Lawrence, Part 1: Cousins!

We decided to make a little weekend trip up to Lawrence to see Megan for her birthday, and to hang out with Baden and Mary. We really enjoyed seeing cousins!

Kristen and Eliza are good friends:

They really liked playing games on Alison's tablet. Oh, and MEGAN!

Marie, Kristen, and Henry hiding from The Monster Alison:

Kristen's miffed that Sophie's in this picture because she knocked the first fort that they built down.

They're "wading" in the pond.

We all really adored Henry.

This picture says "Stop taking my picture. I hate it."

Watching Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Russell doing his unique "this little piggy" en-masse.

It was a delightful weekend!

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

Russell has been trying to get us to the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve for years. And we've tried before, but the weather has refused to cooperate. So, on the way back from Kansas City, he was determined (since it wasn't too cold OR raining) to get us out there.

And it's quite lovely, for a lot of grass.

We decided that we wanted to go find some bison, so we headed out on one of the trails, and discovered (much too far in) that past rain still made for some messy hiking conditions.

We made it to the top of a "hill" and took a selfie, before deciding that we really didn't want to tromp through the mud in hopes of finding bison, so we headed back.

It was good that we went.

Barbecue!

Of course we had to stop. (It was good, but not amazing.) No, I don't know why I look so annoyed.

And saying goodbye. It was fun!

National World War I Museum

Somehow, we got it into our heads that we should be Patriotic on Memorial Day. (No idea why....) And so, we discovered a program and free admission at the National World War I museum in Kansas City. (Why is there a National WWI Museum in Kansas City??)

(Because phallic symbols help me remember veterans.)
All of the girls. It's not a terrific picture, but it'll do.

There was  great view of downtown Kansas City, though, from the top of the hill.

There was a program. We, unfortunately, were on the stage, so we didn't stay long.

And then the museum of weapons.

It was a bit crowded, but a good little museum.

What to do on a Rainy Sunday in KC?

Go to the Independence Visitors Center

Hang out at the hotel

Play the new sport "Grandma Wheelchair Pushing" (Grandma is such a good sport)

Drag (some of) the kids to Liberty Jail and wonder later why we didn't take any pictures).
Be lazy.
Enjoy family.

It was a good day.

Games

One of the reasons we love Wayne and Rebecca (aside from their winning personalities and adorable children) is that they have a fantastic sense for cool and interesting games. And we love getting together with them because they always bring something new.

So, of course, we had to have a game night.

Victor doesn't really like games, but he was more than happy to sit and chat with nieces, who are more than happy to talk at him.

 I don't know who took this one, but I really like it.

This game was provided by Camilla. We ended up being incredibly silly with it, which means it was played badly, but there was a lot of laughter, which is not a bad thing.

The Insanity Factor

I love my family. But they are (as Chris Traeger would say) LITERALLY insane.

(Some of us are less insane than others.)

Why?

Because, on a cloudy, 66 degree day, they declare it perfect weather to go to the Schlitterbahn, a water park. And then (granted, there are no lines), they not only go down the slides, they go down the Verruckt, the tallest water slide in the world.

And not only do some of them go down once, they go down multiple times.

*sigh*

Why is Russell So Tall?

After going to the temple. It wasn't until I uploaded this that I realized everyone else is standing on the side of the fountain, except Russell.

Lawrence and the Kratt Brothers

I could have sworn that I put this up AGES ago (since it happened, you know, AGES ago), but when I went to upload pictures from this last week, I realized that I, um, DIDN'T. So, here's belated pictures from Russell, Alison, and Kristen's jaunt up to Lawrence.

We went, nominally, because Dad Fox was coming out to see Baden and Mary and WHY NOT go up. But also because we discovered the KRATT BROTHERS were going to be doing their live show in Lawrence that weekend. If you don't remember (WAY back to when Megan was 3 and 4), her favorite show EVER was Zaboomafoo (with the Kratt Brothers). We watched it (and loved it) and so any chance to go see them live was one that we had to take. And we figured that Kristen would love the whole animal part of it. Originally, I was supposed to go to the  show, but since Caitlyn had a show that weekend, and I had work responsibilities, Russell was the lucky one to go.

One of these things is not like the other....

They also had fun doing things with their cousins. Of course!

If there is a hill, you must roll down it.

Building a fence.

 They visited Megan's dorm room:

And hung out on campus:

Went out to eat with Grandpa:

And had a massive slumber party!

It was a fun weekend!