We headed down to KC on a Friday afternoon. We made it just in time for dinner! It was so nice to know that we weren't headed anywhere for over an entire week!
Colton and Grandpa Reynolds played "Pillow Power" almost every day! He had a lot of fun wrestling with Grandpa and throwing pillows at him.
Pillow Power!
Sabbath was really nice. We went to church. Colton had really missed Sabbath School! After church, we went to Dana and Dan's house for lunch. Dana had cooked a tasty meal for Rose's birthday. It was super yummy, and Madison and Dana had baked Rose a birthday cake ... it was a rainbow cake with purple frosting. Dana said that it was regular vanilla frosting, but I swear the purple tasted ... like purple ... or candy ... or what purple might taste like, if color had a flavor! It was yummy, at least! We stayed through the afternoon and visited with each other. It was so nice to see my sister and her family. Colton and Madison had fun playing together.
Maddie and Colton playing with Amadeus.
On Sunday, we took Rose out for breakfast for her birthday. We were going to go to First Watch, but there must've been a race that morning--it was PACKED with runners. So, we went to LePeep instead. There were runners there, too, but not as many as the previous location. Breakfast was really tasty! Colton had "silly face" pancakes. He was pretty happy about that. After breakfast, we took Khloe to the SMMC Urgent Care. The night before, she pretty much cried all night long. She couldn't be consoled and had to fall asleep on me to sleep at all. That is not like her at all! I have never seen her like that. So, we took her in, and sure enough, she had an ear infection. She had picked something up when we were in Minnesota ... on to some medication (and hopefully relief) for her.
Colton's smiley face pancakes at breakfast.
We had ice cream for Rose's birthday!
Swinging with Grandpa.
That night after I took her to the doctor ... she was flushed and feverish ... but still smiley in the bathtub!
Little rosie-cheeked girl.
Monday we went to the Louisburg Cider Mill. I absolutely love going there! It's so fun to get apple cider and apple donuts. I, also, love to pick up some homemade jams, honey, syrup, etc. There is so much yumminess there to buy ... I never know where to start! Colton loves the apple cider, too. I think that's his favorite part! Monday was the perfect day, too. It was cool and breezy! I definitely did not feel like an August day in Kansas. It was the right day to be outside.
A little snuggle time with Grandma.
I love the store there!
Jams, butters, and delights at the Country Store.
Grandpa with Khloe.
The kids enjoying the store.
Colton drinking his apple cider.
Colton riding his stick horse!
Galloping away!
Trying out what he called a "crumb" ... it was a small, unripe plum.
Me with Koki
With some peaches that Rose bought at the Cider Mill, I made peach/blackberry cobbler. It was delicious!
Tuesday, we tried to go to Deanna Rose Farms, but it was raining. Well ... we went there ... met Dana and Maddie ... walked around for about 20 minutes, and we decided it wasn't going to let up! So, we went packed up the kids and went to eat at Mimi's for lunch, instead. At least the food and company were good, even if the weather was cold and rainy--which I'm not complaining about the cool weather--just the rain when you want to be outside! That night, we went to a local funeral home for the wake of one of my high school friend's brother-in-law. He had passed away from brain cancer the weekend before. I wanted to go to support my friend. It was sad, because he was only in his forties.
Some geese wandering along
Headed into the old school house to avoid a downpour of rain!
Colton was excited to be in "school"!
If only it was all about drawing on a chalkboard.
A very nice ... and way too renovated .... school house.
Cute boy in the dunce corner.
Sitting up front.
It was so cute!
Colton with the cool tractor!
Checking out the calves.
Petting the rabbits.
Cole and Maddie pet the rabbits.
Looking at the Mommy cow.
Watching the cows eat with Grandma Reynolds.
"plowing"
Out at lunch, I told Madison to keep her eyes open when I took the picture. (Because in the previous picture I took, she was smiling with closed eyes.) This is what she gave me instead. :)
On Wednesday, we went to Deanna Rose Farms again ... this time, it was warm and sunny! We spent the morning there with Dana and Madison. Colton loved it last year--he loved it this year even more! We went to see all of the animals, and he got to feed the goats. Khloe will like it much better next summer. She spent most of the day in the stroller.
Looking at the chickens with Madison.
