area.

One of the Bridges of Madison County

Inside one of the bridges

 

We saw the birthplace of John Wayne that was also in Madison County

Then it was onto Missouri. Yet another place that is stunningly beautiful. The closer and closer we got to Kansas City the more excited I got to show my old hometown to my family. We came in on the other side of the city (the Missouri side) which was fun so the kids could see the downtown at night. KC has a really cool downtown...and the Missouri River is spectacular. We drove around the downtown and to the Kansas side...into Johnson County. The music of the cicadas greeted us. I forgot how much I missed that sound.

By the time we got to Jordin's house it was close to midnight. It was so good to see Jordin, Ramon,  Jaylah, and RJ. We miss them so much and hate living so far away. Once we arrived the party got started. Even sleeping RJ and Jaylah were awakened to join the fun.

Seriously?! How could you not wake up this cute boy? Jaylah moves too fast to try to get a picture of her...but...suffice it to say she was too cute not to wake up too. 

We eventually went to bed and got ready to enjoy our KC adventures!!

Iowa: BIG THUMBS UP from the Johnsons

Missouri: THUMBS UP as well.

KC: They loved it!!

(Ailey even forgot that we were in Tornado Alley and stopped fretting and looking up at the sky and enjoyed herself!! That's how much fun we were having.)

 Trip to Kansas City: Day One/Night/Day Two

I am finally doing it peeps. Writing about my trip to Kansas City. Somehow I just keep putting it off and last year I neglected to do it all together which was unfortunate. So here it goes...

We left town around 4pm on a Friday afternoon...riding in a brand-spanking new mini-van rental. No it was not maroon. It was white and, yes, it made a difference. The curse was lifted and no one puked the entire trip. Woohoo.  After a quick run through Sonic (for the kids) and Noodle Express (for me and Ty) for an early dinner we were on the road. The kids were armed with new travel journals and we were ready for the adventure to begin. The scenery is so beautiful through Northern Idaho and Montana that we were quite content to just soak it all in. Around the time that we hit the "less-than- picturesque" part of Montana the weather kicked in to provide a beautiful light show for us.

(Let me preface this by saying that Ailey is our little worry wort and really hates thunderstorms. This storm came on the heels of watching all kinds of Discovery Channel shows about Storm chasers and Tornado Alley (where we were headed...during Tornado Season) and Yellowstone and it's Super Volcano (which we were going to drive by.) Her nerves were already on edge. The tears were flowing at the first sign of lightening. But eventually she calmed down and fell asleep.)

By the time we rolled through Bozeman, MT at around 11pm the city was hoppin'. There were so many people roaming around the historic downtown area. Awesome restaurants and open-air clubs...music pounding...great shops. So much to see. We wanted to stop and get out and have some fun!! The kids woke up and looked around and we drove through the downtown twice. One particular dance club looked like serious fun. Tyler and I hadn't been dancing in forever. Just as we were lamenting our lack of fun care-free days we rolled up in the ol' mini-van to a stop light right next to the dance club. There was a limo right in front and all kinds of fancy people were climbing out. We had our windows rolled down to soak in the atmosphere and were looking longingly at the people having fun. The limo driver looked at us sympathetically and said "Wanna trade?" Be careful what you wish for. :)

On we drove through the night...the kids did great as they always do. They are wonderful travelers. Remember our Ode to Norman Rockwell? Well here is a middle picture...middle of the night more like it. This was around 3am somewhere in Wyoming.

We are slightly glassy-eyed and crazed. But the kids are sacked out!! Check out Kameron's face plant right behind us. So even though we get tired and slightly wacky it is so much better than endless fighting, "Are we there yet?", never ending "I'm hungry" and "I have to go to the bathroom" etc. Usually Tyler and I put this time to good use and have great talks and discuss our plans for the future. We also were driving during the Meteor Shower and made quite a few wishes on falling stars.

I have been to South Dakota three times now and I can't fathom how each and every time it has coincided with the big motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD. Seriously. Once in high school, last year and then this trip. Believe me I am NOT A FAN!! The motorcyclists were annoying and they stuck with us like glue all the way through to Kansas City...filling the highways, gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and tourist sights all along the way. Ugh. Tyler had never been to Sturgis so we took a little trip through town. Since we were there super early in the morning most of riders were still asleep after long nights of partying.

Due to our early arrival we missed most of the debauchery. My mom and her husband who were a few hours behind us were greeted in town by topless women. That may have topped the sights (aka creepy  couple doing the deed ) that kicked off our trip to the ocean in June.

