Adventures in the Heartland and Clare's First Visit to Kansas

Day one, we boarded the plane with two kids, 5 carry-ons, and checked 3 suitcases. I swear I used to think traveling was tiring, but it has now achieved a whole new level. We occupied 1/2 a row on the plane and both the kids did great. Especially Clare who did well for her first time, with no painful ear incidents. Hayden loved the turbulance, so while I smiled through my nausea, he was exclaiming "ooooh, bumpy" with glee. We made it there with one flight (thank God) and were received happily by my parents who drove up to pick us up. We stopped at my Grandma and Grandpa B's house to drop my parents off and visit with them for a bit. To Hayden's surprise they had given him a battery powered John Deere tractor and trailer and one for his cousin Colton too. Let me just tell you that I would have died and gone to heaven if I could have had one of those when I was a kid. Shoot, I'd take one now if I could fit into it. But, my two and a half year old loved it and was a blur in most pictures I took. He caught right on to driving it but was fascinated by the wheels and would watch those instead of the "road." Needless to say, its a good thing that Dad was chasing him around saving the day as needed. Clare also met for the first time her Aunt Katie, her Uncle Jeremy and Colton (who at this time could have cared less since he is 2.) It was an exhausting but fun-filled day. And I'm so glad we got to see so many in one day!

Clare's first plane ride

Daddy on the plane with Hayden. One of the many highlights of Hayden's day.

A big welcome

Aunt Katie meeting Clare for the first time

A natural on our new battery powered John Deere

Hayden and his cousin, Colton

Grandpa with his pile of great grand-kids. Happy man. A happy man.

Great-Grandpa getting his hands on baby Clare. He could hardly stand the wait.

On Sunday, the first full day we were in Kansas we stayed with Grandma B we got to enjoy the company of both of the kids aunts, Michelle and Rachael, as well as some other extended family who came in for dinner. We broke in Grandma's new pool for its second summer and this was the first time Clare had donned her rocking new bikini. Ok, now I said I would never buy a bikini for my baby, however, it occurred to me that this could be practical in the case of an emergency diaper change. I still do not like what it stands for. But you have to admit, she's pretty cute in it. Hayden loved playing in the water but still loves the security of the floaty. We had a really nice time catching up with everyone.

Prepped and ready for the pool...sunglasses, check, sun hat, check, coverups, check, towel, check

Rocking his tanlessness in his swim trunks.

Hayden gets the whole idea of lounging.

Don't be mad at me Michelle. I thought you looked awesome in this picture. Great shoulders and arms!!!

Hanging with Daddy post-swim

Aunts Michelle and Rachael

On Memorial Day we just bummed around and slipped in a visit to Grandma B's old house. Derrick and his sister Michelle helped out by mowing the expansive yard and the kids played around outside. I wanted to take Clare there just once so I could say she had been to the place where Grandma and Grandpa lived and where Daddy had once lived too.

A family photo at the same spot that Derrick and I stood and took a picture when we were just dating.

Hayden at Grandma B's old house

Riding the big bad grasshopper lawnmower with Daddy

So much green!

On Tuesday we visited Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa B for the day. We got to see a couple of Derrick's cousins and Hayden took a quick liking to Jack, Derrick's cousin's son. It was restful. Their house is always like its own little world. Its peaceful and you feel cared for and its just a happy place to be. This was Clare's first visit there and first time meeting her great-grandparents. She came out of her shell after a little nap.


Playing on the living room floor together

Walking through Great-Grandma B's flower garden

Taking in the scenery with Grandpa

Having dinner at Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa's house

On Wednesday, we bummed around Grandma and Grandpa K's house. We had two visitors, the the kid's Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa K. This was the first time that they had met Clare and almost a year since they had last seen Hayden. We got to listen to a few thunderstorms that day which is a rarity for us these days.

On Thursday, we got to try out the Kansas Children's Discovery Museum. It was its opening week and Hayden and Clare really got to enjoy it. They had a crawling area for babies and appropriate toys for her which she loved. For Hayden he loved to paint. I had no idea how much. There is such a creative side to him. Grandma and Grandpa K really got to play with both the kids as did Derrick who misses out on on weekday fun a lot. It was a lot of fun for both big and small. Where was this when I was a kid????

A manly man with his hard hat on

Ahh! A nurturing side to my boy. No I did not encourage nor set this up. He even got the doll to put in it himself.

A climbing fool

Who is that cute little girl? I think I'll give her a kiss.

Trying to paint Grandpa's face. Aren't you glad there is glass between you and Hayden?

On Friday we went to A Day Out with Thomas. For those of you who may not be familiar with him, Thomas the Tank Engine is very popular with the little boys. We actually rode a train pulled by the Number 1 blue engine. It was very Special, Special. Sorry, a lot of Thomas lingo in there. We went there with Grandma and Grandpa K, Aunt Katie, Uncle Jeremy, and cousin Colton who shares the interest with Hayden. Hayden loved loved loved his first train ride and that it was on Thomas himself. He loved the petting zoo, getting a Thomas character temporary tattoo, playing with all of the Thomas train sets that they had out for kids to play with, jumping inside the bouncy, and getting to experience the fire truck up close and personal. It was smoking hot for early June, be we powered (and sweated) through it and overall had a blast. It was a great end to our trip. Clare, well, she fell asleep part way through. When she is a little older we will find something like this that she enjoys a little more.

All Aboard!!!