All Aboard! By Kinley Marie

Hello! It's me again, Kinley.

All aboard for a new adventure! You know I'm a regular at the Topeka Zoo. But a little train caught my eye when we visited Gage Park last week.

I've read books about trains, like The Little Engine Who Could and Cars, Trucks, Planes & Trains. But I figured instead of just reading about trains, it was time for a little in-depth, investigative reporting.

My Grandma paid our money and off we went on our adventure. The train took us on the one-mile trip on the tracks through Gage Park. We waved to people along the way.

When we chugged back into the station, the conductor said we could pull the horn and make the train say, "Toot! Toot!"

I thought I wanted to do it, but when I got up to the front of the train, there was a big, tall stranger, and I decided I'd let Mommy do it instead.

Then we were off on our next adventure. While we were on the train, my Grandma saw a merry-go-round, and she thought we needed to ride it, too.  The carousel was built in 1908. That's even older than my Grandma and Grandpa. It's one of fewer than 200 original American carousels still in operation, and it's in my town!

The carousel had animals, so Grandpa and I petted them.

Originally built in 1908, the carousel is one of fewer than 200 original American carousels still in operation. The carousel houses a 1909 Wurlitzer band organ. - See more at: http://topekachamber.org/why-topeka/things-to-do/must-see-experiences/138#sthash.z5HcxBp0.dpuf

Originally built in 1908, the carousel is one of fewer than 200 original American carousels still in operation. The carousel houses a 1909 Wurlitzer band organ. - See more at: http://topekachamber.org/why-topeka/things-to-do/must-see-experiences/138#sthash.z5HcxBp0.dpuf

Originally built in 1908, the carousel is one of fewer than 200 original American carousels still in operation. The carousel houses a 1909 Wurlitzer band organ. - See more at: http://topekachamber.org/why-topeka/things-to-do/must-see-experiences/138#sthash.z5HcxBp0.dpuf

Everything was going just fine until this loud music came on. Grandma tried to tell me it was just music from the 1909 Wurlitzer band organ, but I didn't like it one little bit. I went to Grandma and hid my eyes.

Grandpa had fun, though.

You know, I have a confession to make. Yesterday, I told you that my family is pretty predictable when it comes to entertainment. Well, I guess I have to plead guilty, too.

Give me a book to read, and I'm a happy girl, people! It's even better when there are extra people available to read. Uncle Brent is a good reader. So are Grandma and Grandpa.

When it comes to playgrounds, I know what I like, too. I know there were all sorts of slides and stuff to climb on at the Gage Park playground. But what can I tell you? I like to swing. I will swing just as long as someone is willing to push me.

But, I do have to admit it's fun to get a new toy once in awhile. Grandma and Grandpa brought me this kitchen that my Aunt Kathy found at a garage sale. I cooked lots of food for Uncle Brent and Grandpa. They even ate their broccoli. It must be 'cause I'm such a good cook.

I guess it just goes to show you that you can be thankful for the same old things - like zoos and swings - and then celebrate the new things, too.

Until next time,
Kinley Marie
(with a little help from Grandma)

Hostess with the Mostest by Kinley Marie

Hello! It's me again, Kinley Marie. I'm the one in the middle who's incognito, hiding behind my animal-print sunglasses and in my tiger-striped dress.

My Uncle Brent came to visit me in Topeka last week. It's only fair: I visited him in Kentucky in July. My Grandma and "Pa-pa" didn't want to miss the fun, so they came, too. They wanted to go to the zoo AGAIN! They are so predictable. But, being the good hostess I am, we went where my guests wanted to go.

It's a good thing I love animals. However, some of the animals must be tired of seeing us. My friends, the elephants, didn't even bother to come out and say, "Hello!" They need to learn some manners, I think.

You might remember that I love turtles. One of them didn't look so happy to see me. He had a grumpy face. But another one decided to come over and say, "Hi!" He could teach Tembo and Sunda, the elephants, a thing or two about hospitality. 

But, then again, sometimes the animals are just a little too friendly like Mr. Flamingo in the tropical rain forest. I needed Mommy to protect me.

