a weekend in New Hampshire

We were so excited to finally get out to New Hampshire to hang out with our friends Brett and Emily! We've known them almost as long as we've lived in Boston, and have experienced so much life with them, including adding their two amazing kids to the mix.



It was a short weekend, but we packed in a lot! They gave us a tour of the boarding school where Brett teaches and coaches (they live on campus) and we got in a quick drive by of the Tuck School of Business, where Emily works. We took a family hike, enjoyed a double date sans kids, and experienced brunch at King Arthur Flour, which I'm sure must be a mecca for bakers for both the store and bakery. (I picked up my sourdough starter there!) We also learned their hill is great for rolling.

But most importantly, we enjoyed our time with friends (big and little) that we don't get to see nearly as often as we'd like. Brett and Emily, G and P, we love you, we miss you, and we hope we can make it up to New Hampshire again soon!

freezing in Vermont (with good friends!)

For the long President's Day weekend, we headed to Vermont for a holiday extravaganza with friends. We rented a giant lodge, divvied up meal duties, and planned out what local attractions we wanted to see. How often post-college do you get to spend so much time with friends?

It also turned out to be the coldest weekend New England has seen in decades. Thankfully, our new (to us) Honda Fit handled the weather like a champ. We made it out to to the lodge Friday night, arriving to a roaring fire, a big stack of firewood, and a whole bunch of awesome people. After dinner, we whiled away the evening by the fireplace with good tunes and good conversation (and maybe a little "Hotline Bling" on a toddler's ukulele, thanks to Ian).

The next morning, everyone decided to brave the cold for lunch. We caravanned into the great white wilderness until we reached The Blue Stone. Hot pizza tastes extra good when it's below zero outside. And logically, we decided to head to Ben & Jerry's for dessert. After enjoying our ice cream, our friend Alli agreed to join me for a quick walk to the Flavor Graveyard. It was so cold, my phone shut down. We took that as our cue to head back to the lodge. We spent another evening by the fireplace, only sneaking outside for a brief moment to learn that yes, boiling water tossed into frigid cold air disappears in a puff of snow. (For the record, the real-feel temperature hit 40 below.)

The next day was Valentine's Day. Because Ian knows the way to my heart, he drove the two of us to Cabot for a factory tour with lots of samples. We knew Cabot is a farmer's collective, but it was fascinating to learn exactly what that means (including how great it is for farmers). They are also continually working on sustainability. They save all the liquid from the cheesemaking process and through a reverse osmosis system, they're able to harvest the dried whey protein and reuse all the purified water. We also learned their muenster and jack cheeses are made from some of the same curds as cheddar. The difference is the curds for jack and muenster are rinsed once or twice, which inhibits aging and increases moisture content. After a lengthy wander through the Cabot store, we headed back to the lodge for another night around the fire, with lots of delicious cheese to share.

The next day we packed up and headed home, exploring Montpelier on the way. Hearts full, we were thankful for a weekend away from our daily lives and distractions. No matter the weather, we love spending time with friends, new and old!

Christmas in Kansas 2015

Our most recent annual trip back to Kansas for the holidays was super low key. We headed to the airport super early on December 24, and arrived in Kansas City with time to run a few errands in Manhattan before continuing on to the farm. We got our wedding rings cleaned, picked up a few things at the Dusty Bookshelf, grabbed a quick drink at Bluestem and a dozen Varsity donuts for Christmas morning, and took the long way out of town past Snyder Family Stadium.

After a long day of travel, we decided to have our own Julotta at home, instead of staying up until midnight at church. Grandma, Dad, and Ian led us in the traditional singing of "Lyssna" before turning in.

Alas, an evening nestled all snug in our bed was not in the cards. Ian came down with the stomach flu and spent all of Christmas day sick and confined to the bedroom (where he slept, ate crackers, and watched Interstellar on his laptop). Thankfully, it was just a 24-hour bug, and even with 12 people and 1 dog under the same roof, no one else caught it! (Although I still feel bad Ian wasn't able to enjoy Grandma's famous potato sausage.) To celebrate his recovery, the next night we went on a family outing to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It felt so appropriate to watch with my dad, who is responsible for introducing me and my brothers to the originals. It was Brian and Ellen's first Star Wars movie, and I think they're hooked now, too.

