The kids and I had a relaxing and fun visit with my parents, my sister, and her sons in Ulysses when we visited Kansas. My favorite thing about going home is good ol' small town fun.
To clarify for you "city folk," small town fun doesn't include a shopping mall, concerts, multiple activities going on during one day, etc. Ulysses has fewer than 10,000 residents, didn't get a McDonald's until I was a sophomore in high school and still has a main street movie theater with one screen, and the nearest Wal Mart is still 1 hour away! Ulysses summer fun includes the local swimming pool, 4-H and the county fair, summer recreation leagues and golfing. Most importantly, you make your own fun! ;) Some farmers' kids don't have time to do any of that, because they're busy helping on the farm!
We didn't miss out on any of the small-town fun while we were in Ulysses!
Water was a theme of our stay in Ulysses. Mom and Dad have a pool they put up when the grandkids come. They were in and out of that pool about 5-10 times every day, and when they weren't in the pool (and sometimes when they were) they played with the water guns and water balloons. Dad and I took the kids swimming at the local pool (where I lifeguarded for a job through high school and some of college) and they loved it.
Taking a trip to the golf course to drive the golf cart is always a must when we visit grandma and grandpa Chadd. Mom and Dad gave us a behind-the-scenes golf cart tour of the construction of holes 10-18 of Bentwood Golf Course, where my mom is enjoying her post-retirement "fun money" job and Dad golfs daily, sometimes twice a day. The kids all got to take a turn steering the cart Mom said she wore out several strollers because before the cart paths were paved, the white "chalk rock" on the cart paths ruined the stroller wheels. That was back before my dad bought that first three-wheeled gas-powered golf cart with the pimpin' sparkly blue paint that I turned over on its side while driving it too fast and turning on hole 5! Grandpa gave the kids putting lessons on the putting green and they each got a turn steering the golf carts as the adults controlled the brake.
A visit to Grandma and Grandpa Chadd's would not be complete without at least one visit to the donut shop, Rod's goat farm, and a trip to eat at both Alejandro's and El Ranchito for REAL mexican food. The goats are doing fine, the donuts are still the best I've ever had, and Alejandro's hot sauce is still better than El Ranchito's. :) The best food was Mom's, however, hands down!
Thank you for the fun times Mom and Dad! We can't wait until next time.
1 comment:
Sounds like you had fun! Too bad we missed each other :(
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