Our Kansas City Journey.....
 

First of all, let me tell everyone who wasn't there what a fabulous time you missed. For those of you who do regular meet-ups and know how great they are - well multiply that at least ten-fold and you will get a slight idea of what KC was like!!!!!! Wherever and whenever, I will definitely do this again!!!!!

It was tremendously special to meet all the folks who attended and the furbutts couldn't be any cuter. Here is our travel log (Cyndi and Izzy - IzzyPrincess drove with us).....

Thursday, June 19
7:10am – teach my pilates class
8:00am – return home to load car and eat
8:30am – start heading out and swing through McDonalds for coffee
8:35am – spill coffee all over myself and car & burn hand pretty badly
8:46 am – drive home to change and clean car
9:00am – finally get on road!!!!!!!!!!
9:45am – meet Cyndi and Izzy in Toledo, load the car, potty break for all
10:15am – on the road to KC (with about 6 stops along the way and a very full packed car)
11:55pm – arrive in Kansas City!!!!!!

The very packed inside of the car
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Izzy and Angel's ride
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Sissy's ride
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At a rest area for lunch
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Friday, June 20
12:30am – head to bed
3:00am – Sissy FINALLY falls asleep
6:00am – wake up call from all 3 doggies!!!!!
9:00am – head into Leawood, KS to visit my aunt’s gravesite
10:00am – a little shopping on Hawthorne Plaza
12:00noon – return to Holiday Inn
1:30pm – lunch at MSM Grill on the Plaza
4:30pm – head to Loose Park for meet-up
7:00pm – return to hotel, eat some snacks for dinner
11:30pm – Des and Lisa return from dinner and girl talk ensues

A noteworthy personal detail; my aunt’s ashes are interred in the Memorial Gardens of her church. Sissy and Angel are both named in remembrance of my aunt. They went in their stroller with me, along with Izzy and Cyndi. When I went into the garden and put my hand on her plate, I felt as if I was being hugged and a sense of peace really settled in. We were only in the garden for about 3 minutes. The receptionist in the lobby had photos of her Westies in sight, so we stopped and chatted for a few moments about her dogs and she fussed over our girls. We then secured the girls back in their car seats, put the stroller in the trunk and started the car. Now, we had listened to my Ipod for the entire drive. When we arrived in KC the night before, I simply disconnected the Ipod and the first radio station that came in was where the radio was. Driving there, we weren’t paying any attention to the music as I was acting as tour guide for Cyndi. So, when I started the car and heard the song on the radio, I was astounded. I Hope You Dance was playing. This was the song I sang at my aunt’s funeral. I know she was sending me a message that she knew I was there and that everything would be okay. Needless to say, we drove out of the parking lot in tears (happy tears)……….

Memorial Garden where my aunt is
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Getting ready for the park
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Dee (Scrapindee) and Gumdrop
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Only the first few park attendees
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Saturday, June 21
12:30am – head to bed
6:00am – wake up to shower and get ready
7:00am – head down to ballroom to help Lisa and Linda set-up
8:00am – breakfast
9:00am – vending opens
11:00am – Kyle from Bark to Basics speaks on Nutrition
12:30pm – break for lunch, head to Panache on Plaza for frozen hot chocolate (YUM!!)
2:00pm – arrive back at hotel, have portraits taken of Sissy and Angel
3:00pm – Angie from Barkville Pet Boutique speaks on Obedience Training
4:00pm – vending resumes
5:00pm – pack up and return to room to relax for a few
7:00pm – head to ballroom for dinner, games and raffle
9:30pm – go back to room to change into PJs
10:00pm – back to ballroom for PJ party
11:30pm – head back to room – LOTS more girl talk

Me, Patty (Patty58) and Cyndi (IzzyPrincess)
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Des (Tiger'sMom, Cyndi, Kathy (KathyinCali) and me on the Plaza at lunchtime
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Angie from Barkville and her Yorkie talking on obedience
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Patty's son-in-law and hubby. This is what the men do during a meet-up (stand in the hall!!!)
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Jodie ... u give me chills... how sweet ..I believe she knew u were there also :)

More from Saturday.....

