Easter Trip to Olathe and Chicago

We were very lucky to visit both Frank and my folks over the Easter holidays. I drove with the girls to KC and then took a second leg from there to Chicago to spend Easter with Frank's folks. Frank flew in from ABQ for a long Easter weekend in Chicago. The girls and I drove home from Chicago with another long layover in Olathe on the way. It was a very fun trip!

Part One: Olathe


We stopped in Olathe for a few days visit. My mom was able to take a couple days off during our visit so we got a lot of time together. We all went to the Great Mall, dyed Easter eggs, took a few walks around the block, and spent a whole day at the Kansas City Zoo. The zoo was a ball and quite huge! We visited with Dan and Angie (my brother and sister-in-law) for dinner on Tuesday night.

Going on a walk with Pop-Pop; Zoe coloring Easter eggs with Grammie; Grammie, Zoe, Jenna, Gimlet and Sadie
Part Two: Chicago

We had a wonderful Easter in Chicago. Frank surprised me with tickets to see the Broadway show 'Wicked'. Nonna and Grandpa babysat while we spent about five hours downtown. The show was amazing, now if only we get the songs out of our heads! On Easter the girls donned Easter dresses which just thrilled Zoe. She jumped up and down at the news she was going to wear her very special Easter dress. We went to mass at the same church Zoe was baptized in. After Easter service, the girls got their Easter baskets and had an Easter egg hunt. A favorite toy turned out to be an old large box. Who would have guessed. The girls would get in in together and play all sorts of games. On Frank's last day in town we visited Frank's aunt and Godmother, Aunt Betty, and his cousin Edward. We spent a total of four days in Chicago and loved every minute.


Bedtime stories with Grandpa; the girls at church; Easter egg hunt; playing Legos with dad; Cake time with Nonna
Part Three: Back to Olathe

My mom was out of town for a business trip when I arrived back in Olathe, so it was just us girls and Pop-Pop for a few days. My dad, the girls, and I spent time stocking up at Sam's Club (to include having yummy pretzels and buying a huge cake) and enjoyed a morning at Zonker's which is an indoor amusement park for kids. Zoe and Jenna just loved getting to ride in banana shaped airplanes and on the train! The girls and I also spent a day with my good friend Jen Winningham. My mom got back into town on Saturday night, so dad, the girls, and I met her for dinner by the airport. Sunday was a big day - KU basketball!!! KU played in the Elite Eight, and Dan and Angie brought pizza and joined us for game. It is only in retrospect and since I know that we won that I can say it was a great game. It was one of those where we were all on the edge of our seats the whole time!


Banana plane ride; Jen and Zoe; Angie and Jenna on game day; Jenna in her favorite toy at my parents house; Zoe, Pop-Pop, and Grammie

Playing at Grammie and Pop-Pop's house
In all, we enjoyed seeing everyone and had a great visit!!! But at the end of it all we were ready to head home. The girls were very happy to be headed to their own stuff and to see daddy :)