He loved to ring those cow bells. I guess he was thinking ... life could use more cow bell!
Cole and Maddie
Just walking along.
With the small buffalo.
If you look closely, he is picking the large buffalo's nose!
Maddie on the buffalo.
Colton was having fun!
With Grandma in the Native American dugout house.
Grandpa pushing Koki around.
Colton showing me the jawbone of the buffalo.
Another large bone.
Cole and Maddie in the teepee.
Taking a break.
Dana and Maddie watching the ducks.
Cole had a lot of fun feeding the goats. There was a lot of ... "here goaty, goaty!" .... going on.
Maddie feeding and hugging the goats.
Colton is a caterpillar.
Jumping from stone to stone ... his new favorite pastime!
Deanna Rose Farmstead has such beautiful landscaping!
Next year, she will have much more fun. This year ... there was a lot of this.
Cole eyeing down the prairie dog.
What are you looking at, Swan!?!
A little treat from Grandma.
Me with my sister.
Grandpa and Colton on the train.
Grandpa with Maddie and Cole on the train.
Thursday, I went to my cousin, Kristie's, house. It was fun to see her and her kiddos. She even let one of them stay home from school (the first week, too) to see us! BriAnna is so good with kids. She really took care of Khloe ... and that Brooke ... she knew exactly how to get Colton to do what she wanted him to do. At one point, we heard her begging Colton to go downstairs (he was playing with trains on a train track). She said, "Colton, do you want to go downstairs?" He said, "No, I can't go downstairs. I'm not big enough." I guess that was his way of really saying, "No, I want to play trains!" But sure enough, it wasn't long before I heard voices down in the basement, and Brooke kept Cole pretty much entertained the whole time we were there. When it was time to go, he did not want to leave. He was having a lot of fun with his cousins. I always enjoy seeing them, too!
Friday, I was supposed to see my sister and niece again, but Dana had gotten sick. So, we postponed our play date until later that weekend. Instead, we hung out at the house with Dad and Rose a little bit. It was nice to have a relaxing day.
Sabbath rolled around again, and this time, Dana and her family came over to Dad's house for an early first birthday party and lunch for Khloe. We had a nice time visiting with my sister and her family. The kids played so well together. It was nice to see them having so much fun! Rose made delicious cupcakes for Khloe's "birthday". It was nice to celebrate with family--even if it was a month early!
Zion, Cole, and Maddie.
Colton and Madison playing outside together.
Colton with his cousin, Zion.
The plates.
Birthday Time for Khloe (early)
So cute!
Cute gift bags for the other kids!
The whole spread.
Cole and Maddie
This is Khloe's shy face (or in trouble face). She was shy because everyone was singing to her. This is the look she gave through the entire "Happy Birthday" song.
Finally, she changed face and started clapping at the end of the song when everyone was clapping and saying, "yay!"
Colton and Zion enjoying cupcakes and ice cream.
Dan, Maddie, and Dana eating treats!
I guess she wanted to get all of the crumbs off!
Covering her face with the plate.
All crumby now.
She must've liked it!
Bowl or hat?
I know where hats go!
Colton, Zion, and Madison play with Zion's finger boards.
Aunt Dana with Cole and Khloe
Me and my sister with our kids.
The grandkids
Dana's Family
My family without Billy :(
Rose and Dad with all of the grandkids.
On Sunday, we went to The Legends. We took Colton to Cabela's to see the stuffed animals. He really liked that! He thought it was pretty cool. Then we did some shopping at The Legends. That place has really grown since I lived in KC. We ate lunch at Five Guys. I have never seen one of those that packed! There were so many people the line was nearly out the door. It was pretty tasty, though. Then we headed home to give the kids a nap. After their nap, I went to meet Dana and Maddie at a park. The kids had fun running around the playground. It was nice to chat with Dana a little while.
Colton with Grandpa Reynolds at Cabelas.
He liked seeing the stuffed animals.
"Look! A deer!"
Grandpa showing him the animals.
"PUMBAA!" he exclaims.
Talking about the animals.
Driving the boat.
Playing in the fountain at the Legends.
While playing outside .... Colton asked me, "Is this my house?"
Cole at the park.
With my kids at the park visiting with my sister.
Hanging out with Khloe at the park.
Making silly faces with my niece, Maddie.
My lovely, sweet niece.