Holly, the Chi at 3 Dog Bakery on the Plaza
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Sissy and Rainbow (Sunnie's girl) who looked like long-lost twins
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The group photo after dinner
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The PJ Party
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Sunday, June 22
1:30am – head to bed
7:30am – wake up to shower and get ready
8:30am – finally make it breakfast
10:00am – sadly say our goodbyes and return to room to pack up and check out
11:30am – start out for home
11:32am – go back to hotel to take girls out to potty!!!!!!!!
11:45am – back on the road to begin the journey home
8:45pm – stop for the night in Cloverdale, IN
Midnight – head to bed

Lauren (labrown), Tbone and Tina just hanging out!!!
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A very stylin Nanci (YorkieChick1) and Brooke
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Sonja (Sunnie), Hubby, Beamer, Rainbow, Sunshine and Sunnie
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Tina (missPenny), Riley, Nanci and Brooke
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Monday, June 21
8:00am – wake up to shower, eat breakfast, lounge & pack
11:00am – start driving
12:15pm – attempt to locate Denise’s office
12:30pm – feeling lost return to highway
12:45pm – call Denise to see where we are
1:00pm –finally seeing an exit, realize we are about 50 miles past L & keep driving
4:30pm – arrive back in Toledo, unpack Cyndi and Izzy
4:45pm – head for home
5:35pm – arrive home!!!!

The very high Mississippi River (St. Louis had a flash flood shortly after we passed through on the way to KC)
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The ginormous cross on the highway in Indiana
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Sissy and Angel sharing a bully at the hotel
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A model-like windblown Izzy
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I have tons more photos, but I'm going to put them into a montage when I get the photographer's CD.............

Also, we loved the Crazy Conondrum game and won 5 prizes from it!!!!! Then, I also won 5 fabulous raffle prizes (and I NEVER win anything)!!!!!!!! I think between LuckyLady, myself and Cyndi - we sort of cleaned up on the raffle prizes!!!!!!!!!

I didn't think to take any photos of those, but my crazy conondrum prizes were two yorkie kitchen towels, a pair of yorkie socks, a yorkie note pad and a yorkie post-it notes pad.

The raffle prizes I won were: The Fabulously Pink Basket from MissPink Barbie, an Ipod Shuffle from Katy's Mom, an embroidered tank top from Mitzi's Mom, a Skechers Gift Pack from RonLynn and a gift certificate from My Best Friend's Pawstry Shop from Rudy's Mom!!!!!!!!

WONDERFUL pictures! I was so glad to meet you!
By the way.. This picture
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/att...?ads=1&postid=

is Sissy and SUNSHINE// that is so amazing how much they look alike!

Jodie, the story about you aunt is so touching, it brought tears to my eyes and chills to me about the song. What an awesome experience. She was soooo telling you she knew you were there.

And girl....looks like you made out on the raffle gifts. I love seeing all the pics, just wish I was there. But next year look out...I'm going no matter what...lol I'm jealous of you all. Love the pic of all the babies in there nightee's

and sorry again....I'll give better direction next time...lol or heck I'll be with ya so it wont matter. lol

Well, that even makes more sense - the S & S sisters!!!!!!! And I love the photo of you and your hubby!!!!!!

Jodie - Looks like everyone had a GREAT Time!!!

jodie here is Bre in her dress. She wore it skating today she loves it. I'll post pictures of her tank soon...

OMG Jodie what a great job you did in describing our wonderful journey to KC! It was totally amazing and so happy that we went together and met so many wonderful people and their babies. Gotta love the pics!

Hey does anyone know why that cross is stuck in the middle of no man's land?:confused::confused::confused:

Bree looks beautiful!! So glad she likes her dress. Was she surprised with the tank you won??