Due to a forecasted blizzard, we bumped up our departure by one day, strategically planning our route to completely miss the snow. Dad decided to stay in case Grandma needed help after the storm, while we headed west with my mom, making sure to introduce her to Jiffy Burger on the way (cheese balls!).



We spent the night at my parents' house before heading south to Dodge to spend time with Ian's aunts and Grandma Marilyn. We went to Grandma's favorite haunts (the beauty shop and Hobby Lobby, specifically), and spent lots of quality time hanging out at the hospital for her antibiotic infusions (with Matlock to keep us company).

For our anniversary, we snuck out to Garden City for dinner. Mom and Dad recommended Pho Hoa. New Year's Eve didn't seem to be a popular night for dinner out on the town, but it was fun to have the place basically to ourselves, and the food and service were amazing (not to mention they have an inspiring story)!

A few days later, and we headed back east, stopping once again in Manhattan to say hi to Uncle Jim before completing our circuit in Kansas City. Nathan was kind enough to host us, and we had so much fun hanging out with him, Sara, and Joey (and Chance, Luna, and Winston!). We went to a giant dog park, enjoyed one of their favorite neighborhood barbecue joints, and played lots of board games. (Nathan and Joey have one of the most impressive collections of obscure board games I've ever seen.) Megan was even able to stop by to watch the bowl game (which we'd rather not relive).

The next morning, we headed out early to the airport. A quick flight later, and we were back home in time to catch Super Cluckin' Sunday. Christmas miracle!

visiting Remily in Knox Vegas

In April, Ian's brother, Ren, and Ren's fiancée, Emily, moved to Knoxville (affectionately referred to as Knox Vegas by our dear friend Grant, who grew up there), for an amazing job opportunity. And in November, we visited them!

We caught an early morning flight to Nashville where we spent the day working in coffee shops and hanging out with our friend Drew, who left Boston to grow his second startup company. No big deal. The three of us enjoyed lunch at the new (super hipster) BarTaco before we got a tour of his company's space in Weld.



We arrived in Knoxville after dark, with just enough time for hugs and an introduction to Charlie and Violet, Ren and Emily's adorable dogs, before we crashed on the air mattress.

The next day, Ren and Emily had their usual work days, so we took off for a fun date downtown. We stopped for beverages at Old City Java, because Ian. We then headed to the Museum of East Tennessee History. It was fascinating to learn about the history of a new-to-us part of the country, with all it's charms and challenges. From the first Native American inhabitants, to slavery and the Civil War, to the present day, the museum covers it all with an impressive depth and complexity. Fun fact: Mountain Dew originated in Tennessee. "It'll tickle yore innards!"

Our brains full of history, we wandered around downtown for a bit, flipping through letterpress creations at Pioneer House and taking in the view from the Sunsphere, before meeting up with Ren and Emily for dinner at The Stock and Barrel. It's one of their favorites, and we totally understand why! (Their recommendation: get the duck confit fries with your burger.) After dinner, we headed back to their apartment for some Cards Against Humanity. What happens in Knox Vegas stays in Knox Vegas.



Saturday, we got a tour of Ren's office, then headed to Magpies for a tour of Emily's (which came with sample cupcakes — sorry, Ren, Emily's office takes the cake). Grabbing Chick-fil-a for lunch, we headed out to Gatlinburg and took our third tour of the day at Sugarlands Distilling Co. We learned about the process (similar to other grain spirits, minus the aging) and the history.

Turning grain into moonshine made the farmer's harvest an easy-to-transport product that would make them more money. And moonshine itself doesn't make people blind or cause death. Methanol, a byproduct of the process, is distilled out in the heads and the tails of a batch. As long as you only drink the hearts, you don't have to worry... unless you drink too much. (We were warned about an illegal moonshiner in the area who was not so scrupulous and people wound up in the hospital. The lesson? Make sure you can trust your source.) When Ian asked our tour guide how long he'd been moonshining, he answered "over 30 years... legally, 8.5 months."



After watching the tour, we headed to the sample table, where we got to try all their flavors, while Tadpole told us about hillbilly dentistry: if you drink cinnamon moonshine and smoke a pack of menthols, and you'll never have to brush your teeth. Em and I's favorite was their Appalachian Apple Pie. After a swig, every breath in tastes like caramel, and every breath out tastes like apple.

