Grandpa Bob Visits Kansas (March 2010)

On Friday, March 12, 2010, I boarded one of those smaller American Airlines planes (one row to the left of the aisle, two to the right) and flew to Kansas City to visit my daughter Lindsey, her husband Brian, and their two young boys -- Cormac and Declan. Cormac was born in April of 2007; Declan, in November of 2009. I had last seen them just before this past Christmas -- and the changes in both over the ensuing three months were palpable. After being picked up at the airport, I ate some dinner Lindsey’d saved for me at home Friday night. On Saturday I accompanied Brian and Cormac to gymnastics class. Back at the house, I fixed the bathroom lavatory -- there had been a longtime problem with the way the faucets were mounted to the sink and the way the sink was attached to the wall; I also had time to play with Cormac -- we built a little house with the “Duluth Logs” I’d bought him for Christmas a couple of years ago. Saturday night I took them all out for a wonderful meal at a great Italian restaurant -- I brought my camera but forgot to take a picture (VERY unlike me!). I went to church with Lindsey Sunday morning and afterwards watched her direct at choir practice. We all had a nice Sunday brunch at FirstWatch -- this has become a tradition. Lindsey and I went shopping at Costco in the afternoon. Brian had to attend a dinner meeting Sunday night with some other doctors; when he returned, I babysat the boys so that he and Lindsey could go out for dessert. I fed and held Declan while Cormac and I watched a movie (“Toy Story" -- he liked it). On Monday, with Brian back at work, Lindsey, the boys and I went to T-Rex -- something new for Grandpa. Cormac picked out a dinosaur “skin”; then it was stuffed by a girl operating a machine; he got to name his dinosaur “Sera”, and I typed in the proper info at a console so the dino’s birth certificate could be printed. Back at the house, after Cormac’s nap, I went with him as he pedaled his tricycle; it’s a cool little machine with a handle for the accompanying adult to help with propulsion and steering when needed. On Tuesday, March 16, we went to the zoo; Declan was with us, but you would not be able to tell from the pictures -- it was quite cold, and Lindsey had to keep him covered up in the stroller. Lindsey drove me to the airport late that afternoon; my plane was over an hour late taking off -- but at least it was a full-sized aircraft this time! When I arrived home around 9:00 PM, Kerstin was already in bed -- and thankfully the pugs did not make TOO much noise when they heard me come in. I enjoyed my little trip very much, and I hope you enjoy the photos. I also shot a few movies of my grandsons; to view them go to http://fotobyfriend.smugmug.com/Family/MOVIES-Grandpa-Bob-Visits-3-10/11762908_aXnAN .

--Bob (aka “Grandpa”) Friend / March 2010