Today is the day Matt and family (Megan - Josh, Sarah & Sam) are flying into Kansas City International Airport. Brett and Tucker (Dacy chose to stay at the house) and Dean and I both drove our trucks to pick them up. To include 5 additional people with 3 car seats and all of their luggage, we needed both vehicles to haul everyone and everything. Tucker drove his dad's truck all the way to the airport. He's a little over 15.5 and he did a good job making his way through the KC traffic.
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| Bridge over Missouri River on our way to KCI Airport |
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| Skyline of Downtown KC |
We were about 20 miles away from the airport when Matt texted they just landed. Their plane arrived at 11:18 and I think it was supposed to land around 11:40. We pulled up to the baggage claim area for United a little before 11:40. Brett and Dean stayed with the trucks but before we could get far we saw Matt walking toward us with two large suitcases. I needed to use the restroom so I walked down to the first door, to find Megan and the kids waiting just inside. Sarah yelled "Nana" and came running towards me. I picked her up and gave her a big hug. It was good to see her and the rest of the family again.
We were able to get loaded up pretty quick, since the car seats were already in place. Matt and Josh rode with Brett and Tucker. Brett and Tucker visited Matt & Megan a couple of years ago in New York. At that time Tucker became Josh's best friend. He's been excited to see Tucker ever since, so he was thrilled to spend one on one time with Tucker on the trip back to Lamar.
Megan set in the middle between Sarah and Sam in the backseat of our truck. We all stopped for lunch at "The Corner Cafe" in Riverside, MO. What a find! The food was wonderful! It wasn't long and we were back on the road. It seemed no time until we arrived at Brett's. I'm sure the kids were thrilled to be out of the car seats, vehicles and planes so they could run around. We had a great afternoon and evening spending time with them.
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| Josh & Sarah playing with Peppa the Pig |
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| How many adults does it take to put up a pack and play? |
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| A boy and his dog - Tucker & Winson! |
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| Sam |
Sunday, November 11, 2018 - Enjoying Family Time
I was up early this morning to bake a cake. My sisters, my daughter Misti and my sister Cindy's girls and their families (Nikki and Melissa) came over around 1pm to see Matt & Megan since they will not be in Oswego this year. They are also bringing some desserts. It was an interesting time baking.... I had unglazed 4"x4" tiles in the oven since shortly after we purchased Bentley. Over time, they broke so I removed them earlier this year. I purchased a pizza stone to use instead, but I forgot to put it in the oven this morning and my cake was not even close to being done when I checked it 45 minutes later. Oh no, can I save it? I added the pizza stone and cooked it at least another 30 minutes. I was not sure if it would even be edible for fear parts of it would be way overdone. However, the thing about this oatmeal cake, once you add the frosting it needs to go back in the oven for another 5 minutes. The frosting is basically butter, brown sugar and a little milk (with pecan pieces and coconut added). During that 5 minutes the liquid portion just soaks into the cake. Fortunately, it turned out just fine!
Dean headed into Brett's about 7 or so and I followed a little later. Brett made homemade cinnamon rolls earlier this week and froze them. He baked them this morning for breakfast. They were delicious! Poor Sam had a tough night and ended up getting sick in his bed. Poor little guy! He seemed perfectly fine today though and was laughing and playing like getting sick earlier never happened.
Brett made homemade chicken and noodles and mashed potatoes for lunch. He's a good cook and enjoys doing it, and we enjoyed the fruits of his labor in the kitchen!
All of the company arrived a little after 1pm. I think everyone had a good time visiting with each other and the desserts that were brought to share. Once everyone left we just hung out, enjoying one another's company the rest of the evening.
Monday, November 12, 2018 - SNOW!!
I woke up at 4:00am to snow on the ground, continuing snowfall with temperatures just above freezing, and COLD air coming from the heat registers!!! Oh no, we ran out of propane! Fortunately, we have two tanks. Dean does not leave them both on, so we know for sure when the first tank runs out, and we don't end up getting caught with out any propane at 4:00 in the morning! He got up and went out to turn the second one on - what a way to start the day, but better this, than no propane for many hours! Fortunately the temperatures were above freezing.
I have a doctor appointment this morning in Joplin at 8:40. Dean was concerned about me driving and offered to take me. I had a list of errands I wanted to run, and I knew he wouldn't want to go with me for all of those, so I told him I'd be fine on my own. However, as the morning progressed and the snow did not let up, I decided to forget the errands and let Dean drive me. It's about an hour drive and we left early enough to allow for any extra time we might need due to the weather.
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| Cemetery we passed on the way to Joplin - notice the flag - wind is straight out of the north & COLD!! |
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| Foggy, but very beautiful! |
We made it to the area by my doctor's office with plenty of time to spare, so we stopped at the McDonald's just down the road to use their facilities. Dean ordered a breakfast sandwich meal. The parking lots both at McDonald's and the doctor's office was fairly slick, so I was glad Dean chose to drive me. By the time his meal was ready and we drove to the doctor's office I had 10 minutes to spare. As usual, I got right in and was out within 30 minutes or less. My next stop was downstairs for my annual mammogram. My appointment there wasn't until 10:10 but since it was snowing so hard they had received many cancellations. Fortunately, I was taken back almost immediately. We were back at Brett's between 10:15 and 10:30.
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| Taken as we were leaving my doctor's office - that's Freeman hospital in the background. |
Josh and Sarah are pretty excited because today their Uncle Jarred and cousin Emerson is coming to visit for the next few days. Jarred took a week of vacation so he could spend time with brother Matt and family. He and Emerson arrived around noon. With all of the excitement of getting to see each other, now they all seemed a little tentative about playing together....until all the eyes were off of them by the "big people". Soon they were all good friends and were doing just fine. Sarah was just 6 mos. old the last time Matt & family were back in Kansas, Emerson was only 1.5, and Josh 2.5 so they had to get to know one another all over again. Fortunately, with Skype, Duo and phone calls, it helps keep them aware of each other, but you just can't beat one on one visits!
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| Sarah and Josh anxiously awaiting Emerson's arrival! |
It was another busy, but fun day. Brett had to work this morning and arrived home about the time I had warmed up the chicken and noodles and mashed potatoes for our lunch today. Dean helped me do the dishes from lunch.
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| Emerson with the red Chiefs hat, Megan, Sarah on her lap and Josh. |
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| Megan tickling these three kiddos ---- they loved every minute of it! |
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| Not sure what was so funny here - but Matt was telling the story - sorry, all you see of him is his feet! |
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| The wonders of a snowfall! |
We visited all afternoon. The kids played. Dean and Brett went into town to run a few errands. Brett is the EMS Director for Barton County, MO. As he was getting ready to
grill hamburgers and brauts for dinner tonight, he received a call in reference to a car accident, and had to leave. Dean took over the grilling job. While it took a while to get the fire going well, he did an excellent job, as usual. Brett texted later to say he wasn't sure when he'd be back and at 8:30 or so Dean and I headed to Bentley for the night. We were both worn out.
As far as the snow, it continued off and on a good part of the day. I'm not sure how much snow we actually received, but I would guess at least 3 inches. It was pretty to look at, but oh, so cold and wet when we had to go out! Fortunately, temperatures will be warming up later in the week.
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