Exploring with Kinley and Brooke: Kansas Staycation

A new school year was about to commence

So a short trip to Wichita made perfect sense.

Kinley was counting the days 'til first grade.

So it was high time more memories were made!

Brooke would soon move to a new school as well.

So some time with the family would really be swell.

Grandma and Grandpa and Mommy went, too.

There'd surely be plenty of fun things to do!

Across a big bridge, our group took a walk.

To this big statue, the people do flock. 

Keeper of the Plains rises up in the sky

Its hands lifting upward. It surely is high!

Photo from Kansas Travel

Learning doesn't only take place at a school

Visiting a museum is always real cool.

We'd spend a few hours at Exploration Place

It was a science-filled, adventurous space!

One of the rooms featured some sharks

Those big, ugly teeth would surely leave marks!

Thankfully, these teeth were no longer attached.

Their power and size left human's unmatched.

Swimming with sharks is not in our plan

Even though Grandpa may think that he can!

 

Into a cage, we'll leave experts to dive

We'd rather keep Grandpa Randy alive!

Next we searched high and then we searched low

Looking for shark's teeth, it was a slow go.

We dug through the box. 

We looked left and right.

For these shark teeth weren't big. 

They were really quite slight

The museum lady helped us to look

Sharp eyes and some patience is all that it took.

We put all our finds in a pile to our right.

And then went on looking again with the light.

A puzzle with shark parts was next on our list.

Playing with puzzles? We couldn't resist!

It seemed that the sharks were out for a swim

Keep your hands in the "boat!" A bite would be grim!

Kinley and Brooke gave the screens a long look

While standing around in the oceany nook.

There were tons of facts for two girls to learn

Punching the buttons, they each took a turn.

Then they took crayons and started to trace

It's great to spend time in a really fun place!
 

Over our shoulders was danger. Oh no!

We'd better get moving. We'd better go!

The girls went on to a place "Where Kids Rule"

A castle? Some horses? It was really quite cool.

A puppet playhouse was a place for Miss Brooke

She really did like that play-acting nook!

Though she wasn't in trouble, Kinley still posed.

We sent Daddy a picture: Do you think he supposed

That Kinley deserved her time in the rack?

No, I think he would want his biggest girl back!

Aviation was also a theme of the day

Into an airplane, the girls went to play.

Paper plane building requires some skills
Folding the paper? It gave us some thrills!

Launching an airplane into the sky.

We hoped it would soar. We hoped it flew high!

Then we examined the life lived by bees.

A magnifying glass made that a breeze.

Brooke thought getting close with her eyes

Would help her learn all of the hows and the whys.

Water provided some ebbs and some flows

With some channels and dikes, the water it slows.

Playing with water for Grandpa and girls.

Left behind rivers and eddys and swirls.

Stafford County was on one display

It made Grandpa happy. That made his day!

In our state of Kansas, water plays a big role

Conserving the aquifer is part of the goal.

Tornadoes are also a part of our state

Really, they are a part that we hate!

We spent some time in a tube with the wind
Eyes squinted, hair blowing, we had to contend.

While Kinley held onto the hair on her head

Brooke leapt with glee while the wind waled and sped!

Kansas in Miniature Photos from the Exploration Place website

Another display showed some really small places

Kansas in Miniature lit up our faces.

Scenes from the '50s provided the theme.

A train glided past and we started to dream

Of living and working in such tiny space.

Oh, it was a beautiful, magical place!

Our time at the museum had come to an end

What an adventurous day we did spend!
Til' next time, when the grands we will meet
Time with our family? It surely is sweet!

Note: Our trip to Exploration Place was August 9, before school started. It takes a little time to edit photos and write in rhyme. It is another installment in my Kansas Staycation posts.

Brooke's Adventure: A Story in Rhyme

Grandma and Grandpa and a girl who's named Brooke

Together, quite an adventure they took!

Her mom was not there, and neither was dad.

But there was still tons of fun to be had!

Our first stop was the Hutchinson Zoo

There we saw geese and an owl that went "Whoo!"

One critter is not like the others, we said.

It's good that the fox was in its own shed!

 

Sometimes it's scary to walk down a path

When a pelican's there and might show his wrath!

 

But Brooke, she was brave and she forged on ahead.

Thankfully, no pelican feathers were spread!

