Kansas (July 27-Aug 9th)

July brought us a last minute trip to the States.  For many reasons we felt this would be a good thing to do and so we went as soon as we had the time and before school started, leaving us with roughly a month in the States.  We spent the first two weeks (more or less) in Kansas with the Myers family there.  We did see a few freinds while we were there, but the majority of our time was with family.  Aside from the heat it was a great two weeks.  Here are some of the pictures from our time in Kansas.  I feel like I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I thought so Lisa, Mom and Cari, if you have any good ones I'd love it if you sent the best my way:).

 

Kittens!  We went to visit our good friends Bob and Kel at their ranch and the kids fell in love with the kittens.  The whole ride back to McPherson was a very good persuasion speech by Malachi on why we needed to get a pet and a serious discussion as to what kind of pet.  Sonora wanted a puppy and Malachi a kitty.  It is a discussion on hold for now.

We went to a lake with Grant and Cari and the kids to out get out of the heat.  It was late in the evening and the beach was fairly empty.  Our kids always have such a great opportunity to swim when we are in Kansas in the summer!  The heat helps make that happen!

After grilling hot dogs the kids had fun making some noise.

Here Sonora and Jaret are enjoying a freezy.  Sonora thinks her cousin Jaret is pretty cool!

When the kids weren't at the pool swimming they were either in the basement playing or in the evenings outside in the backyard.  Here is a rare moment of them sitting down to do something together.  They did so much running around you would've thought they'd be all out of energy.  Here Malachi and Jacie are being creative and making fans it looks like.  Likely to beat the heat!

Lisa and Travis made it to KS twice while we were there.  With their
 two girls the younger gang of cousins was complete.  We took them to a park one afternoon and they played so well for so long, even little Mckenna.  One of the biggest joys in life is to have cousins your age.  Our kids are blessed to have so many cousins their ages on both sides of our family.

One of our last days together with the whole gang, we all went to a zoo in Hutchison, KS.  It was close, free, and a whole lot of fun.  This fossil excavating playground for kids was just one of the fun things there. 

This is the whole gang of cousins, all eight of them on the Myers side.  

And I had to include this one because of the memory.  On the day we went to the zoo, Malachi was so intent on being a big cousin to little Mckenna.  Every new exhibt he would eagerly follow her to, speaking in very simple sentences even though Mckenna is very much a big girl now (2).  I think she must've been exhausted with all the attention!

Well, the pictures only tell a fraction of our time with our family in Kansas.  It was so nice to be able to have nearly everyone in the same town.  We had some good visits with Grandma and Grandpa Wiselogel (the "greats" as Malachi calls them) and some good visits and time spent with Mom and Dad at their new place as well as a whole lot of time at Grant and Cari's where the kids played and played and where we all gathered for meals and "Spinner" games in the evenings.  When Travis and Lisa came we enjoyed the fullness of having everyone together.  I'm so grateful to have married into such a great family.  

Thank you Travis and Lisa for making and taking the time to come visit while we were in KS.  We really appreciate you making the effort.  

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Wiselogel for always being there.  We can always count on you being around.  Coming home to see family wouldn't be complete without the two of you.  We had such nice visits with you.  

Thanks Mom and Dad for asking questions and listening and for the way you love our kids.  Oh, and thanks for the times you watched the kids for us.  From waffles, to school shopping, popsicles and watching old movies, the kids had so many fun moments with you guys.  

And thank you Grant and Cari for hosting us and feeding us for nearly two weeks (and to Grif for giving up his room--thanks!).  "Mi casa es tu casa" is exactly how we felt.  It's so great to have even done chores with you because now when it's chore time at our house our kids really beleive us when we say that they are not the only kids in the world who are doing chores!  They have fresh memories and good examples of seeing their cousins hard at work.  We had such a good time staying with you.  Thanks for making so much time for us.  The kids send their own thank yous to their cousins who shared and played so hard with them.

We love you all.  Looking forward to next time.