After what seems to have been an ENDLESS winter here in Kansas, we can finally say we have crossed over into warmer, sunnier spring weather. Sam loves being outside and we take daily park trips to get out this boundless energy. He is beginning to tackle the play structures in the toddler side of park and is proving to be quite resilient to bumps and bruises.
Recently we took a little "getaway" to Kansas City where we ate at our favorite Italian restaurant, Jasper's, ate at Chick-fil-a and ate at Waffle House - notice a pattern? Yes, we have to drive 2 hours to get to a Chick-fil-a and Waffle House (in Atlanta I used to pass about 15 on my way to work every morning). In between all the eating we took Sam to a little street fair for children, visited the City Market and spent some fun time at the hotel pool. Sam is now comfortable dunking his head underwater and would be happy being in the water all day. Mom also got to do some of her favorite things - like take a long bubble bath, visit Pottery Barn and make a huge "stock-up" trip to Trader Joe's.
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| Dad and Sam riding on the little train at the street fair to support Children's Hospital in the Power and Light District. |
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| Sam loves hotels almost as much as Mom (but not hotels with colors or numbers in the name like 6, 8 or red). We stayed at the beautiful Sheraton KC that we found on Hotwire. Sam was clearly loving the ice bucket and the phone. |
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In front of our favorite City Market Italian import grocery.
Sam looks a little funny because the pollen was bothering his eyes. |
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| City Market is one of the oldest continual running farmer's markets in the country - over 120 years! We discovered it last summer and love the local produce and agricultural bounty of MO/KS. The perimeter is amazing ethnic groceries, bakeries and cafes. |
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Kansas City BBQ and the Market entrance.
Below are a few pictures of Sam taking in the lovely spring weather. |
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| At the Manhattan Park splash pad. We stumbled on the opening of the splash pad so it was a spontaneous decision to let him play in it, hence the lack of water shoes and rash guard. Eeek! I am just glad no foot diseases came home with us. |
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| Justin is trying to pass on his love of Jeeps to Sam. He is too young for a ride, but had the treat of sitting in the seat! |
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| Drawing with sidewalk chalk outside our favorite breakfast place, The Chef, in Manhattan. |
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| Next to Fort Riley's "Old Bill" statue, the resting place of the last Cavalry horse. The lush parade field next to the statue is one of our favorite places to play in the grass - our yard is torn up for utility work so we've had to look for new places with grass. |
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| The big news - Junction City (closest city to Fort Riley) has a Starbucks!!! Sam now says "yum, yum" every time I drive into the parking lot. Since he doesn't eat/drink anything at Starbucks I am a little unsure why he thinks it is yummy. I guess he figures it must be something good if we go almost everyday! |