 

The two little donkeys; they came to the fence.

They looked right at Brooke; their stare was intense!

It was almost as if they wanted to chat

But Brooke doesn't speak donkey - no doubt about that!

Frogs, fish and lizards were next on the map

These are not creatures we'd want on our lap.

But it was just fine to look through the glass

Watching the animals there as they'd pass.

In the reptile house, Brooke entered a bubble
Turtles swam there with no sign of trouble.
Swimming with turtles seemed fun to the girl.
Wouldn't it be fun to give that a whirl?

Into another bubble went Brooke.
She was all ready to give it a look.

Brooke and a prairie dog stood face to face

What a wonderful, magical place!

Were we so brave we could walk through some bones?
Yes, we could do it without any groans!
It was just for pretend, so Brooke wasn't scared
Since with her Grandpa she had been paired.

We were all done with our time at the zoo.
But we still had plenty of things we could do.
Into the car, we went for a drive.
Sometime later at the farm we'd arrive.

Animals don't just exist at the zoo
Grandpa has an awfully cute crew!

Brooke had three little kittens to hold
Cuddling with kittens? It doesn't get old!

They are so fluffy, and they are so soft.
Brooke held the one called Callie aloft!

Zoe and Starlight, other names that she chose
They are so cute - from their tail to their nose!

After our supper, it was time to go fishing.
We'd catch lots of fish: That's what we were wishing!

But not a single one did we catch.

Our hooks and the fishes - I guess they don't match!

We fished the next morning: We tried a new spot.
Did we have luck? Oh, no, we did not! 
 

Brooke wasn't afraid to hold onto a worm.

She wasn't scared, even when the worm squirmed!

Later, she touched a small minnow, you see.

Then returned it to creek, where it swam away free.

The third place we tried was a kids' fishing pond
And again, at Quivira, no fish did respond.

So Brooke grabbed the camera. She held it just so.
Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow.

Grandpa posed for the camera: Brooke gave it a snap.
'Til Grandma said, "OK, that's a wrap!"

Grandpa and Brooke took a stroll down the road
To find where some trolls and some fairies were stowed.

Grandpa created a fun hideaway

Exploring a fairyland is the perfect play day.

"Under-doggies" were next on the wish list for play.

Brooke liked to soar high, as the swing it did sway!

Grandma's house has plenty of toys
Playing with princesses gives plenty of joy!

Helping in kitchen is another great skill.

Making a pizza? Brooke knows the drill!

Spreading out sauce and pepperonis to plop

Brooke did it all with a pizza to top!

When Grandpa was young, he liked trips to the creek.
He thought it was quite an adventure to seek.
Cows wondered what these two intruders would do
As they watched and they wondered and let out a "moo!"

A girl named Brooke wasn't fond of the mud.

She picked up her feet to get out of the crud!

Even though there were minnows to catch
Brooke and the mud weren't making a match.

Brooke wasn't impressed by the Rattlesnake Creek.

If Grandpa would walk, Brooke would take a peek!

It was somewhat surprising Brooke wasn't afraid
To hold a small minnow without any aid!
But, yes, she would do it. She was certainly brave.
 She wanted a photo so the memory she'd save!

While dirt and some grime were not her first choice
Getting dressed up gave Brooke cause to rejoice!
Side-saddle riding on her favorite steed
 And a crown on her head made her princess indeed!

She wanted a fancy braid in her hair.
Sadly, Grandma's hair skills don't feature much flair
We brightened the hair-do with two little bows.
It was just the right thing for Brooke's princess clothes!

 For four generations, this church has been home
For Grandpa and family, no reason to roam.
Sunday School gave Brooke a chance to go sing.
She also drew pictures: It was quite a fun thing!

Singing is something that Brooke likes to do.
She and her Grandma, they sang quite a few!
VBS songs were their favorite choice.
To dance and to sing in a very loud voice!

During the weekend, Grandma read lots of books.

While going home, Brooke gave them more looks.

She could almost recite them by word and by heart.

Reading is sure to make little girls smart!

A tired little girl then dropped off to sleep.

No more page turns, no more stories to keep.

Grandma and Grandpa were so happy she came.

 A fun time with Brooke was surely their aim.

The grands can't wait 'til it's time for more fun.

For more adventures, more love by the ton!