We spent the first part of our Spring Break on a small family trip. We headed to my parents for a night and then the next morning headed on to Missouri to visit Eric's Grandma at her new home. We hadn't seen her since last fall and we all really miss her living close to us and being able to visit her frequently. She has a small apartment in an assisted living facility now. She has her piano there and the kids brought their piano books so that they could play songs for her.
After they each played a few songs, Grandma Great played for us. It is amazing to me what music can do for people of all ages. She sat down to play, got her favorite old sheet music out, and her hands and fingers moved effortlessly across the keys. Music transforms people, triggers moments and memories, it can set the mood, and it can carry someone to another time and place. When she sets down to play she smiles, we all sing, some dance, and we all have joy.
We also took her out for a drive. Eric remembers going on long Sunday drives when he was young with his Grandpa George and Grandma Dorothy. He talks about how slow his Grandpa would drive and how they would drive for hours down gravel country roads. Sometimes his Grandpa would let him "help" drive too. This memory is special to him and the times he got to share growing up with his Grandpa George and Grandma Dorothy are precious to him. They helped mold him and and were both great caretakers and role models in his life. I greatly admire his love and respect for his Grandma and the special relationship that they have always shared. When he walks into the room where she is, she lights up, smiles, greets him with a warm, "Well Eric!", and is always so happy and glad he is there with her.
Our children, especially Sarah, also have a special relationship with Grandma Great. They have spent a lot of time with her and each have developed lasting memories with her. She adores each of them.
We all enjoyed our time spent with Grandma Great that Saturday and Sunday. We hope to visit again soon.
From there we went to Kansas City. We had booked a night's stay at the Adam's Mark and Coco Keys Indoor Water Park. The kids were very excited to get there, check in, change into their suits, and get to swimming. There were a lot of people there too, but they still had lots of fun sliding, splashing, and swimming.
We ate at a Buffalo Wild Wings that evening after swimming. We watched some NCAA tournament games while we ate.
Back in our hotel room we watched some more basketball before heading back down to the hotel pool for another swim before bed time.
Towards the end of Spring Break week the kids and I headed to Popee and Nanee's house for a few days. The girls and I got our hair trimmed. I had a eye appointment. We helped Dad get his garden cleaned up and ready to be tilled. The girls did some cooking with Popee. We spent time with our friend, Shirley. The kids played outside a lot, and we squeezed in a trip to the Sweet Granada for some sweet treats.
We also spent one evening fishing at our friends, Karen, Mitch, and Taylor's farm pond. Dad, Phoebe, Mitch, and I were the only ones who fished the whole time. We caught a lot of Bass and Crappie. Sarah and Silas enjoyed playing games with Taylor.
We threw a lot back and kept 17 fish that Dad cleaned that night after we got home.
It was a great Spring Break week spent with lots of different family members and having fun.
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