On Sunday, we went to church and met some of the wonderful people in Ren and Emily's community. And there was no other choice for Sunday dinner but Chandler's. Because what's Sunday in the South without fried chicken, cornbread, and mac and cheese?



We walked it off at a cool new park we discovered: High Ground Park, which was the site of a Civil War fort and is part of the future Battlefield Loop. I felt like I was in District 12. And then went to see Spectre (Daniel Craig, how I'll miss you), because James Bond is really part of the family.



Remily, thanks for hosting us. We had so much fun, and can't wait to see you four again!



See the rest of our trip photos on Flickr.

cranberries on the Cape

In October, my parents headed to New England for a visit. Since we'd already shown them around Boston (twice, in four parts), we thought the new family outpost on the Cape would be perfect for a long weekend visit. And while they arrived a bit early to enjoy peak fall foliage, the cranberry harvest was in full force.

Saturday morning, we headed to the 12th Annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration at the A.D. Makepeace Company, a founding member of the Ocean Spray grower-owned cooperative (Ocean Spray commercials are, coincidentally, one of my favorite ad campaigns).



For a small entry fee, visitors could watch the cranberry harvest, shop at a giant cranberry-focused outdoor market (with lots of free samples), and enjoy good food and music. The weather was beautiful, so we slowly meandered our way to the main events: a bridge overlooking the cranberry harvest and tour around the bogs. We hopped on a flatbed trailer with hay bale seating and learned all about cranberry farming.

For most of the year bogs are dry — irregularly shaped depressions in the ground covered in bramble, which look nothing like a quaint New England postcard. In the fall, farmers flood bogs for harvesting, and suddenly they are transformed into those iconic shimmering, ruby red ponds.

Coming from a rural Kansas farming background, we were struck at the similarities between cranberry and wheat harvesting (substituting water for air in the reaping, threshing, and winnowing process). Fun fact: unlike wheat, cranberry vines can live for 100+ years, although the extension agency recommends farmers replace their plants every 15 to 20 years to optimize yields.





We also learned about the sustainability of Massachusetts cranberry farming. "There are approximately 14,000 acres of cranberry bogs in Massachusetts with cranberry growers maintaining another 60,000 acres of open space serving to protect and recharge watersheds (Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association)." The undeveloped land surrounding the bogs is integral to the year-round process of cranberry farming, ensuring it's protection for generations to come.



We left with a much greater appreciation for the humble cranberry (and a craving for more cranberry almond chocolate bark).

The rest of our time on the Cape we enjoyed relaxing at home, strolling on the beach, and eating lots of good food. We had so much fun introducing my parents to a place we've come to love, and we're so grateful to Ian's family for hosting us!



You can see all our photos from the weekend on Flickr.

Grandma Marilyn: queen for a day

Back in February, on flights that were thankfully between snowstorms, we headed back to Kansas for Grandma Marilyn's big 85th birthday celebration. Our early morning flight landed in Wichita just before lunch. We stopped briefly for tacos before driving our rental car halfway across the state to the land of Gunsmoke. The next two days were a flurry of food, family time, decorating (like her last big birthday bash, it involved a lot of purple), and celebration.

We had so much fun hearing more stories about Grandma Marilyn. Her younger sister Paula let everyone know that Marilyn still owed her a Fudgcicle, promised as a reward for not telling their parents that Marilyn left Paula alone at home to hang out with friends (the original Fudgcicle was eaten by one of said friends). One of Grandma's school friends told a story about a prank Marilyn pulled on another classmate, her identity betrayed by the fact that the package (which contained "flopper stoppers") was sealed with tape, an item only Marilyn's newspaper-printing dad could procure during WWII shortages. To this day, you can pick out Grandma Marilyn's cards in the mail just by the amount of Scotch tape used to seal the envelope.

Too soon, the festivities were over, but the adventure of getting everyone home was just beginning. Ren and Emily had flown in from Denver, but their puddle-jumper flight was cancelled due to impending weather. Instead, we drove them halfway home, where they were picked up by Emily's dad. I got a quick visit with my parents thanks to the drive (hi, Mom!), but the ride back that evening would have been terrifying if it wasn't for four-wheel drive and Dane's expert driving skills.

The storm was better by the next morning, so we ventured out to drive back to Wichita for our flight. Kansas snowstorms are much different than Boston ones. There's less snow, but that snow blows for miles so it doesn't take much to make travel difficult.

