Our trip to Kansas was very enjoyable, relaxing, and a much needed vacation. We started our 14 hour drive up Tuesday morning around 3:30am. We were looking to make it a 2 day drive but once we got started we decided to keep going. So after stops in Nashville and St Louis we finally made it up to Kansas that night. Lillian was a real trooper the whole trip but after we got her out of the car for good she was ready to play! So off we went to McDonalds for our family dinner. Lillian, Katherine, and Hunter had a great time playing in the indoor playground and we were able to catch up with Matt’s family.
Wednesday we had a pretty relaxing morning. We woke up to the best smells – lemon poppy seed and pumpkin spice bread – YUM! Melissae and I helped the kids make their Thansgiving shirts (on the front is Thanksgiving and on the back we made Santas!) and watched the kids play outside. When Matt’s dad arrived from work we were off to the Legends for lunch at Famous Dave’s (awesome ribs!), a walk around Cabela’s, an afternoon movie (Bolt) and then to the biggest furniture store I have ever seen, Nebraska Furniture Mart.
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Thursday Matt, Lillian and I went exploring downtown Kansas and took some pictures around the town. The kids made Thanksgiving turkeys out of cookies and candies (and some buttercream icing Matt made for the glue). Then it was a team effort to get Thanksgiving dinner all done! It was fun having everyone in the kitchen with a task. It made for a great day. Thursday night we were off again for a 3 hour drive to the farm.
Friday Matt went hunting and we enjoyed the quiet life out in the farm. We played outside, watched movies and just enjoyed each other’s company. Very relaxing indeed. That night we opened up family Christmas presents! Lillian received the cutest pajamas and American Girl baby. Oh she loved it. Katherine and Lillian took turns being the mommy.
Saturday was another day of relaxation. Melissae and I worked on the kids’ t shirts, putting Santa on the back of their shirts. We did one child at a time (yes we learned our lesson from our Thanksgiving tshirt experience). We played Last Word, a great boardgame in my book, and enjoyed our last night together. We got a great surprise too! It started snowing! It was very neat to watch Lillian enjoy the snow! She thought it was the coolest thing ever and secretly Matt and I thought the same thing. It was just flurries so it didn’t stick too much but it was steadily dropping.
Sunday we woke up ready to get on the road and we opened the door and WOW! Snow! It was a blanket of white and oh so beautiful but it didn’t make for the best driving conditions. It took us a while to get going but we were determined to get back to my parents that night and so our driving continued through snow, icy roads, rain, fog; you name it we had it in weather – except for sunshine! We stopped to eat at Lambert’s Cafe on the way home and it was so worth the wait. The food was awesome and it was nice to get out of the car!
We had every intention of getting up early on Monday and driving home but our hearts were not in it! We lounged and lounged at my parent’s house until mid afternoorn and then headed home. The travel was exhausting but it was so nice to see everyone and enjoy some time together. Can’t wait to do it again.