By breakfast time we were in Rapid City, SD (the town near Mount Rushmore). We stopped for breakfast and then up the mountain we went. Our kids were super excited...Tyler too. They had never been there before. It was my third time but Mount Rushmore doesn't disappoint. Before we left on our trip we watched a National Geographic Special on Netflix about the making of Mount Rushmore and I would highly recommend watching that before going there. It was so interesting. Also, our Bishop is from Rapid City and he had some suggestions of things to see as well.

When we got there the weather was kind of cold and gray. Not the ideal time to see it but definitely better than broiling hot like it was when I was there last year. I actually had to whip out the old jean jacket. It really was spectacular and I love the mix of humanity that you find at National Monuments. So many different languages and different people. I loved it.

I didn't take as many pictures this time as I did last summer so I will post some of those because they are better...and you haven't seen them. So if it is cloudy it was this summer if it was sunny it was last summer.


Here we go:

From a Distance

Closer

The Entrance

Inside the gates

I really loved the "Avenue of Flags" where there is a flag that represents each one of the states. The kids had fun finding Washington. It is really so pretty and so well done. It made me proud to be an American. Seriously patriotic.

Close Up

 Our bishop recommended that we hike (I use that term loosely... it was more of a meandering walk) the Presidential Trail. I had never done that before and it was well worth it. There were park rangers all along the trail with all sorts of interesting information and places to take pictures from interesting perspectives. It culminated at the Lincoln Borglum Visitors Center and Museum. We also checked out the Sculptor's Studio. All of it had so much more meaning after watching that National Geographic show. The Museum and Studio were about ten times more interesting due to our background info and held the kids attention. So if you are going to Mount Rushmore watch the movie...watch it even if you aren't. It's good. It has so much information on what Mount Rushmore was SUPPOSED to look like and all about the hidden vaults...yes there really is one. Good stuff.

After the hike and seeing all the sights...the lack of sleep was starting to make us all a little weary and grumpy. It was time for fudge. Bring on the fudge!! It is a Johnson cure-all.

Then it was back to sight-seeing again and everyone was happy.

Washington's Profile

Then it was onto the Crazy Horse Memorial which is not far from Mount Rushmore. I went there in high school and there was barely anything. There also wasn't much of a visitors center either. Things have changed in 20+ years. Although there is still a LONG WAY TO GO.

What it looks like now.

Model of what it will look like...eventually

By the afternoon we were back on the road again. I have to say that I am NOT A FAN of South Dakoka. I enjoy the little corner that is the Black Hills, the Badlands, and the Mount Rushmore area but after that...I pretty much hate it. It is the worst area to drive...miles and miles of nothing...without any significant places to stop...all the way to Sioux Falls. It is horrible. After driving it last summer I was totally dreading doing it again. I was right. It was as horrible as I remembered...maybe worse. Wikipedia describes South Dakota as "Overwhelmingly Rural". They aren't kidding. If you live in South Dakota bless your heart. It is a hell-hole to me. For reals. Worst state ever.

There are only two other sights to see from Rapid City to Sioux Falls: Wall Drug and the Corn Palace. Wall Drug is advertised pretty much every mile all the way from Wyoming. Last summer my mom and I stopped just to see what all the hoopla is about...it's about nothing. This summer we just drove on by. It is a lame tourist trap. The Corn Palace is a tad bit more interesting. It is a building covered in corn. My mom has a weird love for this...I don't. I scratched it off our list this summer. In case you don't find yourself in that little corner of South Dakota (lucky you) here is a picture:

That's all corn people

We arrived in Sioux Falls around 8pm and I have never been so happy to see civilization...and a bed. Tyler and I decided early on that this trip wasn't going to be a "budget trip" we were going to travel "right" as in no cheap hotels. We ended up getting some great rates and the nicest hotel we stayed in for the entire trip was in Sioux Falls. Go figure.

So... Mount Rushmore: Awesome

Crazy Horse: Cool

The rest of South Dakota: Sucks the Big Wazoo

Let the Wild Rumpus Begin!!

And so it has... School has started, Dance Team, Cross-Country, and Ballet are going full steam ahead with Piano and Seminary beginning next week. The crazy nights and early mornings are here again. Summer was a blur. Seriously. But this is the first year that I really felt that it was time for the kids to go back to school. Usually I love the schedule-free...do-whatever-we-want-summer. This year was a little crazy. I love summer but I am loving the structure Fall brings even more right now.

