Expanding our horizons (with Grace)

Well, we did it! Last weekend we took Grace on her first plane ride and we're still here to talk about it. We had a 4-day (ish) weekend in Kansas City to introduce Grace to two of her great grandmothers, her aunties and her cousins. And of course to see Yaya and Papa again for the first time in months.

But first we had to pack, and we knew it was nearly as hot & sunny in KC as it was in Austin. So, we had to find Grace an appropriate hat from our stash of hand-me-downs. Montage!

Oh yes, this is the one!

Adequately packed, we embarked on Southwest Airlines. It's a Texas-based airline that specializes in low-cost fares and you choose your own seat. You may have heard of them. Anyway, families board after the "A" group and when business travelers are the bulk of the passengers (which they were both trips), then you have a real time finding 2 seats together since all the busy-busy's pick all the aisle and window seats ahead of you. No matter -- Grace was dynamite on the plane and there were no long looks, eye rolls or laptop-closures-in-a-huff directed toward her. Here she is somewhere over . . . oh, sorry, just a second -- I just puked up a little . . . Oklahoma:

Kudos to all the folks whom I polled beforehand for their stellar advice. Perhaps you're reading this now and can pat yourselves on the back. Or does anyone even read this blog? Is this post still going? Huh huh . . . BOOB! Sorry, sorry. Back on track.

Upon arrival we were briefed on our breakneck schedule. Grannys, coach-pitch baseball, BBQ with friends and of course many, many meals both in and out of the house. We visited Granny Stew first. Afterward we had a big meal. Granny really enjoyed seeing her great granddaughter:


Then back to hang with Grace's Aunt Claire and her cousins Josh & Caleb. We horsed around the house, played with Grace and took her for a walk. Afterward we had a big meal.


Saturday was just another day at the park for Caleb as it was slow-pitch baseball gameday! Aunt Margaret joined the gang . . .


. . . while Mom & Grace cheered Caleb on as he went 2-for-2 with a single and a double.

Afterward we had a big meal. At the latest craze in Blue Springs, MO: Legend of Asia! A potpourri of Asian cuisine awaited us and our too-cool-for-school family hammed it up beforehand and at the restaurant.


We bookended the weekend with another visit to a great granny. This time great Granny K in Kansas City, KS. That's 3 states for Gracie if you're keeping track. At both facilities, Gracie was a huge hit with the residents. Including, of course, the great grannies.


Afterward we had a big meal (at a legit Mexican restaurant that I'm sure has no yelp page but if it did it would just be a link to the Pepto Bismol site . . . mercy!). Finally, we headed over to see our friends Katie & Bryan. They had their second kid 3 days after Gracie was born. The separated-at-birth pair made their introductions . . .

. . . and then we had a feast from the grill and enjoyed a much cooler and beautiful evening in their rad screened-in porch.

Then it was back on the plane Monday, which was cramped but we returned without incident. Huzzah!