I like being friends from a distance. These ducks liked Uncle Brent and me just fine when we tossed them some food. Uncle Brent said I needed to work on my throwing, but the turtles right underneath the bridge liked my throw just fine, thank you very much. Thanks for the quarters, Pa-pa! And the turtles and ducks thank you, too.

The real bears were hiding in their den, so I had to settle for this guy.

These cats were bigger than the ones at Grandma and Grandpa's farm.

I think I'd rather they stick behind the glass. But I did get to visit with some little kitties last weekend.

But, back to the zoo. Because, goodness knows, we are always going back to the zoo. But I don't mind.That's where I can see my friends, the giraffes. I got to see them twice - once in their barn and then again outside.

You won't believe it, but I talked everyone into trying some new Topeka entertainment options. Come back tomorrow for those.

'Til then,
Kinley Marie

A Visit to the Farm, Part II, By Kinley Marie

A Visit to the Farm

By Kinley Marie

Hi, it's me again, Kinley Marie. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. But I was just too busy keeping up with my grandparents.

As I told you last week, I came to Grandma and Grandpa Fritzemeier's farm at the County Line for a visit. I rode with my Mommy to Wichita, where she had a meeting, and then my Grandma and Grandpa picked me up. It was a long trip to the farm, but I stayed awake so that I wouldn't miss anything.

When we got to their house, I got to meet some new friends. Well, I'm not sure they were my friends. They were kind of big, even though one of them was born just that day. I was not sure about getting too close, even with Grandpa there with me. It did give me a chance to practice my "moo" sounds. I am sure that my friends at day care will be impressed that I actually met some cows and didn't just read about them in a book.

It was my first time to meet the cows and calves. But I already knew that Grandpa loves his cats. I helped him feed them.

We also brought one in the house. The rule is that the cat has to stay on Grandpa's lap (Grandma's rules, not mine. She says she is getting soft in her old age because, once upon a time, animals weren't allowed in the house at all.) I was not sure that I wanted to get too close to Grandpa's friend, Tiger. It's important to evaluate situations from a distance. But, then I decided that he might be OK to touch. So I did. He was soft.

I also touched the piano. Grandma was perfectly fine with that. She and I sang lots of songs, too. We even did the actions to "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Deep and Wide." If the piano playing doesn't work out, I may have a future in percussion. I used Tupperware lids as cymbals while I was waiting on Grandma to get dinner fixed. I also helped her set the table. I am quite a helper.
I am especially good at putting the salt and pepper shakers and the salad dressing bottles on the table.

At left, Kinley in the rocking chair; Jill in the same chair, upper right

Grandma and I did a lot of reading, too. Because I was at the farm, I read the baby farm animals book over and over again. They also got me a new farm animal puzzle. (I can't believe that Grandma didn't get a picture of me playing with the puzzle. She seemed to have the camera ready at every moment.) Anyway, Grandma and Grandpa think I made the turkey "gobble" sounds, honked like a goose and meowed like a kitty. My Mommy is not so sure. The grandparents seem easier to impress.

My favorite reading place was Grandma's lap. But I also liked reading in the rocking chair. My Grandma put a big doll in the chair, but that chair is for girls, not dolls. Grandma says that my Mommy used to sit in the rocking chair, too. (It had a different cover back then. I guess that was the olden days.)

I examined every toy in the toy box and gave them all a try. I also found where Grandma kept the Cheerios. Just in case she forgot, I stood in front of the cabinet door and pointed. All this activity makes a girl mighty hungry.

I also got a ride in the wagon that my Mommy and Uncle Brent used to ride in. It was shinier then.

My Mommy tried to give me a ride in the big swing, but I didn't like it much. I think I'll stick to my little swing at home. 

 

 I got to see the tractor when Jake was out feeding the cows. But I didn't get a ride this time.

If I keep practicing on my tractor, maybe next time they'll let me drive the real one.

Whew! That was quite a visit. It's hard work to entertain the grandparents.