Ian got us safely all the way back to Wichita, only for us to get (barely) rear-ended by a high schooler just a mile from the airport. The snow packed on the bumper came in handy as damage protection.



Grandma Marilyn, thanks for letting us help you celebrate. We're already looking forward to seeing you again! #loveya

See (a few) more photos from the weekend on Flickr.

celebrating #Foxlanta

At the beginning of September, we had the high honor of celebrating the wedding of two dear friends. We've known Anthony since college, where he and Ian spent five years of late nights in studio, and countless football and basketball games in face paint. They spent a summer interning and surfing in LA together, and when they graduated in a terrible economy, Anthony connected Ian to Sasaki. They have been friends and colleagues for almost a decade, and neither of us would be who we are today without him. We met Sara (with no h because h's are ew!) through Anthony after we moved to Boston. They weren't dating at the time, but we like to believe we already knew they would end up together. Sara is a fun, wonderful, and thoughtful friend, and she's kind of a big deal at Google doing lots of important things that go way over my head.

Thanks to their wedding, we headed to Georgia for our first real trip to the deep South, where our first meal was Chick-fil-a at the airport in honor of Sara. We met the rest of the wedding party at the rehearsal; after, we headed to a local restaurant for dinner, signature cocktails (The Foxy Lady and the Fantastic Mr. Fox), and wedding-themed mad libs. We had so much fun hearing Fox and Sara's childhood stories, catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones.

The wedding took place the next afternoon at Sara's family's estate, and the old horse farm was an incredible backdrop for a classy yet casual affair full of Southern charm and hospitality, down to the tiniest details (like bug repellent, and lawn games during the cocktail hour). Dinner was a delicious Southern barbecue, and the live band was fantastic. We had such a wonderful time, and are so glad we get to share life with both of them!



See more #Foxlanta photos on Flickr!

And a shout-out to our good friend Janet, who met us for brunch on the way to the airport, where I had perhaps the best chicken fried steak biscuit and cheesy grits of my life. So thank you Janet, for taking time to see us, and also for the delicious brunch recommendation. We miss you!

a weekend at Newport Folk Festival

Ian loves music. The more obscure, the better. So when friends with similar musical affinities highly recommended Newport Folk Festival, Ian decided it would be his dream to go. We saved up, and as soon as tickets went on sale in January, purchased our two-day passes. And then we found out said friends who love NFF wouldn't be able to attend this year on account of their new baby's due date being right around the festival weekend. I got worried. I enjoy music but I'm not an avid fan like Ian. I didn't know anyone in the lineup. And I'm an introvert. What business did I have at a music festival with no veteran friends to guide us and hang out?

It turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Our friends assured us it was fun and low key, and they were right. Ian did a great job of planning everything. We lined up a room with a fun quirky family through Airbnb, rented a car, and borrowed a bike rack so we could exercise while bypassing festival traffic congestion and simultaneously ogling the gigantic mansions all over Newport.



Saturday morning, we headed to the park and ride, hopped on our bikes, and arrived at Fort Adams about 30 minutes before the gates opened. We admired the view of the harbor until we were allowed to speed walk to the Harbor Stage, our carefully selected home base for the day. We left blankets on a couple chairs, then went to window shop at the festival store and vendor booths until the first performer took the stage.

Willie Watson: It's like listening to a solo artist from 1920 (think O Brother Where Art Thou). Both you and your grandma will love him.
John C. Reilly and Friends: Star factor (sweet berry wine!). This set also sounded like it was from 1920 (and John C. Reilly's guitar Charlie is 60 years old, if memory serves) but was much more of a quiet hymn vibe than Willie Watson.
The Oh Hellos: We only caught the very last song, but it was the one Ian wanted to hear. And they broke into a wordless version of "Come Thou Fount" that was heart exploding.
J. Roddy Walston and the Business: All rock and roll, and they put on a great show.
Shaky Graves: NPR must listen for a reason. Unbelievable. One of my favorite performances of the weekend.
Deer Tick: We headed to the Fort Stage early to catch Nickel Creek, and heard the end of Deer Tick's set. Not too shabby.
Nickel Creek: When they first broke into the music scene, I missed the memo they were folk, not the pop-twang-country (*cough* Toby Keith *cough*) I avoid. So talented, and so fun to watch.
Jack White: Crazy. Really crazy. Superstar status. Did I mention crazy?

