Hopping Along the Bunny Trail...to Kansas

For Easter Travis went on a week long business trip with his UK counterparts to Dallas, Denver (he brought the group back here for a whirlwind tour), Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.
FFM and I went to Kansas.

My grandparents live in Ottawa, KS, less than an hour outside of Kansas City. My mom, F and I all piled into the new red car and drove all day on Thursday to spend a long Easter weekend with the Minnick clan.

Friday was nice and mellow, a walk on the Prairie path and lots of visiting and naps for those who needed them. We checked the local paper that day and discovered that in a nearby town there was going to be an Easter Train complete with appearance by the bunny himself, an egg hunt, and treats. When I called to get information I was informed that we needed to arrive no later than 7:45am to secure tickets for the 9:30 train. WOW! This sounded like a pretty good trip to all of us, so Saturday morning, bright and early, my mom stood in line for tickets for the train. There were already people camped out with folding chairs when we got there!

The wait wasn't bad, F and Great Ma (my grandma) went for a walk and checked out the waiting train. Then when 'All Aboard!' was called, we climbed on and wondered what we were in for.

These tracks used to run through all the college towns in that part of the state, so the students could get around. From KU to Emporia, picking up Ottawa University and Baldwin State along the way. Those schools are still all there, but the train tracks only go part of the way.

The train stopped at a small park where the 'hunt' was. Flocks of children chomped at the bit to run into the two fields where train volunteers had liberally tossed eggs. They were EVERYWHERE. Luckily kids were divided by ages, so we were part of the 'littlies.' Still, once the hunt started it was like a swarm of locusts attacking the field!
Here's a funny thing I learned about little kids. There would be a pile of 5-6 plastic eggs in a clump, I suspect someone dropped them handfuls at a time, but the little kids (not the parents illegally helping) would pick up one or two of the eggs and then leave the rest and move on to another pile.
Upon completing the hunt FFM ran right back to Great Ma and Great Pa and promptly shared all his eggs with them. Until Great Pa showed him there was candy inside, then he thought maybe he should have some back. Here he is giving me my egg :)

On the ride back it was our turn to see the Easter bunny. Just like at Christmas, kids were crying, terrified, parents were shoving them up there anyway. The two kids in front of us wouldn't go any further than the step in front of the bunny. F? He sauntered up and climbed right into the bunny's lap, gave him a big bear hug, and a massive smooch. I think it was the highlight of the trip for him (and that includes a train ride, candy, and an egg hunt!)

It was nice and warm in Kansas, spring is a bit earlier there than here in Colorado. We all got a bit drowsy on the way back, and Great Pa had a little nap/snuggle with his sweetie.

Easter morning church was late, so we had time to dye Easter eggs. Thank goodness for the whisk trick I learned about, it made dipping eggs a breeze for an excited 2.5 year old.

My mom has two siblings, Susie and John. Susie has three kids, Sarah, James, and Dan. John has a son Matt. We ALL went to church (three pews!) and lunch afterwards. It was a lot of fun to see aunts, uncles, and cousins again and to get to meet some of their significant others.

F's the only grandchild on this side, so he's by far the youngest in our group, but no fear, he was spoiled rotten with attention. With Great Pa and Dan.

With Sarah and Matt.

Now, Easter morning I'd hidden a few eggs around the house for F to 'hunt' along with his Easter basket, but after lunch the cousins hid some more eggs for him. F still handed out all the eggs he found, even though by this time he's well aware they are filled with treats!

Susie, Dan, James, and Matt helping out with egg hunt #3

It was a great trip, and while not very long we are still so pooped that it's been early bedtimes for all of us this week. Travis left again as soon as we got back, so we've seen him for just a couple of hours the whole last two weeks. He'll be home tonight, whoo hoo!