First Day of School pics...including some full-length photos...since I know "some" of you wanted to see shoes and all. :)

What does it feel like having a Sophomore? Better than having a Freshman and not as traumatizing as it must be to have a Junior. Not too bad. This year Reilly is on the Dance Team so it will be interesting to see how that goes. She will get to do some traveling with both the Dance Team and with Symphonic Choir. She is super excited about that. She has some honors classes that she is going to need to stay on top of and she has started taking French...which I am excited about. :)

This year Kameron "Rules the School". He has a great class. Finally he and his best friend, Jonathon, are in the same class. That hasn't happened since 1st Grade. They are definitely stoked about that. In fact, nearly all of his best buds are in his class. Perfect way to end elementary school. Having Kam in 6th Grade is the thing that got me most choked up this year.

Here he is mocking Ailey's pose below!! Such a typical brother. This year he is running Cross-Country and playing the trumpet again. He will run Track in the Spring too. He is very excited to get out of 11 year-old Scouts which he hates and into Young Mens. (He turns 12 in November.)

 

Walking into school

 

Ailey is excited about 3rd Grade. She has a really nice teacher who knows both Reilly and Kameron and a very nice class. The school did a great job of splitting up the big gaggle of girls (Ailey was sad about that) but it will give Ailey a great opportunity to get to know some new girls.  She was so worried that none of her BFFs would be in her class. Luckily when she walked in she saw Emma.

(Emma's Mom and I were both taking pictures at the same time hence the looking every which way.) Emma's mom told Ailey that all summer Emma had been saying "I hope Ailey is in my class!!" That made Ailey feel great!!

Emma, Ailey and Karin

The last couple of years Kameron has been a real stinker about letting me take pictures of him in his classroom EVEN THOUGH all the other parents are doing it too. This year he promised me I could take a picture of him at his desk since it is his last year in elementary school (and the last year I get to take a picture of him at his little desk...sad) Kameron kept his word and even gave me a nice grin. I think he grew about three inches this summer. No joke.

Bryn didn't want to be left out of the picture-taking fun. Here she is in front of the school. Her preschool doesn't start for a few weeks.

Then we were off to one of our favorite breakfast spots, The Cottage, for our little back-to-school tradition of going out for breakfast with Bryn. We started this two years ago. She does not like being left behind when her siblings all go back to school and somehow pancakes with Mommy and Daddy make it all okay. :)

We are sure glad to have Brynnie home for another couple of years. The kids are growing up too darn fast. Life moves at a lightening fast pace these days.

Later that night...later than usual since there was a Ballet Open House and a Cross-Country Practice... we had our back-to-school Ice Cream Bonanza at Baskin Robbins. Good times. :)

Happy Back-To-School!!

Kansas City

Let me preface this by saying that I have not always been a fan of Kansas City. It wasn't Kansas City's fault per se but it took the brunt of my adolescent anger and has continued to take the blame  for 99.9% of my teenage problems. I have gone so far as to tell many many people how much I hate the Midwest. I certainly would never claim to be FROM Kansas City...land that I loathed. Lucky for me my family moved prior to me starting college and I lived in Houston, TX (which I loved) and could happily BE from. Texas Kristin was a heck of a good time. I really enjoyed her. I long for her return...someday. Kansas City Kristin...now she was a real #$%^&. Adolescence is hard enough but throw in a move from heaven on earth...Springdell...and add in 4 high schools in 4 years, toss in some extreme culture shock, AND top all of that off with huge, horrible, life-altering family issues that culminated in divorce and that is not exactly a recipe for success. Those were some seriously hard times. Miserable times. Down right HIDEOUS TIMES. You couldn't pay me a MILLION dollars to relive those years.

Now 23 years in my rear view mirror, some new perspective, and things have changed. Like I said in a previous post...my mom and I returned to Kansas City last summer and my heart began to heal. It wasn't Kansas City's fault. Kansas City is a BEAUTIFUL place. It has culture and class, beauty and BBQ, fantastic shopping and restaurants, church history and now even a GORGEOUS temple. It is a place to be proud to be from. I see now what I could never see before. Guess what? There is an awful lot of Kansas City in Kristin. There were good things that happened in with the hard things and it was the combination of all of them that made me who I am today. I guess my mom has been right all along. Kansas City and all the hard and difficult times that came with her built character...and changed me...for the better.

