A long time ago I promised Nicole, someone I used to babysit when I was in high school, I would come to her farewell if she decided to serve a full time mission like I did when I was 21. Well, time goes by quickly, and sure enough, Nicole began her service as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 12/12/12. How neat is that? So, before she headed off on her new adventure, my mom helped me take my children back to Kansas for the first time in their lives.
I wasn't very good about taking pictures, but there were some I took just to send back to Dan, who stayed home to work. He missed out on cotton candy at the Golden Corral (way better than our local Country Buffet) and the best children's department programs I've ever seen. We were to meet a high school friend of mine there with her daughter, and I was super impressed. Story time isn't just reading a couple books and having a couple action songs. It was that plus a craft plus a snack that went along with the story! The children's department was also decorated and had a separate Blu Ray collection. My children did NOT want to leave. But alas, I had other friends, Hyrum & Tatum to meet for lunch at Montana Mike's so we had to go eventually. It was so great to see high school friends again and meet each other's children.
We spent an entire afternoon with my former Young Women's President, Marsha. She was and is the kind of woman I wanted to be when I grew up. She couldn't be more thrilled to meet my 3 little ones and hear another miracle baby is headed my way. As a matter of fact, this trip to Kansas helped Danny overcome his depression at living with another sister! He had wanted a brother very badly, but after seeing so many people surprised by my belly and excited we are having another girl, he's ok with it now too!
"It was wonderful seeing you and meeting your little family. I feel in many ways, you are the daughter I never had. I couldn't be more proud of you. The Light of Christ is so evident in your life, in the way you mother your children and just being a dau
How could you not love someone who is that kind?!?
My children had never eaten at a good, old fashioned A&W before and loved having lunch there. Some things are better the Midwest way.
I used to babysit this guy too! He just got married this summer. It was great to eat dinner with him and hear him tell people I was the best babysitter in the whole world. He did say, though, that my children were almost as badly behaved as Wal-Mart kids. lol. I think it's b/c I took them to dinner in their PJs after swimming at the hotel pool. Kaelah says being with Adrian was her favorite part of the trip.
I sent this one to Dan from the hotel. Michelle was making the 'H' between Danny and I. This is proof Dan is not the only one she kicks at night when she crawls into a bed she shouldn't be in. As I was e-mailing this to Dan, Danny fell off the bed onto Kaelah and woke everyone up. (Ever since Kaelah broke her collar bone falling off the hotel bed in Florida, she gets a roll-a-way bed and we set the mattress on the floor. No more broken bones on vacation for us!)
When this teenage boy was a baby, I used to rock him to sleep when his parents were on a date. Cracked me up to see him be big enough to be goofy with my children and realize he is almost as old as I was when I played with his siblings.
Danny, Nicole's little sister Kimmy, Kaelah on Nicole's lap, Michelle, and me. (I won't be wearing this dress anymore until after my baby girl is born. Hello belly button!) It was such a joy to see and talk to people in Kansas. I love Facebook but it's just not the same as real life. Wishing Nicole all the best on her mission! If she doesn't like it, she can blame it on me for planting the idea in her head when she was young. She told a member of the bishopric so. (;
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