Is Summer Really Over?

 It is officially back to school season, and for must of us, it marks the unofficial end to summer. Pools start closing, late weeknight movies are moved to the weekend, and the sun starts going down a little early in the evenings. Yep, summer is unofficially over.

With all the being said, as I look back over our summer, I have to say it was pretty fantastic! Every summer, every season actually, we create a bucket list. Some things we do every summer as tradition, some things are new to us. I like to make it a mix of things that I've read about, heard about from friends, or simply have wanted to do for years but the timing never seemed right. This year we focused mainly on things we do every summer, but I tried to turn some of the focus to local business. The best ice cream/milkshakes in town, DOP Donuts in downtown Overland Park, and supporting one of my favorite community theaters just to name a few. Here is the run down. 

Our hunt for the best milkshakes turned into just ice cream in general. We visited Ice Cream Bae in Park Place where you can add your favorite childhood cereal as a mix-in to vanilla ice cream, PopCulture in downtown Overland Park where you can sample gourmet popcorn after you've finished your cone or cup, Martin City Ice Cream Co in Martin City, MO with its revolving menu of fun flavors, and Summersault Ice Cream in Prairie Village where they serve up homemade and soft serve ice cream, and finally, your general run of the mill chains. 

We tried the biggest shake of all, the chocolate Winstead's Skyscraper! Talk about an epic moment! It serves up to four and four of us tackled and finished this enormous shake! A chain first was a Wendy's Chocolate Frosty. Would you consider a Frosty an ice cream or a really thick shake? It's a mixture of both, no? All in all, we loved all of the ice cream joints. My favorite would have to be Martin City Ice Cream Co. Not only was it a great mix of creaminess, thickness, and flavor, but the atmosphere of a small walk-up trailer, with ever changing flavors combined with outdoor seating at wooden picnic tables, made it so quaint. 

Have you been to DOP Donuts in downtown Overland Park? Located in an alley way off of Sante Fe Drive, this darling airstream serves up cake like donuts on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. McKinley and I had this spot on our radar all summer and finally got our turn on a Friday morning! He woke up early just for the occasion. That's the thing folks, get there early because they are only open until they sell out and you never know when that might be! While there, take a selfie along the colorful "Eat More Hole Foods" wall! It's so cute! As are the colorful table and chairs placed on the forever green AstroTurf lawn! It was a definitely a highlight of our summer!

McKinley suggested pool time and he wasn't kidding! We were at the pool so often that I finally said, for the first time in my life, that I needed a break from the pool! We purchase an Overland Park pool pass every summer which means we can get into Stonegate, Young's, and Tomahawk for free. Unlimited times a day! And we would spend roughly four hours a day at the pool! We more than paid for our season passes this year! I personally love Stonegate because it's a stones throw from our house. We can walk there! However, McKinley fell in love with Young's. Their water slides were his absolute favorites. Tomahawk is technically still open evenings during the week dayand normal pool hours on the weekend through Labor Day. It's the largest of the Overland Park pools so it can handle the last of summer patrons that are getting their last rays and laps in for the season. 

In addition to the Overland Park pools, we spent an afternoon at the Prairie Village pool off of Mission Rd. This pool was expansive! There were four pools, including an adult only pool, one pool designated for their two slide options, and one pool for their diving boards and one additional slide. It was costly to get in, $10 a person, but it was worth a day of fun. 

Speaking of water fun, our season passes to Oceans of Fun did not go to waste! We spent at least five full days throughout the summer riding waves, tubing, sliding, and taking spins around the lazy river. And we aren't done! They are open through Labor Day as well and McKinley has personal plans of visiting at least two more times before they close. Worlds of Fun, which is still open until early November, has been on rotation as well. However, because our summer was so incredibly hot, we didn't visit as many times as we usually do. But don't worry, we will totally make up for it come September and October. McKinley is working up the nerve to ride Timber Wolf and this year might be his year.... Check out our Oceans of Fun reel!

We attended a Monarchs game on the coldest day of spring! Seriously, by the time we left, we were frozen! Late May and we were in coats, hats, gloves, and under blankets! And we could have used even more layers. It was cold! But we stayed for the end because their firework shows are so good! Last year, our first Monarchs game was in June and we were puddles of sweat by the end. But again, fireworks! Maybe one day, like Goldie Locks, we will hit the weather just right! 

If you attend a Monarchs game, then it's only fair you head to The K for a Royals game and that's just what we did a couple of weeks ago. We played the Red Sox, where Eric Hosmer had just been traded to earlier in the week, and he played his first game back at Kauffman stadium since leaving in 2017. The warm welcome that the Royals fans gave him was amazing! And why wouldn't we? He was part of our World Series team in 2015! But even better then seeing an old favorite, was the fact that we went on to win the game! Hooray! My Royal blue heart was bursting!

While continuing to look for hearts, we had a picnic on the lawn of the Nelson and then played the Art Course. I am loving this summer tradition! They added a new hole this year, brought back the bicycle hole (where McKinley got a hole-in-one), and I just love being on the lawn of this extraordinary place. After we finished playing, we walked around the exterior of the museum and checked out the sculptures that are all along the grounds. And, we were able to check off two more hearts before they were removed and auctioned off for charity. I believe were just shy of 70 hearts by the time all was said and done. Not too shabby!