After the last set, we rode back to the car, then drove to Newport Creamery for dinner and an Awful Awful. The food wasn't bad, but the Awful Awful tasted like Nesquik strawberry milkshake and it made me feel like I was eight years old in a good way.



Sunday, we repeated our morning routine despite the looming weather forecast, spread out our blanket under the Quad Stage tent, and settled in. The performances began with a weather related announcement: take cover in the event of a thunderstorm. We crossed our fingers, and despite a torrential downpour that resulted in us standing for a few sets before finally snagging less comfortable but dry chairs, we had a blast. By midafternoon, it cleared up, and the sky was gorgeous as we headed to to the Fort Stage to catch the end of Mavis Staples.

Berklee Gospel Choir: Who says church doesn't happen at a music festival?
Leif Vollbekk: Soothing music for a relaxing, rainy morning.
The Lonesome Trio: Again, star power thanks to Ed Helms (what's up with comedians moonlighting as legit folk artists?). They're seriously talented and seriously funny.
Gregory Alan Isakov: He was the artist Ian was most excited for on Sunday, and he delivered. He and his band even gathered around an old-timey microphone for a true acoustic set for a few songs. Listen to "Suitcase Full of Sparks." You'll melt.
Hurray for the Riff Raff: Not my first choice in folk music, but great at what they do.
Trampled by Turtles: I did feel slowly trampled by folk music, but in a good way. Fun fact: Mavis Staples kept calling them "Tramplin' Turtles."
Rodrigo y Gabriela: My favorite performance of the weekend, hands down. We were going to bounce early to catch more of Mavis, but we couldn't tear ourselves away. They have a joy and passion they exude when performing, and it's captivating.
Mavis Staples: A legend and entertainer. She was celebrating her birthday, and had lots of special guests, including Norah Jones. ("Little Norah!")

For lunch between sets, we grabbed chicken pot pie and peach pie from Humble Pie Co. Yum. And Del's Lemonade was a refreshing afternoon treat.



We haven't decided yet if we'll attend next year, but if YOU'RE going, these are the tips from friends that came in handy (along with a few lessons we learned firsthand).

• Scope out the bands ahead of time and plan which stage you want to see each day. The NFF app was great for this!
• Use the bike park and ride. Fast, easy, and a beautiful ride.
• Arrive 15-30 minutes early; when the gates open walk fast (don't run) to your selected stage.
• Be considerate when claiming spots for a long amount of time. You can leave a blanket and chairs or stake claim to a couple venue chairs and wander (just don't leave your valuables). Most people are kind and respect your space. But if you plan to bounce around, don't reserve the best seats at all four stages at once, then try to kick people out of your seats in the middle of a set. In fact, if you don't plan to be at any one stage more than one or two sets, consider not claiming a spot at all. If you are at one stage all day but want to leave for a set to catch another artist or event, make friends and invite them to enjoy your spot until you come back.
• Prepare for a variety of weather scenarios; bring a sweatshirt, lots of suncreen, a poncho, and/or large plastic bags, and a Ziploc bag with a spare set of dry clothes, just in case.
• And about that possibility of precipitation... bring a tarp and/or chairs. Being under a stage tent doesn't guarantee the ground underneath you isn't a low spot that will turn into a miniature river if it rains.
• Pack snacks and not-glass water bottles. There are food vendors around, but you don't want to get stuck in a long line and miss your favorite artists.
• Bring toilet paper in a Ziploc bag and antibacterial hand gel. The porta-potties were fine, but you really don't want to get caught without either of these vital items.
• Make your festival/band merch purchases first thing, before they sell out of your favorite style.

See the rest of our photos on Flickr.

FLOTUS, graduation, and food we've missed

In the middle of May, we flew back to Kansas for a weekend to attend my cousin Brian's graduation.

We listened to First Lady Michelle Obama's inspiring remarks on school integration and the road ahead.
We experienced The Pad, a Topeka institution.
We laughed at the keynote speaker's delightful and entertaining commencement address.
We cheered for Brian as he snagged his diploma (yes, it's signed).
We explored Old Prairie Town during Brian's reception.
We gasped as a baby raccoon left his family's hollow to explore a tree branch.
We enjoyed a gigantic Italian dinner with family, sans reservations on graduation night.
We took a leisurely pontoon boat ride on a lake with family friends.
We met Annie, the sweetest one-eyed/pirate rat terrier you'll ever find.
We stuffed our faces with Grandma's famous red velvet cake.
We arrived in Manhattan just in time to FINALLY grab a burger at our beloved So Long Saloon.
We hung out with Deb and Jim.
We were in breakfast food heaven with doughnuts from Varsity Donuts and hot beverages from Bluestem.
We brunched at The Chef with family and old friends.

