Kansas - Land of Ice and Snow

Let's just say it was an adventure...

Everything started out fine. We had stickers on the airplane and Maddy soon fell asleep. As we were landing, people started mentioning how good she was during the flight. That is the moment she decided to wake up and start crying (I really couldn't have asked for anything more). My mother and Joe decided that it might be good to stay in a hotel the night before since it was supposed to start with the snow and sleet the day we were coming in. Overall the trip back wasn't too bad, but my mother and I got stuck in the back seat with her. I know my mother was dreading every moment with the granddaughter she hadn't seen in almost a year (kidding...she loved every moment).

After getting mom's house, we had to get Maddy out into the snow, so I bundled her up in everything she had (pretty much) and we went out looking for Zeus (the big St. Bernard, etc., etc. mix of a dog that Maddy fell in love with). I know Maddy was cold, but I don't think she understood at this point how to relay that to me.

Daddy: "Maddy, are you cold?"
Maddy: "No. Where's Zeus?"

We finally spotted the white and brown pelt of the elusive dog and I was able to get her back in the house.

The next day is when it started. Instinctively and in a foreshadowing moment that only appears in the greatest of mystery and adventure novels, my mother mentioned that the power had "only ever gone out for about three hours before." Needless to say, I believe it was about two weeks before my mother got power back. You see, she lives about an hour NW of Topeka, so when the ice storm hit, her house wasn't the highest on the list. Relocating to my grandmother's was like driving through a war zone. Power poles were ripped to shreds and power lines were drooping over the road...sometimes lines were ripped apart on the edge. We were lucky enough to have somewhere to relocate to. I can't imagine what some people had to do to stay warm. I don't think it was a matter of eating the weak and the young (pardon the image), Maddy was but it did get mighty cold. seemingly oblivious in her big pink coat, hat, and mittens. It was almost like the little kid on A Christmas Story...her arms were always a little further out at her sides and she couldn't see very well around the fur of her hood.

She took the time to get to know her cousins a little better, play with the cars that daddy got her (she likes cars) and jump on the air mattress. We ended up at the mall a couple times as well where they have a kid's playland. She had fun getting chased by daddy and her cousins and playing on the slide and the slightly soft animals and cars and rocket ship.

The highlight of the trip came when Maddy got to visit...Chucky Cheese. Although she didn't seem too interested in the games or rides, she did enjoy Skee Ball (although she couldn't get the ball up the ramp more than a couple feet) and she ate about four pieces of pizza (literally).

Overall, the ice storm brought us all closer together (we'll just say it was our choice) and Maddy got to know her cousins (two legged and four legged) and aunt (the Anti-Megan) and her grandparents. Her daddy had a great time with her and she was so good while she was there (although I feel really blessed with how good she is on a day to day basis anyway).

Maybe next time we can all meet in...Mexico? Texas? Anywhere warmer?

Next up...Christmas.