Hometown Visit

I love going back to my hometown of Wichita, Kansas.  I've spent the last week there with my boys.  My parents, sister and nieces all live there, so it's always nice to see them.  And we always have to hit up the favorite local restaurants while I'm there...I want to tell you about some awesome Wichita eateries!!

First off -- and perhaps the favorite -- NuWAY Burgers.  I wish I'd have thought to take a photo of our burgers...but I must confess that I was too anxious to eat mine.  Their slogan is "Crumbly IS Good!" -- their burgers are not regular patties, but the meat is all crumbled up on a bun with mustard, pickles and onions.  (I always omit the onions.)  It's heavenly.  And the french fries are curly -- like spiral curly -- and delicious.  They are also famous for their homemade root beer, and if you dine in, they'll serve it to you in a frosty mug.  I remember going there for my birthday lunch when I was growing up, with my dad.  He also loves NuWAY.  But what is really special about NuWAY is that my grandparents went there often while they were dating back in 1939-1940 (I am not sure about the exact years; I just know they were married in October 1941).  My grandfather loved to go to NuWAY with us when we came to town, and we always went to the original location on Douglas Street, and he would reminisce about how it used to look and what he and Grandma would order.  She passed away in 1998 and he never got over her until his death in 2009.  But that love story is for another post. 

Another place we always have to visit while in town is Spangles.  They have the best hamburgers -- well, they rival right up there with Wendy's, in my opinion.  This eastern Kansas restaurant chain is styled like a 1950's diner, with statues of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and other 1950's figures placed in the different locations.  But what I really visit Spangle's for is their amazing mudslides!  What in the world is a mudslide, you ask?  Well let me enlighten you.  It is a cup of soft-serve vanilla ice cream, with chocolate syrup -- the kind that hardens as it cools -- spiraling down into the bottom of the cup.  You can choose toppings ranging from extra chocolate syrup, or strawberries, or Oreos, Butterfingers, or (my personal favorite) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  It's sinful.  It's heavenly.  I never diet when in Wichita. 

The last place I'll tell you about is the Taco Shop.  We have been eating there since I was a very little girl.  I remember the Taco Shop way before I have memories of NuWAY or Spangles.  They are far from authentic as far as Mexican food goes, but we love it anyway.  The best thing about Taco Shop, that really makes it stand out as a real MidWestern Mexican food place (to me, anyway) -- is their "tacoburger."  Basically, it is all the toppings of a taco, plopped between a hamburger bun instead of a taco shell.  Amazing!  And delicious.  My favorite combo is the #2 plate -- a taco, a tacoburger, and a tostada.  Dump some mild sauce on top and I'm set.  Yum yum.  Although during my last visit, I discovered the "Sancho supreme."  Since I live about an hour away from the Mexico border, I do know a little about Mexican food.  I have yet to see a "Sancho" down in the Southwest.  (I could be missing it, so if I am, please let me know.)  But it's delicious anyway.  A flour tortilla filled with...basically, taco toppings.  Covered in enchilada sauce, sour cream and black olives. 

Mmmmm...okay I think I know where I want to go tomorrow for lunch, during our last full day here in Wichita.  We'll hit up Taco Shop, where I will partake of a sancho supreme and tacoburger.  Then we'll stop by Spangles, where I can order a Reese's Mudslide for my dessert.  Then home, where I will ingest several Tums.  And next week, back in the Old Pueblo, I shall start my diet.  Again. 

There's no place like home!!

Randomness

Hello, peeps!!

I've been wanting to say that.  I know it's dorky. 

But then I'm a dork.  So there.

Not much to report on the Family Front, except that we had Sam's 2nd birthday party last Saturday (my baby is TWO??  How did that happen?  I'll post pics later.); there has been much play-doughing going on in our house due to the intense heat and humidity outdoors (I keep stepping on bits of play-dough and getting it between my toes...not something I'd ever thought I'd get between my toes!); we are gearing up for our week-long visit to MY home front -- Wichita, KS -- just the kids and I.  Pray for us.  Profusely.  I leave very early Friday morning for Phoenix with the kids -- practically Thursday night.  We have a 6 a.m. flight from Phoenix to Wichita.  I am praying the boys sleep in the car on the ride up, and that if they don't sleep on the airplane, they'll at least behave.  However I have no real hope that the boys will sleep in either the car or the plane.  They never do.  Even when Sam was just a baby -- well he was about 10 months old -- we had an early flight like this out of Phoenix, and both kids were so excited about being got out of bed at 2:00 a.m. that they stayed awake the entire car ride and airplane trip.  It was exhausting -- and I had the hubby with me then!!  (Myself, I am never excited when I am got out of bed at 2:00 a.m.  Maybe that is the trouble with the kids?  They misunderstand...they think we LIKE it...they misinterpret the grogginess for excitement.  Hmmm...)