Congratulations, Brian! Thanks for letting us enjoy your big weekend with you!

See all our photos from the weekend on Flickr.

a last-minute weekend in Santa Barbara

I sometimes tease Ian that when I started dating him I thought, thanks to romantic comedies, architects made the big bucks. And had I known the truth, perhaps I would have made different decisions. Of course I wouldn't have (otherwise it wouldn't be a good joke).

To dispel the Hollywood myths, not counting the handful of starchitects, most architects (regular, landscape, and interior) make a modest, middle-income living. But like most professions (I assume), it has its perks. For us, one of those perks was an inexpensive long weekend in Santa Barbara, courtesy of the company that manufactures the landscape architect's gold standard for outdoor lighting. Ian landed a spot on the roster thanks to one of his current projects, and for the cost of one round trip ticket to LAX, I got to tag along.



After a lingering winter in New England, the hot sun and clear blue skies were a welcome change, and we soaked it in. Lunch on the patio at Geoffrey's in Malibu — a pit stop on the Pacific Coast Highway drive from LAX. A large Italian dinner at Toma, overlooking the Santa Barbara beach at sunset. A stroll on Stearns Wharf under a starry sky, with the warmth of the day still lingering over the Pacific waves.

(On the pier, we also ran into bike sumo: a crowd forms around two bicyclists, who try to stay upright with feet on their pedals while trying to make the other person lose their balance and/or step off their pedals. After every match, a challenger from the crowd rides into the circle to take on the winner.)



The next day, Ian and the group headed out early for their day at the BEGA factory to learn about lighting. I slathered on sunscreen for my day on the beach in Santa Barbara.

Late that afternoon, I met up with the group for dinner in Carpinteria, and instead of taking one of the rental cars or a cab from Santa Barbara, I bought a ticket for 15 minutes on the Pacific Surfliner with "a unique vantage on the Southern California seascape." It was 45 minutes late, but the views out the window were worth it. (travel tip: Carpinteria Beach was incredible and covered with the most perfect sand, and I wish I had spent more of my day there.)

On the train, I had a short conversation with a college student in the seat next to mine. "You're doing this for fun?" I understand. Public transportation in Boston can be novel if you're new, but when you just want to be home and your bus is stuck in traffic and the train is packed with hot and sweaty sports fans, it's easy to forget there are people who find buses and trains and trolleys new and exciting. And when you ride the Pacific Surfliner for a few hours every other weekend, delays loom while ocean views fade. I silently reminded myself to enjoy all my moments, whether or not they're new and exciting.



We finished the trip with a day of wine tasting in Santa Ynez Valley (Brander + Lincourt + Foley), pacing ourselves so the entire day was pleasant (and so was our evening). I'm not a connoisseur of much of anything, except maybe macaroni and cheese, but it was interesting to learn how the process affects the final flavor. Also, vineyards are a beautiful backdrop for lounging under patio umbrellas.





We're so thankful for every moment of our West Coast vacation. It was just what we needed to tide us over until summer made it much anticipated appearance in Boston.



See all our photos from the trip on Flickr.

Fingerwarmers' Christmas vacation

We had such a wonderful two weeks at home for Christmas. We did the usual tour of Kansas and were able to see almost all of our families (we even Skyped in to the Daez family Christmas in the Philippines!). We also squeezed in a few visits with friends, when we were able to catch them in all our crazy holiday travel. And since it was the Fingerwarmers' first Christmas in Kansas, we also had to make pit stops at all the most important local tourist attractions.












01. the giant van Gogh painting in Goodland  |  02. meeting Ming  |  03. opening presents  |  04. ice cream at Dairy King in Oakley  |  05. + 06. the Buffalo Bill sculpture in Oakley  |  07. a family photo  |  08. + 09. ice cream and cheese balls at Jiffy Burger in Smith Center  |  10. meeting cows

Thanks to everyone who schlepped us around the state and were generous enough to host us!