Monday, Full of Waiting

First real day of "vacation."  I should add that we came up here because my grandma is very sick, so vacation isn't exactly the right word.  But we are having bits of fun throughout the week.

My kids love Grandma's house.  There are new toys - that have been down here forever! - and plenty of space to run.  Most of the toys involve imagination and the kids are eating that up.  Good times....until...

My daughter stuck her head between two spindles of a banister.  She got stuck.  She pulled, and tugged, and screamed, and was shaking.  We had to call 911 for help to get her unstuck.  I'm so grateful they could come!  My daughter held close to me for the rest of the evening.  I can't imagine how scary it was for her.

All in all, things are going alright.  It is hard to see Grandma sick, but I'm glad to be up here.  I haven't seen any friends yet (partially because I was so exhausted yesterday) but I'm hoping to see some tonight.  I treasure kid-free time.  I also love the friends I have here, friendships that have survived distance and time.  Something so comfortable in that.

Got to Kansas City on a Sunday

I wrote a song today.  The lyrics are pretty tricky but, with practice, I bet you can sing with me.

*To the tune of the Star Wars opening song*
Kan-sas, Kansas, Kansas, Kan-sas,
Kansas, Kansas, Kan-sas,
Kansas, Kansas, Kansasssss.

The best way to sing this song is loudly with a sock puppet.  One should sing this ditty when entering the great state of Kansas.

I had the opportunity to sing the Oklahoma song, the brand-new Kansas hit, and Kansas City song today as my mom, brother, and kids made the long trek to Kansas City from Dallas.  I don't know if you've ever made the trip but I think it gets longer every time you drive it.  Add in a kid with sensory issues surrounding bathrooms (he has to frantically find a place to pee when it is that time) and it takes a while to get here.  The kids were going nuts by the time we got here.  My son was fairly content with Angry Birds Space but my daughter would spontaneously scream at the top of her lungs.  I've never seen my brother get out of a car so quickly in my life.

But now we are home.  My childhood home, which has looked almost exactly the same for 20 years.  We stay here when we visit, each of us having our own bed.  Routine, a place for our shoes, dirty clothes, toys.  It is comfortable and comforting.  My daughter has decided that she will no longer sleep in the playpen but would rather sleep in my grandparents' bed.  It is sweet and I like to think that my grandpa is looking after her as she sleeps in there.

Tomorrow I will write more - write about why we're here and all of our crazy adventures.  But for now I'm going to pull out this hide-a-bed, tuck myself in, and get ready to take on the exciting town that is Blue Springs.