taking the kids down memory lane - part 2

Here are the rest of the pictures from our trip to Independence. 

We started at my grandparent's house...

Inside those walls you'll find things just as they left them pretty much.
Some stuff has began to be packed up.
Walking around and looking at things brings back lots of memories.

This is a HUGE memory...

This little TV is sitting on the counter in the bathroom.  My favorite thing to do was to lay in the bathtub and watch TV. I felt SO big and cool when I did that.

I remember watching Alf and Family Matters a lot on it. 

If only it still worked - I would beg to take it home with me.

Then we headed to the park.

The one that my sister and I begged Grandpa to take us to, every time we were visiting.

Lots of fun memories here...LOTS!

I am amazed at how the park has stayed the same.  It's so different than parks I am used to now with my kids.

This park seems so old school and unique. 

I guess the more current parks/playgrounds are probably much safer, but I'm glad this one has stayed virtually the same as it's ever been.

For example, this slide about sent me to my grave.  Taylor did great.

Mason started sticking and flipping half way down and I was just sure he was going to fly over the edge.

Some of this is obviously for bigger kids - but how in the world can you tell them they CAN'T!

For me, this slide is the signature of this park.

We didn't so much beg my grandpa to take us to the park, but more we begged to go to the "twisty slide".

I wondered if this would be gone.  But it was the first thing I spotted as we pulled up.

After our little scare on the previous slide, we decided not to let them try these others slides - only the twisty one. Bummer.  The others are HIGH and SO steep.

Then there's this interesting one.
She wasn't so sure about it.

But Dad gave it a try.

There was only one thing missing.

If you look smack dab in the middle of this picture, there used to be a big wooden "hamster wheel"

I missed it.

Grandpa would get in with us and use his strength to make it go and we'd have fun trying to keep up or falling and flipping all over the place sometimes.

After playing in this main park area - we headed towards the zoo.

On the way, we made a stop to play on this...

My sister and I climbed all over this thing - inside, outside, on top, all around.

It's a pretty cool zoo for being free!

I remembered monkey island having WAY more monkeys than there are now, but there were still a few.

Always straggling behind...looking for you know what.

You can take this little walking trail down to the bears.

and then this path takes you to one of our other favorite spots in the park...

KIDDY LAND!!!

Much more toddler friendly.

You all know how much we love skunks at our house, don't you?

And that's the end.
Our day trip to my grandparents' hometown.
Sharing some of my best memories with my own kiddos.

You really should plan a day trip with your family, it's only about 2 -2 1/2 hours, if you're local of course.
With the park, zoo, pool and mini golf all right there - you'd have a blast, I promise!
Everything's free or virtually free other than the pool.

family date night

We headed out as a family on Friday night.

Dinner at Hu Hot - one of our favorites!

Kids 3 and under eat free - perfect!

And then onto the movie theatre.

The kids were free at the theatre too - even more perfect!

Taylor has been into pictures lately - I often hear "mom, go get your camera and take a picture!"

This was one of her requested shots...standing in line for pop and popcorn.

Somehow the kids got interested in the movie Marmaduke a few weeks ago.

They both have little Marmaduke dogs at home (which I think came from some happy meal they got with Nana somewhere) Mason sleeps with his lots of  nights.

So we decided we'd have to go see Marmaduke when it came out.

I didn't realize until I went to find a picture to post that Marmaduke was a comic/cartoon that's now being put to movie.  I had never heard of Marmaduke before - the name just makes me laugh.
Especially when Mason says it.

We were 4 out of 5 people in the theatre.

Dave slept.

We made ourselves right at home.

We laughed -it was a cute movie, and it kept their attention pretty well, but I wouldn't recommend spending your money on it. The reviews aren't really very good.

And if you do spend your money on it, you should at least TRY to stay awake.

grandpa's truck

This is the real reason we took our day trip to Independence...

My grandpa loved his cars.

And my husband shares that love greatly.
I honestly can't think of ANYONE better to have gotten my grandpa's truck,
other than Dave.
And we are thankful that everyone in the family agreed.

They were hoping it would start. But no luck. 

So my dad and Dave had to work extra hard to get it trailored up for the drive back to Newton.

We weren't home but 10 minutes and Dave had the hood opened already.

With the help of his dad, they finally got it running.

While they were working, I took some pictures to document the way it was when we got it.  Not that it will be changing much.

On Grandpa's visor he had several calendars clipped up.

The truck itself is a 1967 Chevy, green was it's original color.

My grandpa bought it new, so he has been the sole owner.

I have memories of riding in this truck.

Turning the radio station to the music of my choice, because Grandpa always gave in.

Grandpa would drive to Winfield to pick my sister and I up and sometimes he'd come in the truck.

So we'd get to make the 2 hour trip to Independence in this.

But that is just the start of where this truck has been.

It's first trip was from Kansas to Montreal for the Worlds Fair in 1967.

It also made a trip to Alaska, New York City and all over the rest of the country.

I learned a new car term - "3 on the tree"

Dave had to explain it to me.  But anyway, that's what this truck has.

Now that it's running, Dave got rid of the topper and has been driving it around.

It's been fun to see Dave work on this truck and get it all cleaned up.

He's really enjoying it.

It was Grandpa's pride and joy,

and I'm so glad that it's now his.

taking the kids down memory lane - part 1

Part of Memorial Day weekend we spent in Independence, KS, my grandparents' home town.

A place that I spent lots of time visiting - weekends, holidays, and WHOLE weeks away from home in the summer time! 

I think it was the first time I have been back there without having my grandparents there, other than Grandpa's funeral last November.

Grandma has moved to Missouri to be close to my parents.

But their house is still there, most of their stuff is still there, and amidst all the stuff, in that empty house...

I realized how many memories are there too.

A HUGE memory that I have of visiting my grandparents is the countless trips we had to the park and zoo.

So that's exactly where I wanted to take Taylor and Mason.

I have lots of sentimental pictures to share.

But I'll start with my most favorite part of this trip down memory lane.

At the back of the park, you'll find this cute little ticket booth.

I remember standing here with Grandpa, to get our ticket.

I remember being small enough that I'd stand on my tippy toes to peek in at the ticket lady.

I remember Grandpa reaching into his pockets and pulling out his rubber coin pouch that opened when you squeezed it.  He'd pull out all his nickels for my sister and I.

More than 20 years later - it's still a nickel.

We'd buy our ticket and stand in line, anxiously awaiting our turn.

I remember Grandpa standing beside our horses.

But he was a FUN grandpa, so of course he got his ride on the horses many times too!

I don't think we EVER took the bench seat like this little guy ended up deciding to do.

The ride was just as fun as I remember it.

Same exact carousel, same exact music.

And even more fun with my little girl beside me - grinning from ear to ear!

Honestly I was shocked the carousel was still there, let alone still costing 5 cents to ride.

But I am SOOO happy it was.

And the carousel isn't the only thing my sister and I begged Grandpa to let us ride.

We loved this train ride too.

And sure enough...still only 25 cents to ride.

2 whole times around the park.

Around the mini golf course,

and by the pool.

Grandpa always rode with us, even when it was hard for him to bend his knees and squeeze into the seat.

He always let us pick if we wanted the back or the front.

This time we chose the middle.

This day was so special to me and I can't wait to share more.

Although we made the trip to Independence for a SPECIAL reason that I'll share later,

I am SO glad we squeezed in a trip to one of my favorite childhood places.

Lovely memories of special times with Grandpa.