Aaaahhh... Kansas

It's almost as if I've never left! Or maybe that's just because it's October and this was my 4th trip back?! Regardless... this trip was a little different! I headed home for a wedding in Wichita, but it was cheaper to fly into KC and rent a car than it was to fly directly into Wichita, so... instead of being picked up and transported to and from... I picked up a rental and conquered I-70 all by myself! It was actually kinda nice... being on the road, time to think about stuff, in control of my own schedule... but I still prefer my sis picking me up from the airport!!! :-)

I have to admit, there's something beautiful about seeing forever... I do miss the KS horizon!

I took the long route to Wichita and made a few stops along the way. First stop... SONIC!!! I was still on Oregon time so I made it all the way to Abilene before really needing my Sonic burger and cherry limeade!! Next stop... Salina, so I could love on my nephews!! Matt was still at work, but I had a nice time playing with the boys and chatting with Steph!!

Aaah, the sandbox!

Sethie... lookin' cute as ever!

Ethan... helping, I'm sure!

Showing off the muscles!

You have no idea how big of an accomplishment this was...
he worked for quite awhile to get on top of that thing!!

Not sure what they're looking at, but apparently I missed out on something.

He's my dream come true... always posing for the camera!!

Oh, how I love this boy's laugh!!

After Salina, I made a quick stop at the cemetery in McPherson. 9 mos. ago, the week before my Uncle Kevin passed, I was talking to my Aunt Kandy, who happened to be driving out to Wichita to spend time with Kevin and the fam. I told her I had a wedding in Wichita in October and I wanted to visit Kevin & Mindy and see the kids... at that point, I hadn't met Noah, their youngest, and I wanted to see their new house!! Kandy told Kevin and plans were set. This wasn't exactly the visit I had in mind...

But I was glad to have the opportunity to stop, and it was nice to have some time there by myself. The kids had the stones decorated in K-State purple! It was beautiful... just like the sunset on the way to Wichita...

When I got to Wichita, Aunt Mindy and the kids met me at the airport so I could drop my rental car off. Then we headed back to the house to practice our drawing skills and eat some ICE CREAM!!! Perfect end to the day!! And what a day it was... they all had school in the morning, and I was exhausted from a long day of travel... bedtime never sounded so good!!

Paiton & Parker