our trip to Kansas

1. making the 18-hour drive with an almost two-year-old! (twice)

2. a Royals game with family on my grandparents actual 50th anniversary
(and the Royals won)

3. time with cousins! Oh, we are still talking about that
and so excited we will see them again next month!

4. birthday parties and so many gifts we don't know what to think!
Maddy is enjoying them all now though.

5. throwing rocks at the pond by Grammy and Papa's

6. watching Evan squeal with delight during his first Kansas thunderstorm.

7. Evan getting to know everyone!
He now knows every family member's name and face and misses his Papa very much.

8. celebrating my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends.
We started out with lunch at the Grand Central Hotel in Strong City.
Then there was an intimate reception at their home
where we ate delicious cake, looked at old pictures and reminisced with them.
I love them so much. What an amazing couple! And still so young...

9. swimming at the pool and going down the blue slide too many times to count.
We are counting down the days until next year
when Maddy will be tall enough to go down the yellow slide too.

10. time with family.
It is always a rare treasure for us to visit
our beloved Kansas and our dear family.

But it makes the memories that much sweeter.