AM~Erica Returns From a Geek-Girl Family Outing

So anyway...

I am back! OK...so I wasn't gone very long. I was gone with my family for a day & a half. But it was to do something that many geeks out there would drool over doing...

Wanna know what it is?

Well? Do ya?

DO YA???

We went to Wichita, KS! Oh yes we did. Oh you're not impressed yet? Why not? I guess you want more info, I guess. Am I right? OK, here goes...

Yesterday my family went to somewhere so amazingly geekalicious...my heart is still palpitating thinking about it. I was even lost in thought about it on the drive back home today.

People out there...I got to see...props, costumes & set ups from one of the most beloved geek followings out there...

STAR WARS!!!!!!!!!!!

We entered these gates to such an amazing display, I am so glad I didn't faint. There were Wookies:

(Teen Girl, Lil Guy & Teen Boy in front of the Wookie display)

Which led to coming up on...the one & only...Chewbacca & Han Solo costumes!!!!!!

Are you dying right now like I was??

But wait...

THERE'S MORE!

There was the Princess Leia costume from early in Episode IV: New Hope, 

plus...

R2-D2 & C-3PO!!!!!

(Teen Girl with Leia costume, R2-D2 & C-3P0)

And it doesn't stop there, people! 

We saw Yoda:

(me with Yoda & training orb)

He was camped out with Mace Windu's costume!

There was also costumes from Anakin (big & little), Obi Wan Kenobi, and a Jawa:

(Anakin & Obi Wan costumes)

(Young Anakin costume)

(Jawa costume)

We also got to encounter a Storm Trooper, folks:

(Teen Boy & Hubby with Storm Trooper while Lil Guy figures out pix on his iPod)

And...the king daddy of the Dark Side! The Emperor? Nope...bigger & more amazing:

(Me with the one & only Darth Vader)

I also want to point out that we got to get pretty close to the iconic light sabers, too!

(Light sabers - including Obi Wan's - and some phasers)

And we got to see some of the ship props, too! 

(Millennium Falcon prop)

(X-Wing Fighter prop)

(Tie Fighter prop)

Then, to top it off, for a small extra price, we got to take in the Millennium Falcon Experience. You sit on the "bridge" of the ship while taking in about 7 minutes of Anthony Daniels (aka - C-3P0's voice) narrating where science has made strides in the universe. I'm not gonna lie...I fan-girl cried when his voice came on the speakers. Teen Girl questioned me on it. D'oh! But I couldn't help it! C-3P0's voice was surrounding me! On the Millennium Falcon!! So. Amazing.

(A pic snapped of us hitting warp speed in the cockpit)

Check it out! X-Wing fighters guiding us back "home"!)

People...this barely covers stuff there. There is SO MUCH MORE!!! It is a traveling exhibit & is at the Wichita Exploration Place until the beginning of September.  The kids loved it; hubby loved it; I LOVED IT!!! And, if you notice, the boys wore Star Wars shirts for the outing.

But you can't visit Wichita without having this particular delicacy. You must find a way to try this little pizzaria that originated there. It's this little company called "Pizza Hut". Yes, it began in Wichita. We forgot to drive by the original little hut that is now located on the Wichita State University campus, but we did eat at the ONLY Pizza Hut in Wichita that offers dine-in options. As we ate there, there was this fabulous piece of decor in the restaurant:

What a great trip! We wanted to top it off with a visit to the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, but we needed to save our money for another trip we having coming soon. I will get lots of coffee & get even more geekdom on! WOOT!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica's Backseat Driver...

So anyway...

I went to KC with the family over the weekend to see...family. On the way back home, we brought back two vehicles, so I obviously had to drive one. I had Lizzie & Christian with me.

My hubby was leading the way, but it was hard to keep up from time-to-time due to obstacles slowing me down...like other drivers cutting me off. It happened often. Grrr...

I think I must have sighed really big at one point, when from the back seat, I heard a "little" voice yell, "STUPID CARS!" What??

Yes, the little one was developing road rage as the trip was going. Everytime I'd sigh, grunt, growl, etc. everytime I was frustrated with yet another car cutting me off as I was ready to reset the cruise control, I'd hear a voice..."STUPID CARS!"

Then, when he realized that my hubby was in the other lane, he was yelling at me to get over into the other lane!

So I thought you might be entertained to know that, yes, I have a 4-year-old backseat driver with road rage. Awesome.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

Prepping AM~Erica

So anyway...

WOW! My hubby & I got to go see one of our very fave musicals last night. "Crazy for You" is a fun & elaborate comedy that we got the privelege to see a few years ago @ the Music Hall in KC. We were blown away! Well, one of the members of our current church, Ben Nordstrom, is an actor, and a very busy one at that. We found out he was getting ready to do "Crazy for You", and we went nuts! We begged him for tickets if possible, and he was a good boy! He hooked us up with a couple of comp tix to see the show. (Thanx, Ben, for giving us a date night!) He was hysterical, and the show was phenomonal! However, it didn't start until 8:00 PM (yes, on a school night), and didn't end until nearly 11:00 PM...we didn't remember the show being that long. Luckily we got a sitter from church (who happens to be the cousin of a couple of school mates/activity chums in Lee's Summit - small world) who was very understanding, and her parents, too. WHEW! Exhausted, but gotta keep truckin'...

We are getting ready to head out of town - back to good ol' KC! But...only for a quick in-and-out stop. We are leaving Friday afternoon so we can spend time with Chris' side that night, then breakfast in the AM with my side so we can see them, too. Then?? Off to a wedding. My hubby is officiating this one. Then back home to StL. We have to get a lot in for such a short stay, so the schedule is tight!

Then...there are some things going on around here, in StL, that we are getting rev'd up for:

1. Back in KC there is the annual Ren Fest. I haven't been to it in years, but I sure had fun when I went. Well, there is a Ren Faire in StL that is getting ready to start...but...only after their spin-off St. Louis Pirate Festival (www.stlpiratefest.com). It starts this weekend, but we won't be in town, but maybe next weekend before our next big event (see below). I know our kids will enjoy it, and it sounds like fun! And, if you know me well, and you've read my motto (see blog header), you will see that I will make sure the family is ready to go! We all have pirate shirts to work with, so no one will be left out. I may take it a bit further & completely embarrass my hubby, and possibly my children, but it's about the fun! Arrrr.

2. If you saw a previous post of mine, you would know that the very well-known contemporary Christian artist, Chris Rice, is coming to our church to perform a concert next weekend (9/22). My family & I are SOOOOOOO excited!! My hubby & I have been fans of his for the last 5 or 6 years, so this is a treat for us. We are so glad our congreation, and others coming in, will be introduced & treated to his music. He has done songs like, "Smellin' Coffee", "Thirsty" (this one is beautiful, and Ben, listed earlier, sang it this past Sunday @ church), "The Cartoon Song" (a personal fave), and more recently "Pardon My Dust". He is completely off-beat & goofy, and I can't wait to see him perform live! Check him out at www.chrisrice.com, and check out his video blog to see how goofy he really is. It's ab fab!

As for everything else, still looking for a job & still looking for "affordable" daycare. The search continues onward...

Oh! And Liz's middle school is getting ready to do the play "Once Upon a Mattress". She is so hoping to get the part of Winefred. She's perfect, but in 6th grade, so we don't know how that will work out with other 6th, 7th & 8th graders trying for it, too. We shall see & pray for her!

Stay tuned!

God Bless, AM~Erica