Me with my Big Sis, Nae.
Sisters.
Khloe likes to grab everything.
Waiting to talk to Daddy on the phone before Cole goes to bed.
The week was full of fun stuff to do and people to see, but it all went so quickly! We had a lot of fun visiting Grandpa and Grandma Reynolds ... and Aunt Dana, Uncle Dan, Maddie, and Zion.
This is one of Cole's favorite puzzles!
Colton had a lot of fun putting puzzles together with Grandpa.
Khloe was not afraid of the dogs! She was after them as much as they would let her be ... she loved to get right down in their faces and yell. It was kind of funny!
Hanging out on the deck.
Pulling up on everything!
Colton did this every day while we were visiting. He lined up rocks .... he even had a special rock that looked like a turtle.
He enjoyed leaping from stone to stone.
It became one of his favorite pastimes!
Here is a video of him jumping. He was pretty good at it!
Khloe talking to Grandpa.
So ... my Dad was trying to get Khloe to look at the camera. What he wasn't realizing was that all it looked like to me was a big rock in the way of a nice picture! :)
My Dad couldn't stop laughing once I pointed that fact out to him! It was super funny!
Colton showing me how he throws the dogs' toy balls around the yard.
Khloe sees everyone outside. She is wondering who will let her out to play, too!
Khloe found Colton ... but he's too little to let her outside.
Colton enjoyed playing on the scooter Grandpa and Grandma found for him.
He played and played.
Khloe getting Grandpa tickles!
She is scared of a lot of men. I guess that's the stage she's going through ... but not my Dad ... she loved him!
Grandma reading Colton a book.
It's a book full of several books ... and she had to read them all!
Just playing with Grandpa.
My nut kid! He said, "Look! I'm an astronaut!"
This book was a gift for Colton from Grandpa and Grandma for Christmas this past year ... Cole did not want to stop playing with it. He asked Grandpa and Grandma to help him put the stickers on the pages every day.
Hanging out with Grandma ... having a drink of milk.
Just relaxing.
Grandma and Grandpa Reynolds with the kiddos.
Must everything go in her mouth!?!
Khloe terrorizing poor Tyler!
Colton having fun playing monster trucks with Grandpa.
On Monday morning, we packed up and drove to Tulsa, OK to see Great-Grandma Reynolds. We stayed with her for two nights. Each night, I played Cribbage with her. I really like that game! I'll have to get that for our home collection.
The first night, we took the kids to the biggest and coolest playground ever! Colton had a ton of fun. Great-Grandma helped him get on the monster truck!
Here he is riding the dinosaur.
If you look closely, you can see him zooming down the slide!
The first time on a tire swing, and he loved it!
Seeing the horses with Oren, his cousin.
A Tulsa sunset.
Khloe in the swing.
She had fun swinging away!
This looks midwest-y, doesn't it? Khloe is just hanging out.
Colton loved their slide!
He adored their horses! He wanted to play with them every day!
Taking a look at another horse. "Here horsey, horsey!" he would say.
Trying to feed it grass.
Just sitting on the swing with my girl.
Great-Grandma Reynolds with Cole and Khloe.
Well, Khloe was done ... but Cole and Grandma look good!
Me with my Grandma
We went shopping with her on Tuesday, and she bought the kids plenty of toys. She spoiled all of us with gifts and lunch. She said, "It's not every day I get to go shopping with you guys!" It was really nice to spend time with her. She, also, made her delicious homemade hot fudge while we were there, so we had some tasty treats, too!
On Wednesday, we began our long trip home to Tampa. It was two full days of driving! I thought it wouldn't be too bad, because the actual road hours were only 9 1/2 hours on the first day, and 9 hours on the second day ... but with two little ones--potty breaks and food/gas stops, they were both about 11 hour days. Yuck! Colton did really well both days ... Khloe did SUPER well the first day ... and as expected the second day. I knew she would be very ready to be home by the end of day two. We got home around bedtime on Thursday night, and I was exhausted to say the least. We sure had a fun month traveling and visiting family and friends, but there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed!
We stopped at Panera for dinner on the drive home. The kids and I were all exhausted and hungry!
Nothing like seeing this nutty girl sitting like this while we drove home. I guess it was comfy!
Such a good Mama you are. ☺
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