The Sisterhood of the Traveling Nephews

Adam, Mom and I have returned from our impromptu trip to Kentucky to visit my sister and her family over her Fall Break, and I believe we have finally recovered from the 16+ hour drive!

For me, the trip had 3 objectives:

1. Gather all the Elder nephews together for the first time

This was a special trip because it would be the first time that my sisters and I would be all together with our sons, and the first time Mom would have all her grandchildren (all boys!) together. My sister Kim would be driving from Illinois with her 6.5 month old son Jake as well. It was so fun to have Adam and Jake together, and though they are 7 weeks apart in age, they are on the same level physically. Both are crawling and pulling themselves up, and Kevin (10) and Kyle (almost 8) were wonderful with their cousins. They would build towers of cups for them to knock down, feed them, walk them in their strollers, but mostly just played with the boys and made them laugh. Kyle loved playing peek-a-boo and Kevin would just sit and talk with them and carry them around. Older cousins make great babysitters! 

Once we realized that both little boys loved to knock over cups we started baby crawling races. Either Kevin or Kyle would set up the tower on one end of the living room, and then two of us would let go of Adam and Jake and watch them race to the end.

Adam most often made it there first, but on the occasion Jake did, Jake would crawl up to the tower, sit down, and admire the tower before making it fall, often allowing time for Adam to swoop in and topple the cups first.

Though they didn't really notice each other for the first day or so (even crawled over each other at times), by the end of the visit they began to see the other and share/steal toys. On the whole, Jake and Adam are quite the opposites, but here's hoping they'll still be best buds!

2. Experience Autumn

October in Kentucky: the air is crisp, the leaves are changing, it's socks and sweaters and feels like football and hearty stew.

We make a trip or 2 to Kentucky each year, and Autumn is my favorite time to visit. If I am there this time of year, we always go to the pumpkin patch.

Biwater Farm, a local farm and farmer's market, has an AutumnFest every year with a spooky farmhouse, petting farm, hayrides, trike track, and more. It was a gorgeous day for us to go visit and spend a few hours taking pictures and enjoying the attractions.

Bottom line -- If you want to fall in love with Kentucky, go in the Fall.

Our Pumpkin

Spooky Farm House

Petting farm

The out-takes do not need to be seen.

Rubber Ducky races

The boys insisted on pushing the strollers.

3. Stock up on UK gear

I don't consider myself a die-hard UK fan. I mean, I will never have a room in my house (much less a mailbox) dedicated to the Blue and White, but it's fun to be back in Wildcat Country and feel the pride of my Alma mater. UK apparel is available everywhere! And we can always count on the Vans to give Adam a jump start on the Kentucky gear. For the UK-Ole Miss football game we had to deck out Adam with his newest apparel. Each time Gramma and Aunt Angie went out to the store they came back with something for one of the boys. Here's Adam's new hoodie sweatshirt and paw-print tennis shoes.

There's one more UK ensemble I will post a little later, so stay tuned!

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It was a wonderful time there that went far too quickly. It was so hard to leave, and I cried when I hugged my sisters goodbye. Sisters have special bonds, and I am blessed to have two of them.

As I drove away and headed farther and farther and farther south, I felt it in my soul -- I fit up there. I should be up there. It's where Michael and I and Adam belong. God willing, we'll get back there permanently someday, hopefully soon.