There is no misery in Missouri ...

... or in Kansas for that matter either.

Another week has come and gone.

Wednesday Grandma gave me my first documented piano lesson. (Apparently this photo may be worth some money in the future when I start selling out stadiums.)

Thursday I had dinner with some old friends of Mom and Dad's (and some new friends of mine). Here I am with Patricia enjoying a good meal at Maverick's.

Tom, Ed and Dad had fun talking about golf and catching up.

Friday Mom, Dad and I drove through Missouri on our way to Gardner, Kansas and a visit with my Uncle Eric.

He checked my car seat to make sure things were set up properly and I was pleased to find out Mom and Dad hadn't screwed things up too badly.

We did a lot of fun things Saturday like going to the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. There we walked the paths ...

... played the "flying baby" game ...

... and I sat in the grass for the first time.

Mom, Dad and I got some great photos ...

... and I spent some great time with Uncle Eric.

After that we went to one of Mom, Dad and Uncle Eric's favorite BBQ places which is in an old bank in Hillsdale, KS. (I just got a bottle. As you can see, they got the better end of the deal.)

And then it was on to the highlight of the trip, a visit to Uncle Eric's firestation! (He's a Sergeant in the Overland Park police department and a volunteer with the Gardner, KS fire department.) I got to see some very cool stuff and happened to be wearing a firetruck outfit, so it was perfect!

It was fun to talk on the radio.

And he has a coat with his name on it!

It was a great visit and I'm lucky because this week my Uncle Chris is in town!

A quick week.

As I get older time seems to move faster and faster.

Grant came over this week and we discussed it over some Play-Doh.


Afterwards Mom and Amanda took us to Snookies to take our minds off our troubles.

Later, at home, Dad pulled out a special bib to remind me that things could be worse.

Thankfully our great friends Bob and Carol Alton came to town Saturday. It was good to see them and we had a good dinner.

Bob and I got along great ... he wanted me to make sure Grandpa Dave saw this photo.

Mom gave me bananas for the first time tonight and I must admit, I'm not convinced.

Hey ... look at my new trick ... I'm starting to get up on my hands and knees now!

A busy week ...

I had a busy week this week.

I had to help Mom and Dad pick out a new door for the house. (You'd think they would understand that the rough opening height measurements will always be larger than the actual door frame measurements. Jeez. It's hard to raise parents.)

Dad went to Okoboji with the guys for their annual golfing trip so we went out to eat before he left. There was a lot to look at from the patio.

Mom finally put me in my Iowa State shirt and, as you can see, I was very happy about it!

Then we had to go to Sam's Club and it was a downer.

Luckily, we then headed to Denmark to see the Houston family! Grandma had some cool new toys!

I got to have lunch with my friend Clayton ...

... and Sunday Grandpa and I watched the Indy 500. (I was happy for Helio as I always thought those tax evasion charges were bogus.)

Look what Grandma and Grandpa got for me! (Mom seemed kind of mad and mentioned something about not getting cool stuff when she was growing up. I don't get it because Grandma and Grandpa buy me lots of awesome toys!)

Grandpa helped me go down the slide ...

... and I got to swing for the first time. It was kind of cool!

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!

Orange you glad you asked?!

Since the last blog update I've Web-cammed with Grandma & Grandpa ...





... and picked up my first pair of sunglasses. (I know, I'm a cool little dude.)




This also was a big week because I tried my first orange food ... sweet potatoes!

Good stuff!

That's about it, I guess ...

... Have a great week!

Tiptoe through the tulips ...

Tiny Tim may have made the 1926 song written by Joe Burke (lyrics by Al Dubin) famous, but I'd like to think I made it my own after this week's trip to Pella.

Earlier this week I practiced holding my own bottle and felt pretty good, until Dad said that any kid who can hold a bottle should be able to get a job. (I'm not going to act like I can hold my bottle for awhile.)


Friday, after school and work everyone met at B&B for a well deserved dinner. The Dillons and I had a lot to catch up on .

Saturday was my first trip to Pella and it was pretty cold. I couldn't move after I got bundled up.

Mom went to college at Central and I think it felt weird for her to be back on campus with me and Dad. This is a cool little bridge.

I got to spend some great time with my friend Grant.

Mom, Amanda and Justin all met at Central.

I was asleep but Mom and Dad wanted me to get my picture taken with these girls. I think they liked me. I wasn't that interested ...

It seems odd to me that people would drive to Pella by the thousands to look at flowers ...

... but then I realized, upon closer inspection, that there were thousands of Division 3 or Triumph Tulips in full bloom at one time. There are currently over 1,400 individual species within this classication with a variety of bloom times, colors and degrees of heartiness. Pretty cool stuff ... I can see why people go to Tulip Time.

Oh ... and as Dad and Grant found out, you can get bologne on a stick. That's another good reason to go to Tulip Time.

By the way ... that girl I got my picture taken with? Yeah, come to find out she's THE tulip queen! I should have gotten her number!

Well, several hours and an outfit later it was time to call it a day. Mom loved taking me around her old stomping grounds and I liked Central a lot! (I'll have to try VEISHA to see how I like ISU now.)

Today is Mother's Day and I have to say that I'm a pretty lucky guy. Between Mom (who is AWESOME), Grandma Kathy, Grandma Maggy and Great-Grandma Margaret I've got it made.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

The weekly update ...

This week Dad went on a business trip so Grandma came over and helped me with my cereal.


I really like sitting in my chair at the table as I can see what's going on and talk with folks.

Mom and I went to the airport to get Dad and there was a lot to look at!

Saturday Dad and I stopped out at Jordan Creek Town Center to wish everyone well with the YESS Duck Derby.

After that we picked up Mom and headed to Chariton to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Miller. (First, I had to get my A&W fix.)

Folks seemed to be happy to see me ...

... and I got to show how I can roll.

My week ended with a tutoral on pizza from Dad.