One of the reasons we wanted to leave New York was to be closer to our family in Kansas and Illinois, and this last week and a half we took advantage of the proximity and unemployment to enjoy some quality time with lots of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins we haven’t gotten to see enough in the last 16 years.  We made our plans around the one year anniversary of Troy’s father’s passing, and he and sisters Tina and Pam (along with those delightful twins Rylee and Jackson) were able to spread Gaylyn’s ashes out on the farm where he grew up in Western Kansas.  Other highlights of our visit included water balloon launching, roller skating, a visit to the zoo, Apples to Apples, the world’s largest Adirondack chair, and talking about the rain.  Best yet, we we were able to put three of my dad’s paintings into the trunk and add them to our Bill Hottman collection, something we haven’t done in a long, long time.  A couple days later we received our first official house guests when Troy’s mom and step-dad (otherwise known as Nana and Papa) came for a weekend visit.  It was awfully nice to have two people (and a dog) love our house and yard as much as we do.

See You Soon, Family!

My sister Lori surprised me with a visit from my beloved high school drama teacher Mrs. Webb and her equally wonderful husband Mike!  (So of course we made them climb onto this chair for a picture.)

Little Sadie Starr

Hayden & Huck, Fisherboys

Aunt Tina

Nothin’ but fun at Scott & Tina’s

These guys are TERRIBLE roller skaters!

Huck’s bounty from Grandpa’s garden

The beautiful Rolling Hills Zoo

Just a typical Penguin Trio

This is how my adorable mom fights the mosquitoes.

Rylee

Jackson

Aunt Pam

Fayetteville with Nana and Papa!

Crystal Bridges Art Museum

War Eagle Mill

An after dinner walk/run

Getting some practice dog walking with sweet Tony

Last night’s sunset