Autumn in KC

This is Week 5 of our extended vacation.  Dan is enjoying his work and the people he's spending each workday.  I can tell the stress is melting away from him-- something he has needed for a long time.

I, however, am not doing as well as I would have thought!  It's beautiful here, the girls are happy and having fun, they love their school.  So what is wrong with me?? I was looking forward to this trip all year and now I just can't wait to go home.  I think a lot of it has to do with a combination of not being in our own house, and also being in a city where I know no one.  Well, the people I know are all Dan's coworkers and therefore not available for playdates during the day.  I also know the mom who rescued me at the school (heretofore known as The Mom Who Rescued Me At The School) and her friend, Ann the Nanny.  Both very nice.  Both Obamamamas.  And me with my very sad, weatherbeaten  McCain sticker barely clinging to my bumper, an island-- nay, a dinghy-- in a ocean of Obama supporters.  

By the way, Obama came through here Saturday afternoon.  When I say "through here," I really mean HERE.  Like he was one block from our apartment.  It was very exciting.  We got caught in  the motorcade as we tried to get home from running errands, so we took a shortcut home -- forgetting that the campaign headquarters is up the street.  So we got to see the tour buses and security detail and all the excitement.  But no Obama.

That night one of Dan's coworkers took me to a KC Wizards game.  Who are they???  WHO ARE THEY???  Why, only the MLS team here!  Hello!  Major League Soccer, people!!!  It was awesome! Even better that the home team won their last home game of the season.  Very, very exciting.  And I got to talk futbol with another girl.  So that was also awesome!

Sunday we took the girls to a real pumpkin patch where actual real pumpkins actually grow.  Really!  It was so cool. Lots to see and do, very wholesome good clean family fun.  

Homesick

I don't know if it's the fact that it has been raining for 24 hours straight and we expect more tomorrow.  Or the fact that there was a shooting just 1 block from our apartment.  Or the fact that I have to consult Google maps before I get  in the car to go anywhere.  Or the fact that I feel guilty sending the girls to school twice a week even though I totally need the me time.  Whatever the reason, I am homesick.

I miss my parents and friends.  I miss good Mexican food.  I miss Big Lots  (yes, there is a Big Lots here but it SUCKS).  I miss the Riverwalk.  I miss my house with all it's comforts.  I miss our dogs.  I miss knowing where I am when I get out of the car.  I miss Sophia's school routine.  I miss my sewing room.  I miss the generous friendliness that San Antonio shares.  People here have a strange way-- the customer service is exceptional everywhere but it's rather cold.  Once you offer some friendliness then they share it abundantly.  But you have to go there first.  It's just different.  I feel like a fish out of water.  

And everyone here has an Obama bumper  sticker or yard sign or house BANNER or t-shirt.  I feel sad and pathetic with my weather-beaten McCain sticker.  You can hardly tell who I support anymore other than me NOT having an Obama sticker on my car.  I'll just have to start shouting MAVERICK! and maybe people will know.  ha ha.

The rain is really coming down now.  Sigh.  Hugs!  Send hugs!!!!!  Or Taco Cabana's fajitas and guac.  Thanks.  :)

Second Week Plus

Well! We've been here for 3 weeks now and the girls have adjusted very, very well.  They are sleeping better at night --having a new bed and new sleeping arrangements, I thought, would be problematic for them.  They LOVE sleeping in the same bed! This is also Abby's first time out of her crib.  They love all the adventures we've been on.  And they are just great.  JUST great!

Dan and I wish we could say the same about how we are sleeping.  We miss our TemperPedic mattress.  And the bed frame is loose and squeaky.  And the loud 2 am drunks that meander around in front of our building on weekends.  Waah.  I think we are getting used to it though.

So the Kansas city zoo is pretty nice!  We went on Sept. 26th. They have a train, a tram, and a carousel inside the zoo so of course the girls and I had to ride all three.  The next day (Saturday) there was a parade -- The American Royal Parade-- which included the usual participants: marching bands, horses, muscle cars.  This parade also had a toilet.  Hmmm. I am sure there is a joke in there somewhere.  

The girls and I visited the only World War I museum in the country.  We were told by friends here that Washington DC is also building one, and KC is up in arms about it.  We just visited the outside of it that day since there was an admission fee and I know Dan would have wanted to see it too.  So we'll wait to go inside until we can all go together.

Last Saturday while Dan and Abby went to get the car fixed, Sophia and I went to Kaleidoscope, a free creative arts workshop for kids.  It is run as a public service by Hallmark Cards. That place was AMAZING!  I could have stayed there all day. They have work stations all scattered around with markers, watercolors, scissors, tape, and random stuff that the card company recycles back to Kaleidoscope for kids to create with-- puzzle pieces, foil paper, die cut letters, number and shapes.  You can even make your own PUZZLE!  Way cool.  We all went to City Market, a farmers' market and specialty foods market.  Lots of fresh fall produce and spices and flowers and milk and ethnic stuff.  The next day we met up with some of Dan's colleagues from UMKC at the KC Renaissance Festival. I had never been to one and it was very cool!  Beautiful costumes, colorful people, fun activities, man-powered carnival rides powered by strapping young, scantily clothed men.  But I digress.  The girls got their faces painted, Sophia won her very first carnival game all by herself, and Abby took a nap in my arms.  Probably the last time that will happen so I cherished every moment.  My arms still ache but it was worth it.  :)  After the festival we all went to a restaurant called The T-Rex Cafe, very similar to Rainforest Cafe but with a jurassic twist.  The life-sized animatronic, growling T Rex that met us at the front door was jarring and scared the girls, but they got a big kick out of dining under a gigantic jellyfish.

The biggest news-- no, I am NOT pregnant-- is that the girls started school last week!  It was Abby's first time away from family -- ever.  She cried on and off all morning but actually took a nap and let her teacher rock her and read to her on her lap. Her teacher said that when Abby saw Sophia on the playground she cried for her, Sophia went over to say hi, and Abby cried because she couldn't play with her sister.  Aww!   And the smile on her face when I came in to pick her up at the end of her day just melted my heart!  Abby chattered the rest of the afternoon about her school.  I think she really liked it.  Sophia made some new friends too and loves her teachers.  I even made a friend-- a very nice mom who saw my bawling outside Abby's room offered to call me later and tell me how Abby was doing.  She even invited us to a playdate today but being that it is raining we wont go. Anyway.  I spent the time getting the car looked at and running errands.

I have done some sewing since we've been here.  I have even made a sale!  I'm still working on the 2 flower-girls dresses, one sun dress and some items I am making for people having babies soon. You know who you are...  :) When the girls are in school I think I will use the time to catch up on all my sewing.  So much to do, so little time.

Thursday we went to the Deana Rose farmstead for children.  Here's the link:

www.kansastravel.org./overlandpark/deanarosefarmstead.htm

We had a playdate with the mom who rescued me and her friend, a full-time nanny.  We all had a blast and it was great talking to grownups. I made friends!  Hooray!

Yesterday I actually got some time to myself.  And where did I go?? Why, the FABRIC store, of course!!!!  My place of solitude and contemplation, my zen zone.  Also affectionately known as "my dealer."  

Today we are all going to a state park for a little sunshine and a hike.  We are expecting cold rainy weather this week so we need our vitamin D before we get stuck inside for two days. 

Ta ta!