I was excited to show Kansas City to Tyler and the kids. I wanted them to see where I lived, went to school, worked, played, and returned to the gospel. I wanted them to KNOW that part of me. They know and have seen everywhere else I have come from...except for this one place. I especially wanted Reilly, who will be a Sophomore in high school this year, to see where I spent my time and what I did when I was exactly her age. (Was she riveted? Uh no.) But the surprise of the century occurred. Every single member of my family not only liked Kansas City...they LOVED IT. Some even went so far as to say they wished we could move there (Let's not be rash!!) Tyler may or may not have been one of those people.

I REALLY appreciate the opportunity that I had to make peace with the past, share a part of my life with my family, and get some closure with the city that I once hated. Tyler told me that he understands me better than he did before. He GETS me more than he did before. He also told me that if I am anything...Utah girl, Texas girl, Washington girl... I am DEFINITELY a Kansas City girl. (I corrected him that I would be an Overland Park girl...yes there is a difference.) So despite my best efforts Kansas City wheedled its way into who I am and I am glad that it did.

My name is Kristin McClellan Johnson and I am from Kansas City.

 Ode to Norman Rockwell

 Leaving for Vacation...

The Return...

(12 Days...9 States...4,000+ Miles)

Goin' To Kansas City...Kansas City Here I Come

The wedding extravaganza of the year is right around the corner and I CANNOT wait!! Jordin and Ramon are getting married in a little over a week and McClellans near and far are gathering for the big event!! We are super stoked that Jordin will soon be Mrs. Hill. Ramon is an amazing guy and we absolutely love him. He is a great addition to our family. In between a flurry of wedding activities Jordi is busy working, going to nursing school, just had a birthday (27!!), and being a wonderful mom to those cute little kiddos...who I cannot wait to get my hands on!!

The wedding is going to be absolutely beautiful in a gorgeous and charming old stone building on a beautiful lake. It is going to be a formal evening wedding which will be so beautiful and we are going to be dressed to the nines. My whole family is part of the wedding party. So fun!! Tyler is giving the bride away, Reilly and I are bridesmaids, Kameron is an usher, Ailey an usherette, Bryn is a flower girl. Elle is a flower girl too and they are going to be absolutely adorable!! Our family is heading to KC early so that my mom and I can help Jordin with last minute wedding details and preparations and to give me some time to play tour guide to my own family in my old home town before everyone else begins arriving for all the festivities.

I can't wait to hang out with these girls:

 And this guy...who just had a birthday too (30!!):

 We will be staying this Jordi for the first part of the week until everyone arrives and then we will check into a hotel. I am sure glad it will have a state of the art gym because my first stop upon arriving in KC will be here:

And it won't be the last!! I DREAM of Gates BBQ Sauce. No lie. I can't even count the many meals I have eaten here in high school...on dates...with friends...and my family. Out of all the famous KC BBQ places this one...after all these years...is still #1 in my heart.

So I am sure I will be on FB and Instagram but no blogging for awhile. I am off to have fun with my family, go on a Griswold Family Road Trip, celebrate the wedding of my sweet sissy, eat lots of BBQ, and have a great time!!

 

 One of the beautiful parts of summer is all the extra lazy afternoon reading time. I absolutely love it.
Here are are few new reviews for you:

I really enjoyed this book. That said, if you don't have a healthy dose of curiosity about the Royal Family, you probably won't. It is a long and detailed book. I, for one, DO have a healthy curiosity of about the Royal Family but haven't always had the fondest opinion of Queen Elizabeth. She always seems so dour and grumpy. But this book really made her come alive and I feel like I learned quite bit about English history and the politics of Great Britain. If you are looking for a chatty and gossipy book this isn't for you. It is quite detailed and there are definitely some dry bits and some horsey bits that I found tedious but, all in all, I liked it.  I listened to it rather than read it and I think that was a good way to do it. I had a hard copy from the library so that I could see all the pictures and then I returned it and just listened to the audiobook while I did some projects around the house. It was wonderful that way and rather timely as I was listening to it during the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

From Goodreads:

From the moment of her ascension to the throne in 1952 at the age of twenty-five, Queen Elizabeth II has been the object of unparalleled scrutiny. But through the fog of glamour and gossip, how well do we really know the world’s most famous monarch? Drawing on numerous interviews and never-before-revealed documents, acclaimed biographer Sally Bedell Smith pulls back the curtain to show in intimate detail the public and private lives of Queen Elizabeth II, who has led her country and Commonwealth through the wars and upheavals of the last sixty years with unparalleled composure, intelligence, and grace. 
  
