Easter 2014

 - Easter - 

It was an incredibly relaxing weekend. We had our DuBay family Easter at my brother's home Friday evening on Lake Lotawana. The weather was crisp but just right for fishing off the dock, a long pontoon ride snuggled up in blankets as the sunset and s'more assembly fireside in the evening. It was a wonderful day spent with family and we look forward to more days spent doing very much the same in the coming months. 

{Grainy goodness right here ^^^^} 

Saturday we boiled, dyed and decorated eggs after Dawson's noon soccer game.

It was an eventful hour. There may or may not have been a tantrum and gnashing of teeth because a middle child wasn't happy with his Sharpie drawing on his egg {see far right blue egg in front} and I let out a big gasp of air upon realizing that the Kool-Aid seeped under the wax paper dyeing my table top as well. Magic Eraser did its magic but also removed the sheen finish from our island :(

Sunday we attended an AMAZING worship service at our church then returned home for brunch with Travis's mom who was in town visiting and my parents.  

The kids were less than thrilled when I forced convinced them to take pictures.

This was as good as it got. 

Kids squinting; one child or another running off; tempers raising ... all in the name of a picture! 

I hope your Easter was a blessed one remembering the sacrifice of our risen King! 

Labor Day Highlights

A handful of poor, grainy iPhone photos document our wonderful Labor Day weekend
The highlights included:

Time at WD's farm shooting round after round of Daddy's 22
The kids are a pretty good shoot
Running in the fields alongside the cows
Little Miss getting her hair caught in the bob wire fencing and pulling with all her might to get lose only to leave a huge chunk of hair dangling from the wire
True story
Burgers & Beans & Beer Oh My!

Sunday we drove into Branson to White Water
Kids had a BLAST!
Daddy & Mommy had a blast!
McKenna once again proved herself fearless

There was no picture taking amidst our fun so this one pulled from Google Images will have to suffice

We shut down White Water, changed and headed to the nearby Tracks for the boys to burn off some testosterone racing Wes and Levi on go karts whilst the girls fed quarters into the candy machines

Daddy treated us all to Andy's Frozen Custard before loading up and heading back into Springfield
T'was a good, good day!

Monday we left Springfield and drove to my brother's beautiful home on Lake Lotawana, MO 

The kids spent HOURS swimming, jumping off the back of the boat & playing on the tube

We ate more delicious burgers and dogs off the grill with all the fixings and sides

Our Labor Day was complete after a long ride on the pontoon, visiting and taking in the sunset

A big thank-you to Wesley for taking the city out of our kids; to GG for the wonderful gift of memories made at White Water; and to my family for my Leo fix and a relaxing time at the lake!

Loving Lake Life

Thursday was the piece de resistance of our family staycation.

My oldest brother, Brett, and his family purchased a lake front property at Lake Lotawana this past year and have been working feverishly to refurbish/remodel it. Travis, myself and the kids have an enormous love for lake life so are SO very excited about spending time and making memories at their home.

The view from the dock of the screened in porch and deck house below

The view across the lake

We spent a great amount of time fishing from the dock. By we, I mean minus me :) I was supervising and making sure Little Miss didn't get herself tangled in the fishing line, get caught on a hook or take a plunge into the water below. She was everyone's #1 cheerleader and supporter.

The fish were biting which kept everyone entertained. The guys (Papa, Brett, Derek & Travis) couldn't bait the lines fast enough. Everyone was throwing their lines and reeling in the catch.

Tyler (the oldest of 10 grandchildren and my oldest nephew) drove in from the city. I love this kid deeply. I heart that he still allows me to mug on him at the age of 22.

He is incredible with all the kids but took a shining to MJ while the older kids were fishing and skipping rocks.

My two beautiful sister-in-laws Teri (green) and Linda (khaki).

The hubs, aka Daddy-O

I wish this picture were zoomed in, but Travis went on the tube with the bigs and they were having a grand ole' time UNTIL they hit a big wake and Travis let go (intentionally) and the bigs came crashing into the water wall. There was screaming and lashing of teeth. OK, not really, but there were some tears and an abrupt decision that they were done tubing for the afternoon.

You can see the the look of distress on Ms. G's face here. This post wouldn't have been complete without a picture of Leo so I had to include it :)

Mema and McKenna Jane

Tyler surprised Papa with a Dairy Queen ice cream cake to celebrate his birthday. We had already had plenty of good eats and sweet treats throughout the day, but if you're a DuBay, you ALWAYS have room for ice cream!!!!!

As the sun began to set the kids migrated back to the dock for some evening fishing. I posted this picture to Instagram with the well known quote "If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." We are SO blessed to have a Papa, a Daddy and extended family who teach us these concepts and pour into us!

Summer Family Staycation

I'm so far behind in documenting our family happenings! I really have no excuse other than life is passing by at warp speeds. It's mid July already and the kids return to school in four short weeks.

Let me stop and take that in a moment.

Woah!

Back to business.

Our family enjoyed a staycation in early June. My brother Derek and family left Birmingham on an extended vacation and their 1st stop was here to KC to spend a few days with us all. We had a super FUN FILLED week of activities. I was horrible about photo documentation but captured a few moments thanks to my iPhone and minimal camera use.

Monday: We spent the better part of the day at the Kansas City Zoo. We arrived early in the day and packed a picnic lunch. The weather was perfect and the animals showings were good to us. The polar bear, Sky Safari, hippos and the carousel were all big hits.

Tuesday: Our sweet friend generously provided us a guest pass to Science City at Union Station. My nephews are used to a state of the art science center in Birmingham called the McWane Science Center so I was a bit leery how they would receive our city's exhibit. I needn't have worried as everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. We only lost McKenna twice. What!? T'is true. That little turkey escaped 5 adults watchful eyes not once, but twice.

All the kids took turns in the Science of Energy "hampster wheel." 

Gabrielle

Logan 

Dawson

{even MJ made a valiant effort to create energy} 

Dylan was the only one tall enough to ride the Sky Bike. 

We took a lunch break and ate at Fritz at Crown Center. 

The boys were enamored with the railway method of food delivery.
You can catch a glimpse of our 4 adorable nephews behind Gabi and Dawson. 

Derek and Logan 

Wednesday: Our plans were diverted by the rains so we all loaded up and went to see The Croods and picked up Papa Murphys Take and Bake for lunch. That evening everyone came up to our house for supper and dessert pizza. 

Connor and Dawson

My favorite memories from this week were definitely getting to meet my beautiful baby nephew Trevor for the 1st time.  I wanted to wrap him up and keep him for myself!

He was born in September 2011 - 8 months after McKenna Jane -  so meeting him was a sweet moment; gathering in our parents family room and playing Catch Phrase laughing until I cried; spending Thursday with the entire DuBay family minus Danielle and Paige.

Thursday: Our staycation was rounded out with a day spent at the lake. I'll share about our time there in the following post.