Happy Birthday Pete

Today is Pete's b-day! For those of you who don't know, Pete and I job share at Children's Mercy South. When Pete is not making an incredible difference in the lives of others, I try to fill his shoes:). Wild Wednesdays is the one day of the week Pete and I work on the same day. The bum part about the fact that we job share is that we don't get to hang much outside of work as compadres. Pete is an awesome guy to work with and a true friend thru and thru. He is full of great energy and quite funny as well. Funny story: I park in what I call a "pregnancy lot". It's really a parking lot for visitors but it's always really empty so I park there. It's close to the entrance and therefore I don't have to waddle in the heat sweating or walk up or down the stairs (which I'd probably fall (up or down) knowing me)...
Anyways, one Wednesday night Pete and I were walking out to our cars and he said "I parked by you." In my head I thought, oh he parked in the "pregnancy lot", that's cool we can walk out to our cars together and I thought nothing further. We walk out the doors, and Pete's huge truck is parked so close to my car that they are practically touching. He has crossed over my yellow line and in my lane... I still am unsure how he managed to get so close without hitting my poor little car. I was laughing so hard, I was crying. I couldn't even get it together to tell him bye, I was laughing that hard. You really had to be there to get the mental image but he totally "made my day" (as the fish philosophy would say). Thanks Pete for being so awesome to work with. You ROCK!! Hope you are having a blast on your birthday!



Pete and Diana's dog, Jr., who I often dog sit!

Recent visit with G-ma

Sister @ grams-climbing out the window to wash it and fix the bird feeder:)



I love you grams!

My "Best Friend" Amy...

This is my best friend Amy. Most of you know that I cannot just say Amy, I always have to add the BF in front of it, like it's her title. I think at first it was to excentuate our friendship to the world and make sure everyone who didn't know the both of us together, knew it was beyond a friendship and more like a sisterhood. Then I think it just became a habit that really can't be broken. That's just it: she will forever be my best friend Amy. Love ya girl!
p.s. more ginormous belly photos for your enjoyment. Nope, not twins:) I am measuring 4 weeks ahead of schedule. Doc didn't seem too concerned but did order another Sono for Sept. 2nd to make sure Harper is not "too big" as she put it. We shall see...

Purple People-eater

Kylie and I came to work similarily dressed the other day. It was a perfect oppurtunity to belly up and show the world how beautifully our babies are growing. We are due the exact same day, November 7th. Kylie is having a boy. It's awesome to have someone to talk to about becoming a new mommy and also share the wonderful pleasant things strangers or even aquaintances say about our beautiful growing baby. It's fair game to comment on our weight gain, the possibility of twins-even when we tell them no they follow up with "are you sure", and the "about to deliver comment" when we still have months to go. Good times. The best thing is that we have each other to laugh it off and say "REALLY???!! did they really say that..."

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad! Another year older and another year wiser! This is a man who has without a doubt been an amazing father in my 27 years of living. Words that come to mind when I think of my dad: driven, focused, hard worker, provider, loving, role model, thinker, giver, and most of all, he is always here for us girls (my sis, mother, and me) no matter what. My dad has always had the team approach to life and the four of us are a team. Through the ups and downs of life we have helped each other become better people and together we grow stronger and stronger each day. Even those times when life came full force at us, our team united, and withstood any obstacles we faced. My dad has instilled values in me starting as a young child that have made me into the woman I am today. He has taught me to work hard not only to have things for myself but so that I can be a productive citizin in this world. He has taught me to be kind to others and be a leader by role modeling postive energies. He has taught me to be a thinker and to be aware. My dad has also allowed me to be myself and learn from my mistakes by being an independent thinker. He has been behind me when I have wanted to explore the world away from home. He has taught me unconditional love by showing me through his continuous support.
My pops has made so many sacrifices for our family over the years and for that I am forever grateful. What I wish for my dad on his birthday and everyday to follow is a lifetime full of smiles, laughter, and true genuine happiness. He deserves the best this life has to offer! Thanks dad, I love you!



















Happy Anniversary:) Cheers to 31 years! I love you both!!

I love you to the moon and back....

Sister Moon...

