We took the boys to visit my family in Missouri this weekend. The trip started off as and adventure when we walked across the tarmac at DIA to board the turbo prop
Bombadier plane that would spirit us across the plains.
The boys did very well on the plane (the
snackboxes helped - well, not Jack, who got a little motion sick on the landing and barfed on Sam) and the two-hour drive from Kansas City to my dad's house in Harrisburg. Once there, though, the need to release wiggles became apparent.
First, we fed the
sharks catfish in my dad's lake. There are also four 18-year-old carp in there that were bigger than Ryan... so no, we didn't go swimming.
Next up, a boat ride around the lake with cousin Bradley (and some vintage life jackets).
Then it was off to explore the treehouse, which the boys thought was just the coolest thing ever as they immediately started playing "Food Window" (apparently we've hit the drive-thru a few too many times recently!).
Next up, vintage pedal cars!
Finally Aunt Chelsea and her friend Lance came over to fish. Suddenly Jack is an expert at selecting tackle...
Day Two (Thursday) dawned bright and early with a return visit to the treehouse (Sylvia the dog did NOT think it was safe for anyone to be going up and down that ladder).
More fish watching...
And a tour of the property via mini-tractor. Jack refused to look at me as he was concentrating so hard on steering. Ryan refused to go near the tractor.
On Friday we visited my mom's house in Centralia. She has a mini farmyard with a goat, chickens, geese and rabbits. Ryan was not pleased to meet the goat, but Jack didn't mind.
Jack got to ride on Grandma's tractor, and toured the apple trees. The boys also spent a good long time playing with a bucket of Tinker Toys that is at least forty years old and is still just as endlessly fascinating to little minds and hands.
On Saturday morning we went to the Columbia Farmer's Market, with Sam filling the role normally performed by the double stroller.
We then visited
Shelter Gardens, a lovely little arboretum with big shade trees, fish ponds and interesting botanical displays. No public bathrooms, though...
After lunch we headed back to my dad's house for naps and to set up for a family weenie roast. Here, the Redneck Limousine is invented.
The boys wandered over to my brother's house next door to bounce on Bradley's trampoline and to meet the chickens that Andy has trained to eat out of his hand. Daredevil Jack is brave enough to try it too.
Back at the weenie roast, my children wear buckets on their heads and devour s'mores, but refuse to eat weenies.
Then they "washed" their hands in the bird bath.
On Sunday my camera battery died, so I took some photos with my iPod touch and Chelsea got some with her iPhone. It was a beautiful day for fishing and "camping".
The boys were not happy to be loaded into the car for the 2 hour drive to KCI, but they both fell asleep quickly (gee, wonder how they got so tired?!) and the flight home was uneventful. Thomas the Train DVDs for the win!
View all the photos from our weekend adventures
here.
