Dawson's "Solo" Kansas Vacation

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Dawson enjoyed his first flight with Aunt Holly to Kansas for his first solo trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa Davis and Holly IN Wichita. Kansas prairies, riding a horse, shopping for authentic cowboy duds, attending "Studio Go!" VBS at Asbury Church, swimming in the pool and going to the zoo with friends were just a few of the highlights of the trip. He LOVED it!

We decided it was Dawson's turn to go on a trip alone, by simply determining whose turn it was to have their first airplane ride. Dawson was on deck, as Madalynn got to fly with me to North Carolina to visit our friends Justin and Gi when she was about three, and Justis got to fly with Travis to Illinois last year for a daddy & son business trip.

I am not ashamed to say having my four-year-old leave me was harder than it's ever been for me to leave him (and it's always hard for me to leave any of my kids). Madalynn, Justis, Jillian and Travis missed him equally as much.

Jillian wanted to know where her napping buddy was the first day we went to read a book and Dawson wasn't there. She asked, "Is Dawson going to nap, too?" I had to explain to a teary-eyed Jillian that he was going to be gone for a week, so it would just be me and her reading books. Madalynn and Justis seemed lost without their little fun-loving and laid-back partner in crime. They got into some pretty intense arguments and had to re-learn how to play well together while Dawson was away--just the two of them. I was thrilled that Dawson was having fun, so I put my motherly woes aside for a week. I honestly think, however, that Travis missed him the most of all of us and selfishly (I can't blame a daddy) never wanted him to leave in the first place!

Dawson specifically told us about going to the river at a prairie near Pretty Prairie, KS, for a special night of praise and worship called "Prairie Fire." He was in Aunt Holly's class at VBS and we were told by Holly he was a little too comfortable with her as his teacher a couple times and got a little rowdy. The VBS was at Asbury Church in Wichita, where we were married. The kids affectionately call it, "Raspberry."

Cheryl made special arrangements for Dawson to go "cowboy up" and ride a horse at a local 4-H stable she has connections with. He, at first, was a little intimidated by the young pony's size, but then threw all caution behind him once he was up in the saddle.

Our little "Garth Looks" also went cowboy clothes shopping and got a real cowboy shirt (complete with snap buttons), a new pair of jeans and a belt with a REAL (big) belt buckle.

Dawson sported his goggles and was taken aback by the chilly pool water at Scott and Cheryl's as he splashed around in the shallow end.

He went to the zoo with Aunt Holly and our friend Bridget and her two kids, Morgan and Carson on Friday.

He flew back to Louisiana Saturday with Scott and Cheryl, who stayed with us until the next Wednesday for a visit.

I'm sure he will never forget his special first solo trip away. I feel so blessed our kids have both sets of grandparents to experience the irreplaceable fun of doing special things with!