I want to shout outloud to the whole world (or at least the Kandra-land world) and let them know that my sister "Shannon Marie Dorsey" a.k.a "Shay" is a phenomenually amazing woman and that she truly is the best sister and friend a person could ask for.....
It all started when I entered this world.. she instantly became my protector and guide. I have always admired her and looked up to her for guidance and she has been there for me 100 percent of the time throughout my entire life. She does it unconditionally and unselfishly and continues to show her love for me each and every day....
We have these audio tapes of us when we were younger being radio DJ's for our own talk show. She busted them out the other day... Shannon was "Downtown Julie Brown" and I was "Downtown Julie Brown JR". She has defiantely let me know over the years that she is the older and wiser one of the two of us:) (there is some definate truth to that) Shannon is someone who tells it how it is, there is no sugar coated Kandra-land version, she presents the reality of it whether you want to hear it or not. Shannon balances my personality out. I look to her for sound advice and she is my voice of reason at times. Even as kids we were close; at times she may say a little too close... for instance me sleeping with her everynight, wanting to hang out with her and her friends, and wanting to be around her ALL the time. I'm sure I was the annoying little sister at times, but I can honestly say I think deep down she liked it:).
Over the past 27 years of my life she has enriched my life in so many ways. We have been through the ups and downs together on this journey of life and I thank her for being my best friend, my protecter, my guidance counselor, my sound board, and most of all the bestest sister a gal could ask for. Thanks Shay! I love you to the moon and back:)
p.s. the photos are a glimpse of my sister from the time I moved to Cali to present. It starts out of her moving me to Cali and then of course she had to come back and get me:) Plus other random photos in between to present..

Fun in the 100 degree Sun

100 degree weather definately calls for a pool party. Last weekend we loaded up Sara & Randy's Honda Pilot that seats all 8 of us (5 adults-Sara, Randy, Jackson, and Ava Beach, Kate & Xavier (Kate's nephew), Shay, and I ) and headed to the pool. It was quite a site to see all of us piling in and out of one car...
The lovely manager of a pool we used to all work at (minus Randy and the kids) opened up the pool early for us to enjoy some private pool time. This was great because we didn't have to deal with the pool rats. (a.k.a kids who attend the pool daily w/out supervision)

Rain or Shine!

A few weekends back we decided to head to World's of Fun and Ocean's of Fun for the day with some friends. If you are not familiar with such places, it is kind of like Disneyland except it's not the happiest place on earth:) It's an amusement park and water park in Kansas City. I grew up going there as a kid with my family and have been back a few times as an adult. As we were driving to the parks it began sprinkling and somewhat pouring on and off. It was a little soggy but perfect park whether (especially for prego me) for a couple of reasons: 1. It was not lightening so the rides were still open but there were not many people who were die hard amusement park goers like ourselves therefore the lines were short. 2. It was not hot and there was an on and off mist of cool rain coming down. Although I did not get to enjoy the excitement of screaming and being jolted around upside down, I did enjoy people watching and going to the water park for a couple hours. Teaf and I hit up the "Lazy River" and the "Wave pool" while the rest of the crew re-rode some of the rides. Of course the experience is never complete without stuffing one's face with a funnel cake. All in all it was a great day!


L to R: Ashley(Nate's girlfriend), Nate, and Teaf

The ride in action-Notice Nate is no longer on Ride...or is he??

There he is...he was asked to move to the end seat...not sure why...this seemed to happen each time they reloaded the ride, someone was asked to move so that the lap bars would work-sure doesn't make me want to get on that ride!

5th car back-Teaf riding the rickety "Timberwolf"

World's of Fun goers-minus me taking the pic and Lindsey's husband who chose not to ride the Detenator

Notice- Car 2 and 3 is the crew...how sweet is that-Teaf waving??

Here they are upside down..

Here's prego-back achin' and extremely full from eating a delicious powdered sugar funnel cake:)

L to R: Me, Nate, Nate's sister-Lindsey, and Ashley

No Salmonella in our tomatoes:)

Here is our 1st beautiful tomato that came from our potted tomato plant. The plant was bought at the farmer's market a few months back and sat from the ground to about my shin in her pot. With the help of the green thumb expert, Mr. King, she has flourished into a great big beauty queen! The tomatoes taste great too...It's more exciting to eat something that came from your own garden or for us our own pot:) than buying it from the store!