Banana Ball Craze
Posted on May 29, 2026 by Ching under Things to Do.
We ended up getting sucked into the Banana Ball craze earlier this month. This event is so hyped up but, after having attended, I don’t get it. I heard about it for the first time last year from a couple of friends. Because I’m such an easy target, I ended up entering the lottery. I think back in December-January time frame, I got information that I was picked in the lottery. You feel kind a special because not everyone gets picked so, of course, I went for it and purchase my allotment of five tickets. I didn’t really know what to expect. I was mostly just along for the ride.
Fast forward to Banana Ball weekend. Amazingly enough, they managed to fill Equity Bank Park. I have never seen the ballpark packed with so many people. We were in the outfield standing room only area and even that was packed. It was wild!
Supposedly, what makes Banana Ball such a huge draw is that it’s way more fun than regular baseball games. And it’s true, there’s dancing and tricks and crazy rules. I think we would have had way more fun if we had actual seats and weren’t in the outfield SRO section, though. I mean, we didn’t really know what was going on most of the time. The regular baseball rules are confusing enough for me. The modified rules made it even more confusing.
Anyway, glad we got to experience it but probably won’t do this again. Baseball, even if it’s fun like Banana Ball, just isn’t for us I guess.
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Another Day, Another Coffee Shop
Posted on May 28, 2026 by Ching under Travel.
Parker’s wedding weekend was an interesting one. We went up to Kansas City on Friday night and stayed for a couple of nights, checking out on Sunday. That same weekend, Brian had to fly out to Las Vegas for his ELEVATE conference. I have so much time off from work that we had initially considered having me go with him to Vegas. We thought it would we be convenient to fly to Vegas from the KC airport since we would already be there. That is, until we realized that Saki was with us that weekend. Whoops! Regardless of how much time off I had, I was definitely not going to be able to go because someone had to stay home and take care of Saki.
So then the next thing we considered was for Brian to fly out of KC to Vegas and then fly home from Vegas to Wichita at the end of the conference. But that would mean I would be driving home to Wichita from KC by myself — in Brian’s new vehicle no less — and he just wasn’t comfortable with that. So we ended up having to leave KC first thing in the morning on Sunday to make it back to Wichita for Brian’s noon flight to Vegas.
Brian didn’t want to feel rushed, so we left super early. So early that Messenger and Mildred’s weren’t open yet. And even the Roasterie coffee in our hotel lobby hadn’t been set up because Brian would have totally settled for that. He said it was good. I mean, you can’t go wrong with Roasterie. Anyway, we found this place nearby called Morning Rounds Bakery.
We might have been their first customers for the day.
The place isn’t big but super cute inside.
We made it back to Wichita with plenty of time to spare. We even squeezed a quick nap in our recliner before heading to the airport. It was much needed since we both go up super early that morning for the drive back to Wichita.
No joke, as we were leaving to head to the airport, Brian got a text from Cory that their flight had been delayed. I was supposed to stop by my parents’ house for some sinigang after dropping Brian off, we decided to just flip-flop it. We ended up eating some lunch at mom and dad’s before heading to the airport.
So Brian left that Sunday and didn’t return until Friday. He seemed to have a great time (and learned a ton) at the conference. I’ll let him tell you all about it. Hopefully he finds time to blog about it. The day he returned is also the day that I was taking mom and dad to their airport for their trip to Saint Lucia. It worked out because their departure/boarding time pretty much coincided with his return flight’s arrival. I surprised him by waiting at the bottom of the escalator by baggage claim and he didn’t even notice. LOL.
I guess this pretty much recaps our recent Kansas City weekend. Leave a comment if you want to hear about Brian’s Vegas conference. Maybe if enough of you ask we can get him to post about it. #peerpressure
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We Tried a New Coffee Shop
Posted on May 27, 2026 by Ching under Food and Drink, Travel.
Brian and I walked over to Mildred’s while in the Crossroads district of Kansas City earlier this month for the Hummel-Ward wedding.
It’s a cute little place within walking distance of our hotel.
Their breakfast pastries looked delicious but we both opted for a breakfast burrito.
They were pretty darn good.
I love this wall.
We had to selfie in front of it, naturally.
Here’s a pic of my latte.
We loved the convenience of being able to walk to Mildred’s and back to our hotel. It was a lovely morning for a walk.
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Brian’s First Time at Lulu’s
Posted on May 22, 2026 by Ching under Food and Drink.
We had dinner at Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop in Crossroads while we were in Kansas City earlier this month. Somehow I was convinced that Brian and I had been there before. Brian insisted he had never been but I knew for sure that I had. Anyway, I dug up this post from ten years ago. Long story short, I suggested that we go over there for dinner and he said no but then I got my wish a couple of months later when I ate there with some coworkers.
Fast forward 10 years later, he finally got to try it. Also, you know it’s good because it’s still around. Few restaurants survive the test of time.
We walked to the restaurant from our hotel so we enjoyed a few drinks and didn’t even think twice about it. LOL.
Here are some pictures of our food.
I decided to have soup because the walk was a little chilly and I was unprepared for cooler weather. I didn’t even bring a hoodie. Anyway, this is the Tom Kha Gai which is not quite what I had expected. I feel like I had Tom Kha Gai at our local Tup Tim Thai here in Wichita and it was different. Different or not, it was good and I still enjoyed it. I slurp, slurp, slurped it.
Speaking of walk. I took a couple of pictures of Brian in one of the alleys we walked past on the way to the restaurant.
Here’s the funny thing. Ten years ago, when I asked to eat here, Brian refused citing that he thought the area looked “sketchy” and here were are ten years later — not only are we eating there, but we walked to and from the restaurant even. Either the Crossroads District has come a long way in the last ten years or we have.
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Hummel-Ward Wedding
Posted on May 20, 2026 by Ching under Events.
We got to witness the union of two beautiful souls earlier this month. Our friend Parker Ward married is perfect match, Madison Hummel.
The ceremony was at the Church of the Nativity in Leawood, Kansas.
Their reception was the Abbott in Kansas City. It was probably the most creative celebration we’ve ever attended. Throughout their relationship, Parker would leave Madison post-it notes so, when he proposed, he also did it in a similar fashion – via a giant post-it note.
They continued this theme at the reception by putting everyone’s table assignments on post-it notes. Our placeholders at dinner were also post-it notes.
It was absolutely brilliant!
Initially, I was worried that we wouldn’t know anyone there. Thankfully, they put us at a table with other pickleball players.
The Abbott, located in the Crossroads arts district of Kansas City, was the perfect reception venue. We hung out on the rooftop patio before dinner for some pre-dinner drinks and rays of sunshine.
Brian enjoyed some old fashioneds, Parker’s favorite drink.
Dinner was fantastic. The tables were beautifully decorated and consistent with the couple’s fun vibe. They also chose a great band. I think everyone had a blast.
Here are some pictures of the food. They went with a plated salad and multiple food stations. I don’t think anyone went hungry.
Honestly, I was surprised we made Parker’s invite list as we hadn’t seen him in a while. He is always so busy with his various business endeavors. I am grateful for the invite though, because I just love weddings. It reminds me of our own wedding and brings back all the good feels. Every time we are witness to another couple’s union, it’s like Brian and I are renewing our vows to each other at the same time. It gives me the warm fuzzies.
Anyway, congratulations to Parker and Madison. We with you both the best and may you both live happily ever after!
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