Good-bye Kansas

Each previous trip to Kansas, P has missed NY. Not so this time. He loved every minute of it. And, in fact, now has grand plans to live on a farm. He told E and I about it just this past weekend. He said we should live "surrounded by nature." That we'll raise chickens and grow tomatoes and pumpkins and onions. That he'll have a dog and go hiking everyday. Now, this doesn't actually reflect what our time in Kansas is like (no vast vegetable patch and the scuttle of chicks. Though there are plenty of dogs ;) And the wide Kansas plains have nary a hill to hike. But he's blended together a romantic version of his Grandparent's lovely setting, his days hiking in Colorado and a storybook farm ideal into an adorable dream that I feel partially compelled to turn into reality :)

So there was some disappointment concerning our departure this round. Nothing big and cranky, just some subtle foot dragging. Well, that and he tried to drag out his last evening for as long as possible :) We had a final family dinner with my fam, after which he pulled Uncle Cash around the farm doing who knows what.



Then he tried to con Maria into touching things he (nor she) was interested in touching, down some gross grate.



And finally, when the bigs told the little man they were all tired and ready to retire, he decided he just couldn't let Maria go, and took chase :)



They share a lot of loves and he is endlessly pleased with her shoe and jewelry choices, not to mention the loving attention she showers on him, so he felt she should stay with him. Forever. This was the second or third time he had attempted to retain her, tossing a tough luck to Uncle Cash. (Actually, it was a bit of a theme for him this trip. I don't know what sort of Viking like past life he's had, but he similarly tried to detain Greg's Kellie twice and then Aunt Nik one evening:)



At any rate, a game was initiated that eased the transition, and the king was eventually carried atop his throne towards bed.... (though he could not actually be called king, of course, since he is always "only Phoenix....")



And that, finally, finishes up our Kansas trip! Ahhhhhhh......