We visited the newly renovated Kaleidoscope in Crown Center. We loved this place pre-pandemic, but once Covid hit, this creative space closed. And while they were closed, they took advantage of the time and revamped the entire space. It is so cool! It appears so much more open, thanks to a more industrial feel, and the individual kids creative spaces were much more spread out. You do need a reservation in order to attend, so make sure you head here to secure yours. We used every minute of our 50 minute reservation and could have used another session! McKinley was definitely in his element. Creativity runs through his veins! Get all the details from an early post here.

Lastly, we attended not one but two shows at Theater in the Park. This was McKinley's first park outing and I have a feeling it won't be the last summer we attend. I've seen shows here for years, even performing in one many summers ago. We saw Descendants the Musical followed by School of Rock and McKinley thoroughly enjoyed them both. I'm secretly hoping it will give him the acting bug and he'll finally want to sign up for a summer theater camp. If not, maybe he'll just be my plus one to shows in the future. 

We didn't finish the whole list. Summer was hot this season! However, we can still fit in an outdoor movie night before Labor Day and McKinley could break in those roller blades before his first skating party next month. He won't be an expert, but maybe he'll get his footing. 

And now it's time to start the Fall Bucket List! There are so many more things we can and want to do. Join us once the list is finalized! Peace out summer!

XO,

Andrea

Jesse James Birthplace and Museum

 On our way to Minnesota, we drove past Kearney, MO and a sign for Jesse James' birthplace and museum. I told the boys we needed to make a mental reminder to try and explore it on our way back into town. Well, based on timing, we would be arriving back in that area 30 minutes before closing. Boo! So McKinley and I made a date to visit within the week and we did! This historical site was packed with information and I can't wait to share it all with you.

Jesse James was born in Kearney, MO. His homestead is still standing after nearly 175 years. He was born to Reverend Robert James and his wife Zerelda in 1847. His father traveled to California during the height of the Gold Rush to preach to those in that region, but died before ever returning home. Zerelda was left with nothing as a result of Robert not having a will, subsequently losing her home and her children Jesse, his brother Frank, and sister Susan. Zerelda married twice more and had four more children with her third and last husband, Dr. Reuben Samuel. Here, Jesse led a farming life, one yet filled with the drama and turmoil we historically know him for, but that all changed with the Civil War and his brother Frank's involvement when joining the war as a Confederate soldier in 1861.

When Frank returned home ill from the Battle of Wilson's Creek, he had been a part of a guerilla warfare effort in Missouri, and as a result, Union soldiers began their search for Frank and his group. The soldiers invaded the James homestead in their search and tortured Jesse and his stepfather Reuben in hopes they would provide information as to Frank's whereabouts. They briefly hanged Reuben from a tree in their front yard while beating and lashing Jesse. Neither caved. And at 16 years old, Jesse joined his brother and the Confederate army, fighting alongside Bloody Bill Anderson while Frank continued with the guerilla effort.

Post War, in 1866, Frank and Jesse were believed to be a part of the first successful daylight armed bank robbery in Liberty, MO. It is unclear if the brothers were truly part of this bank robbery, but due to their legendary robberies around the region years later, they were credited as taking part. The brothers most famous robbery took place in Gallatin, MO. Though they didn't take much money, it was believed that Jesse shot and killed the cashier Captain John Sheets. He mistakenly mistook Sheets for Samuel P. Cox who killed Bloody Bill Anderson during the Civil War. Jesse stated he was simply seeking revenge. This made the newspapers and put James on the map. 

This is Jesse James saddle.

This is Frank's.

The James brothers had a 16 year run before "retiring" in 1882. Jesse settled with his wife Zerelda, who was named after his mother and who was his first cousin, in St. Joseph, MO. Frank moved his family to Virginia. At the end of their careers, it was just the two of them in the gang. Jesse asked the Ford brothers, Charley and Robert, to live with him and his family for added protection. The Ford brothers were new to Jesse's gang, but it was believed that their sister aided in Jesse's recovery from a gun shot wound and he was smitten with her. However, the Ford's had begun secret negotiations with the Governor for the capture of Jesse and the small bounty was appealing. Jesse was shot in the back of the head by Bob Ford on April 3, 1882 as Jesse was dusting a photo. Though the brothers were tried and sentenced to death by hanging, the Governor gave them a full pardon. 

After his death, Jesse was buried in the front yard of his family home. His mother turned their living room into her bedroom, positioning her bed to face the grave, so she could keep an eye on her son. Grave robbing was a fear of Zerelda's. In addition, people came from all over to see the burial site of the notorious Jesse James. Zerelda charged 25 cents a visitor and provided a tour of the family home. After her death, Frank returned home and continued the tradition, but upped the price to 50 cents a tour. And after Frank's death, his son Robert continued the tours. Jesse's grandsons opened the home to the public until the house was sold to Clay County in 1978. 

His original gravesite was dug up and his body was moved to this final resting place next to his wife Zerelda.

Today, the home is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The home is owned and run by the Department of Clay County Historic Sites. It is full of artifacts, chocked full of information surrounding the families, and a history lesson you won't find in books. After you complete your time in the museum, you take a small walking path to the home itself. The front portion of the home is new. It was purchased from a Sears and Roebucks type catalog. The back portion of the home is the original. Look through the windows and screened in doors to get a glimpse into the James family way of life. 

I am so glad we took the drive to this amazing spot. I learned so much during our time there and would love to take the additional driving tours that take place throughout Missouri. McKinley thoroughly enjoyed the museum as well. There's just something about visiting an outlaws property! Definitely a must-do for you and your family, especially if you find interest in local history.

XO,

Andrea