My Rating: Good

From Goodreads:

All decent parents want to do what's best for their children. What Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother reveals is that the Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that. Western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions and providing a nurturing environment. The Chinese believe that the best way to protect your children is by preparing them for the future and arming them with skills, strong work habits, and inner confidence. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles Chua's iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, her way-the Chinese way-and the remarkable results her choice inspires.


This book left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, I agree some of what Amy Chua said, but on the other hand, I strongly disagreed with some of what she said. Her method of mothering and what I felt to be a complete lack of nurturing left me cold. I agreed with her opinions about hard work and having high expectations for our children and I also shared her disdain for the entitlement of today's generation.

Some of what she said is what used to be thought of as plain common sense:

"Nothing is fun until you are good at it...to get good at something you have to work."

"Everything valuable and worthwhile is difficult."

I feel like we are totally off track with today's parenting of bribery, low expectations, no chores, constant self-esteem stroking and trying to be our children's best friends. It isn't working. That said I didn't like the author. I found her to be smug, abrasive, and too far to the other extreme. I think one day she may regret how demanding and tyrannical she was to her daughters.

It will definitely give you something to think about and discuss. Perfect for a book club.


My Rating: Okay.

I like Tina Fey and I really wanted a book that would knock it out of the park. It didn't necessarily do that but if you want some light humor. It delivers. Part of my problem was that I constantly compared it to the book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling which I found to be HILARIOUS and I have to say I enjoyed Kaling's book more. There are parts that will have you laughing out loud and parts that kind of make you cringe but that is usually how these books are. I would think that humorist essay books would be some of the most difficult to write.

Is it funny...yeah.

I loved her "prayer" for her daughter and her anecdotes about her dad. Seriously funny stuff. I enjoyed all the SNL background info. It's a good summer read.

My Rating: Pretty Good for what it is.
 

 Man. This was a disappointment. I love snarky humor but this really missed the mark. I had high hopes as I found her book Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank seriously hilarious. This one didn't do it for me and it sure didn't live up to my high hopes. In this collection of essays on the humor of every day life I felt like Rivenbark was trying too hard...with her pop culture references and slang. It felt uncomfortably forced. It was just too...too...much. It left me exhausted and disappointed.

My Rating: Skip it

 Projects

Wow. I/we have been super busy around here lately. So many projects getting jam packed into so little time. This Saturday I will be busy being a vendor here:

 You can read about it and get all the details here. So I have been working like mad to get a bunch of inventory ready to go.

I am also working like mad to prepare to go here:

 We will heading out on a major road trip and working our way to Kansas City for my sister Jordin's wedding extravaganza. It is going to be ALOT of fun...all the McClellans in Kansas City once again. It's going to be crazy. I am really excited. I have had such a bad attitude about Kansas City. We moved there in the middle of my freshman year of high school and moved the day after I graduated. It was a hellish 3 1/2 years. So much upheaval and family issues. My parents divorced. It was ugly. I had convinced myself that I HATED Kansas City. But...last summer my mom and I took a trip out there to see Jordin and I had a change of heart. I had planned to write a big blog post and document my trip last summer and never did. Suffice it to say...I am now fond of my old hometown and looking forward to showing my own family around and giving them a glimpse into my life there. Closure. It's a good thing.

We have also been busy doing about a million projects around the house and yard because...dare I even say it...we are probably going to put our house back on the market when we get back from vacation. After the hell that was last fall I am dreading the whole process but what can you do? We need a new house.

So I am giddy with joy to spend time with my whole family in good ol' KC and celebrate Jordin and Ramon's wedding. We absolutely love Ramon and he is a fantastic addition to our family!! Their wedding is going to be epic!! So excited. I can't wait to see my brother Kirk too. I don't see him as much as I would like too. Some of you have asked why I never talk about him on the blog anymore or if we have had a falling out. No. I have  just really wanted to respect his privacy over the last two years. I don't think he would mind me saying this... now that all is official....but he is now divorced. It was a rough two years on he and Kaiden. The divorce was not his idea. That said he has come through it all like a trooper and is now in a really good place and is really happy. That makes me happy.

So you will have to stay tuned for our Griswold-like summer road trip. This was all Tyler's idea...he is so excited to hit the road and see some sights with our kids and make some crazy memories!!
I am sure we will!!