Monday, November 20th - 8:30 am and we're off to Wichita!
We stopped for lunch in Colby at the Oasis - gas station with two restaurants and a Starbucks. And a playground!! The kids really needed to run around and Jenna was happy to see "Ivan." Her favorite book is still "The One and Only Ivan." We arrived in Wichita at dinner time, enjoyed pizza with my parents and really enjoyed sleeping!
Tuesday, November 21st - We tried a new-to-us museum - the Museum of World Treasures.
The museum has quite a variety of really cool artifacts. And the bulk of the exhibits are from the founder's personal collection!
The kids and I left the museum at noon to go meet with one of my best Wichita friends and her kids. The kids had a great time playing Sorry and Dragonwood while we talked.
It's always fun getting together with them. Too bad it's only once a year.
After meeting with our friends, we went to another museum - Exploration Place. Always a favorite for our kids!
"The Royals"
Keeper of the Plains - one of my favorite Wichita scenes. After dinner, I went to visit another one of my Wichita friends - the first friend I remember having (since age 2 or 3). We had a nice visit and forgot to take a picture.
Wednesday, November 22nd - We had a quiet morning. And then David, Katie, and Owen arrived after lunch!
So cute with "his" phone!
Wednesday afternoon evening - visiting and food preparation. Kellen helped me make the pumpkin pie filling.
Thanksgiving Day - We enjoyed our lunch around noon. Between the babies needing naps and the Mamas and Daddies taking care of them, all 12 of us weren't at the table at the same time for long. But, we fellowshipped and feasted well nonetheless.
Jenna and Kellen opted for a kids table so they could watch The National Dog Show. Jenna was in heaven! She took notes on each breed and kept track of which dog won each category.
Owen's shirt - so cute!
It was an amazingly warm day! So after the babies woke from naps, we went to the park! Aunt Janet, and cousins Rachel and Brooklyn joined us.
We had never seen a swing like this - it's the coolest thing! An arch connects the two swings so you can swing facing your baby!
They had this teeter totter built for four. The kids were on it with us at one point and then wanted to take a picture of just the two of us. There was also a really cool boat like rocker that at least 8 people could ride.
These two 1-year-olds! So much squishy cuteness!!
After the park, we all came back to the house for dessert. Owen and Lincoln still play "beside" each other rather than "with" each other. I'll bet next year will be even more fun when they can maybe play together.
Jenna and Kellen were in baby heaven! Nearly impossible to get a good picture where each child is looking good.
This outtake makes me laugh!
Friday, November 24th - We spent the morning waiting for the moment when all 12 people were awake, fed, bathed, etc. so we could celebrate Christmas and exchange gifts. Quite a challenge!
Jenna loved helping feed Owen!
Grandma and the big kids decorated the tree.
Around 1pm, everyone was finally bathed, fed, napped, and ready to celebrate. So much to be thankful for!
We re-created the picture of the kids from last year.
What a difference a year makes!!
We managed to get a good family picture with a timer!
And then, we celebrated birthdays! Mostly Kellen's. But, but also Owen (Sept 24), Lincoln (Oct 3), and Grandma (Dec 1).
THEN, at 4:30, we left for our annual tradition of walking through the Christmas lights at Botanica. Aunt Janet, Rachel, and Brooklyn joined us.
Santa was there and so we thought it would be cute to get a picture of all the kids with Santa.
The boys weren't to sure about him. This picture is so great!! Classic!
Things quickly went downhill and Owen started crying. Sweet Kellen was so empathetic - look at his face!
He recovered quickly and we went on to enjoy the lights together. This tree was really cool - set to change colors and patterns. Jenna took the video and photo. (See video 6286 in Thanksmas '17)
Saturday, November 25th - We went to the zoo in the morning.
Cuties!
There were two baby gorillas - so fun!
The flamingos were fun to see! We don't see those at our zoo.
Kellen wanted his picture taken with each statue we encountered!
Earlier in the week, Jenna saw a commercial for a local burger place called Nu Way and she decided she must go there. What got her, was the advertisement of the kids meal served in a car. This place is a favorite of mine and one I like to get to when we visit Wichita, so it was pretty easy to say yes to her request to try it out. So, we went for lunch after the zoo.
Lincoln kept making this face, we called it the "stink-eye face." He would sometimes make it when he didn't like what you wanted him to do. Cracked me up!
Back at home, the girls played a game while the Michigan game was finishing up, and I was packing up. We left around 3:30pm to go part way home, spending the night in Hays.
Leslie sent this picture of what we missed Saturday evening after naps.
Sunday, November 26th - We made the rest of the trek home. (I always like to see the wind turbines.)
Home sweet home around 1:30pm. The kids were great in the car. During each of the 3 travel days, they read for an hour! The rest of the time, they mostly listened to Adventures in Odyssey. They only watched one movie the entire car time! We unpacked, then off to the store to get milk and a quick birthday present for one of Jenna's best friends who was having a party at 3:30! Laundry started, dinner, school prep. Whew! Really good to be home, though! And thankful for a great Thanksmas!