Much love,
Kinley Marie

A Visit to the Farm, Part I, By Kinley Marie

A Visit to the Farm

By Kinley Marie

I arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's farm yesterday. I am just so busy playing with Grandma and Grandpa and meeting lots of new animal friends that I don't have time to chat today.

Be sure and check back next week for my complete report from the County Line.

I do have time to tell you that Grandma won the Beef Magazine Winter Photo Contest. She says that just goes to show you that the Beatles had it right (whoever the Beatles are): You do "get by with a little help from your friends." She says that's a good lesson to remember. She also says "thanks" for taking time to vote!

Much love,
Kinley Marie

Who's On First? Or Second?

The ornament we gave Kinley says it was her first Christmas.

Her shirt said it was her first Christmas.

But this was technically Kinley's second "Christmas" with us. She was the best party crasher of all time.

Kinley was supposed to arrive in January 2012. Instead, she arrived on December 30, 2011. She crashed our little family Christmas that was supposed to happen that evening. Instead, we opened our family presents on January 1, the day she came home from the hospital. (Yes, she already had presents under the tree and plenty of "stuff" in her stocking without Grandma having to do a bit of last-minute shopping.)

Her stocking originally had a sonogram photo. By the time she opened her stocking last year, we had already substituted a photo with pink Powercat stocking hat.

It's amazing to see how much she has changed during the past year. She's definitely bigger than her stocking now.

She is walking ...

... and "talking" (now if we just knew what she was saying)  ...

... and discovering new things every day - such as liking stuffed Santas much better than the mall version.

So, whether this year was her first or second Christmas with us, we're sure glad she arrived.

She's a gift and a blessing.

Hanging On By a Thread

My memories are hanging on by a thread ... all over my Christmas tree. Today, this ornament will be making its way via U.S. Postal Service toward a Topeka Christmas tree. Each Christmas, my parents picked out a special ornament for each of their seven grandchildren. This year, it's my turn to continue the tradition with Kinley.

As the grandchildren got older, the ornaments reflected their interests. Jill's later ornaments included a shopping bag and a phone. Brent got a pickup ornament the year he bought his own pickup, and he had several Chiefs ornaments. A K-State cheerleader and a K-State football player were nestled in tissue paper one year, then hung proudly on the Christmas tree.

My parents gifted the ornaments until each grandchild graduated from high school. The Christmas after Jill was at Vanderbilt completing her dietetics internship, I packaged all her ornaments in a plastic tub. It made me a little sad to segregate the bear sledding on the Crayon box and all the other decorations that had hung from our family tree for so long. But it also gave her a great foundation of ornaments to begin decorating her own Christmas tree.

I've always collected my own Christmas ornaments, too. As I looked at Kinley's first photo ornament, I compared it to the one that shows her Mommy's debut Christmas, when she was only 3 months old. (Of course, I bought my own ornament so that I could have one of Kinley's first Christmas hanging on my tree, too.)

Jill - 1985 - 1st photo ornament

Now that Brent is done with school, I'll box up his ornaments from Grandma and Grandpa. But, for this year, I'm enjoying them one last time.

This was Brent's first ornament from Grandma and Grandpa.

And here's mine, showing Brent's 6-month photo on his very first Christmas in 1988. Each year, when I took Jill and Brent to Sears for their photos, I purchased a Christmas ornament along with the 5 X 7s and the 8 X 10s. And, as I decorate my Christmas tree each year, I believe it was money well spent. They are some of my favorite ornaments because they are like a scrapbook of my kids' lives - only better, since I was not so great at scrapbooking.

2009 - Randy's & Jill's Father-Daughter dance at her wedding - another all-time favorite

Interspersed with those Sears ornaments are photo ornaments from other life events - Jill and Brent on a spring break trip to Denver or Jill laughing and dancing with her Dad at her wedding.

The oldest ornament on my tree is one my Grandma Leonard made when I was a little girl. This little choir boy has lost his hanger thread, but I always nestle him among the branches in a prominent place so I can see him and remember.

Yes, my memories are hanging on by a thread ... and that's a very good thing.