Fall is here!

Another busy week down and another up to bat.  I spent one day in Topeka and two in Wichita last week...and will be spending two in Topeka this week.  I enjoy being out of the office a bit, but it sure does make for a crazy week...and busy evenings catching up on email.  We are a solid 9 months into implementation of this health plan.  The "crazy" was starting to slow for a bit, but now we're ramping up again for the addition of a new population (about 2100 members) on 1/1/14.  This is a population that is very politically charged and one where the majority doesn't want to join managed care.  So it's very important that we get it right, which makes for lots of work!

On a lighter note, I'm Love, love, loving this cooler weather!  It's so nice to have the windows open in the evening even though it's a bit noisy in the city.  I've grown to appreciate - and even depend on - the noises & sirens.  Our cats like the cooler weather too.  Smokey often spends his mornings and evenings on the patio.  Here's a pic from last year at this time...

On another "lighter" note, I've been trying to increase my gym visits.  It's sooooo difficult to get back into a routine again, especially with the long work hours.  I've packed on some pounds since the wedding, and I really need to lose them again.  We're heading to St. Thomas at the end of October.  So I have about a month to shed some of this weight.  I know I won't be where I'd like to be by then, but maybe I'll be slightly more comfortable in a swimming suit.  Even Chad's a bit more motivated than usual, so we should be successful!

Wishing my little cousin, Tinsley, a very fun, first birthday party today!  Wishing we could be there...but will be very soon!

Cheers to a successful & healthy week for all!

Summer's End...

It appears that I'm only finding the time to blog on a monthly basis.  It feels like I'm always playing "catch up" when I'm writing this.  I think if I could find the time to work this in on a more frequent & regular basis that it could be a great outlet for stress, emotions, etc.  Ah well.  Hopefully soon - until then...

We've been so lucky to get to see so much of the Gakinya's this summer.  Their plans brought them to KC often and we reaped the rewards!!  Here's a couple of pics of our night babysitting Miles while the rest of the fam was at a wedding.  So cute!!  I love my little chunky monkey!

At the end of August we took a trip "home" for my cousin, Lizzy's, wedding.  But first...a stop to see my long lost friends at iTap.  So much fun to catch up with everyone.  Here's a few pics from the night...

The "bootcamp" girls!  (Seems so long ago!)

My old work crew

Bro-mance!

Saturday, we headed out to Lizzy's wedding.  It had been almost 1.5 years since I've seems my cousins.  Unfortunately, the Fillback family has spread all over the U.S. in recent years, so many were unable to make it.  I was horrible about taking pics, so I stole one from Facebook.  

We had such fun that weekend.  It was an extended weekend due to the Labor Day holiday.  So we were able to spend time with my mom, grandparents, friends...and even Judy made it over for a bit on Sunday!  Good times!

I can't even believe that September is almost over.  It's been an extremely busy month full of work and fun, but it's flown by!  Earlier this month, one of our two favorite restaurants in KC, Lidia's, was celebrating their anniversary with a special anniversary dinner.  Chad and I love to go to special dinners at restaurants...super yummy food & drinks...and sometimes you even run into special people.  In May of this year, we met Michael Smith from his namesake restaurant, our other favorite, and this month we met Lidia Bastianich!  Yahoo!!  She was super nice and seemed genuinely glad to be attending this celebration!

Last weekend we met up with some friends of ours, Damon & Andy, to celebrate Andy's 38th!  It was a fun-filled day:  Renaissance Festival, Mexican dinner and Halloween Haunt at World's of Fun!  We skipped the Ren Fest, but it sounded like a good time.  I knew if I started early, I would have never been able to make it for the roller coasters and haunted houses...and I'm sure glad I did!  It's been years since I had done either, but it was so much fun!  Even Chad had more fun than he expected to...no coasters but he did tag along to 3 of the haunted houses.  No pics of that night, but here's one I stole from Damon at the Ren Fest.  

This weekend was pretty low key.  We attended a couple's baby shower last night at one of the local bars.  Sounds odd, but it was very nice.  The couple are both beer drinkers (when not preggers).  Beer drinkers attend to attract other beer drinkers, so the venue was perfect.  The bar had a rooftop area and the weather was great!  I loved the fact that we didn't have to play any of those goofy games too!  The host just asked us to decorate onesies, which can be pretty comical after everyone has been drinking.  Mine was pretty tame though - decorated after only one beer.

Chad's - on the other hand - was a bit more comical...

The onesie decorating was a fun idea...and ended up being part of the decorations.  Jen and Jeff are also big sports fans...and neither are from this area, so many of the guests brought them onesies of their favorite sports teams.  Cute idea!  Here's the happy couple...

Today, we headed down to the Plaza Art Fair to walk around in the nice weather...and of course, made a stop at Coach. Things just fall into my bag when I'm there!  :)

Now we're ended the night scouting for Halloween costume ideas on the internet.  I think we've come up with something...but you'll have to wait and see!  I feel like October is going to fly by too.  Chad's work travel is starting up again, and he's heading to Charleston mid-month.  Then we're off to St. Thomas to visit Kristina, Mario & Tinsley on Halloween!  Fun in the Sun!!  Yahoo!