our mini getaway.

 michael had a few days off for spring break (darn you, snow days!),  so we decided to take a quick family trip to omaha for a long weekend.
we had a wonderful and sleep deprived (for the little one) time. lots to do and see meant little to no naptime. sleeping in the same room as mom and dad meant forget sleep, let's hang out! needless to say, lights were out extra early for michael and i,  as we wanted needed our child to get sleep.
anyway, sleep is overrated (ha!), so we made the most of our awake time. we spent some time in the old market, a morning at the zoo, a lovely afternoon trek around a local lake, and lots of time exploring the city.   oh, and our drive to omaha consisted of several stops to explore some of the neat sights that western iowa has to offer.
wonderful memories were made for our little family.

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happy place.

  a few years ago, my mom and a friend let me in on a little secret. a hidden gem in Kansas City, if you will. lucky for you, i'm about to let you in on the not so much anymore secret...   Bottoms Up Antique Market.   as the sign above reads, the market only happens on the first Friday and Saturday of each month. you know what that means? new treasures each and every month. AMAZING.
this past weekend (the first weekend of January, wouldn'tcha know?), my sister needed some help moving, so my mom and I gladly volunteered to come down a few days early to help her pack. we also took it as an opportunity to scope out the market.  I mean, we were already in KC and everything...

  entering the West Bottoms area of KC is like entering another world. it was once a desolate, deserted place, separate from the rest of downtown, but is now quickly filling up with these fabulous  (antique? craft? junk? treasure? restored? vintage?) shops.   the worn down brick buildings and architecture made my heart beat a little faster...

  ...and then we went into all of the shops, with these insanely creative, artistic vendors, and I was in my happy place.
I love a person that can pick up an old, used, beat up, no-one-cares-about-it item and transform it into  something new. something beautiful. something with purpose again.

  I left with an old cow butter dish, thanks to my shopping compadre (for those of you who are unaware...I. love. cows.) and my mom left with a few good items as well.
nice weather? check. great company? check. one-of-a-kind shopping? check.
you'd better believe I'll be back.  

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I feel like a kid again...

I'm not sure who had more fun...

my mom, sister, and me

or James.

We visited the Wonderscope Children's Museum in Kansas City and had. a. blast!

 

After this trip, I've come to the conclusion that every city needs a Children's museum (if they don't already have one).  

I'm sad we don't live in KC anymore.  Let's be real, you'd better believe I would have a yearly pass in my hand by now.

I mean, what a fun place to go any time of the year, but especially on rainy, snowy, or cold days.

Ok, so our visit... 

  

The first room we walked into was full of balls and ramps (in case you are unaware, James almost always has a ball, or 3, in his hand).  

The boy was in HEAVEN!
 

 My mom and sister decided to have a lot little bit of fun as well.

These two are TROUBLE, I tell ya.

Always have to keep an eye on them...

 

So after the ball room, we wandered into the farm room.

James was TERRIFIED of the cow statue (I was a little sad about that, seeing as I adore cows)!

Moving on... 

Once he was able to get past his fear, he had a grand 'ol time.

He weeded and watered the garden,

 he went to the grocery store to pick out his weekly supply of fruits and vegetables,

and then he rang himself up at the cash register.

All in a days work, right?  

After all of that hard work, we decided to mosey on over to the art room to unwind.

I James wrote a special message for daddy,

then played with some magnets on the chalkboard. 

Although I don't have pictures from the other rooms, they were equally as fun.  

I do believe that James' favorite room was the water room.

It was the last room on our visit and I'm glad it worked out that way, as he. was. soaked (and exhausted)!

**This has absolutely nothing to do with the Children's museum, but it needs to be mentioned**

My sister lovingly volunteered to stay back at her place while James took his afternoon nap so my mom and I could take a not so quick trip to HomeGoods.

Ummm, if you haven't stepped foot inside a HomeGoods store before, do yourself a huge favor and find one A.S.A.P.

You won't regret it.  
  

All in all, it was a (quick) but fun adventure.

Can't wait to do it again!  

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