My dad is picking us up from the airport, which is perfect.  Ben LOVES his "Papa."  So that is something for him to look forward to while on the airplane.  And we are staying at my sister's home (Aunt Cassie) -- and Ben also adores her -- so that is another thing for him to look forward to.  He knows we are leaving for Wichita soon, but I have not reminded him of it much because he gets very impatient and wants to leave RIGHT NOW whenever it's brought up.  He cannot wait to see his Papa and shred paper with him.

Have I ever mentioned how Ben loves to shred paper?  It's hilarious.  He is obsessed.  It started at his Grandpa's house in Montana last year...he saw Grandpa's shredder and said "what is THIS?"  So began a love affair between Ben and the Shredder.  And though I don't think he shredded at Papa's house during our last visit, he somehow remembers that Papa has a shredder.  So I've warned Dad that Ben is looking forward to shredding with him.  He'll go until the thing overheats!  And he's very methodical about his shredding process.  Put the paper in carefully, stand back, hold his hands over his ears (he doesn't like the noise), watch it go into the trash bin, then reach inside and push the strips of paper down -- to make room for more.  It's so funny to watch.  And sometimes, if he's really afraid that the shredder will make too much noise, he wants ME (or Grandpa, or Papa) to insert the paper to be shredded, so he can already have his hands over his ears.  He likes to be prepared.

Here he is, in his scivvies no less.  But most of the time, he's in his scivvies.  (Is that really a word?  "scivvies" -- I love saying it.)  Actually both of my boys love to wear only their scivvies.  They'd go completely naked if I'd let them.  But I won't.  Sam is not yet potty-trained, and Ben is way too interested in his lower regions.  He won't leave that region alone if it's visible. 

Well I titled this post "Randomness" for a reason...very random stuff!  I am having a hard time focusing on one thing since I've got soooo many things going on this week.  So I guess there IS a lot to report from the Family Front.  We rarely have a quiet, dull moment here these days.

Tomorrow is Sam's actual birthday -- so hopefully tomorrow I'll get a post up about Sam's birthday party.  It was a rockin' "Monster Jam" party!!  Monster trucks, that is.  We had monster truck decor everywhere (thanks to the dollar store!), even a (very sloppy) monster truck cake -- best of all, we had friends with us.  So I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.  oh, and Sam.  I'll tell you about my sweet Sam. 

Thanksgiving 08

It's been a while since I've last posted, but we were on vacation and have been "recouping" since we returned home. It's amazing how much catching up needs to be done when we're gone for just one week!

We went to Wichita, KS for Thanksgiving to visit my family - we left on Thanksgiving Day and returned a week later. Traveling on T-day was actually really nice! The airports were dead (at least Dallas was) and it made traveling with a toddler so much easier. Ben does not believe in sleeping until it's absolutely necessary, so he did not sleep on the airplane, but thankfully he was pretty good. He is such a flirt and managed to charm everyone he came into contact with, which is MUCH nicer than if he'd screamed the whole time. Bryan and I were very proud of our little traveler! Since traveling is a must with both of our families being out-of-state, this is a nice blessing.

We were able to spend time with my parents, my sister and her family, and see a few other family members and friends. Unfortunately Bryan came down with a bad cold (we're not sure really what he had) and we weren't able to see as many people as we were hoping to. But overall we still had a great time. Ben is so sociable and friendly! He loves his Gabby (my mom), Papa (my dad), his Aunt Cassie and Uncle Paul and cousins.

Here are some photos:

Cousins! Isabelle (5 years old) ~ Benjamin ~ Natalie (3 years old)

They are at the Exploration Place, which is kind of a learning/play center for kids. I think they're in a fake gorilla's nest? Something to do with primates...

Sisters! We took a silly picture -- we had the same style of shirt on and were trying to show the buttons on the sleeves!

The whole family!! Bryan, Ben, me, Mom, Dad, Paul, Isabelle, Cassie, and Natalie. We were so sad to leave them!!