We had a short 30 minute drive before our first stop -- Steinberg Playground in Columbia, Missouri. We arrived early before it was too hot or crowded, and the boys loved exploring this HUGE, awesome playground!
Tires to climb (anyone who has been to my backyard knows that we love climbing on tires!)...
Multi-layer spaceship...
Giant slide...
and all sorts of interesting things to climb on...
Colson especially loved this rolling thing. He was laughing hard, as you can tell.
Back to the van for 2 hours before we hit Kansas! Calvin especially liked keeping track in the atlas of where we were. The little boys got bored easily, but on Day 2, we still had plenty of things to occupy their attention...
...like necklaces with froot loops, apple jacks, and gummy lifesavers!
There wasn't a Kansas welcome center since we were in the city (Kansas City, MO then Kansas City, KS). One of the rest stops had a nice Kansas sign for us, though. This is the 42nd state I've visited. I had been to 2 states deep all the way around Kansas but never stepped foot there until this trip.
The boys loved the novelty of spending their money on vending machine treats.
Next stop was another awesome park in the Kansas City area -- Antioch Park in Merriam, KS. There were multiple playgrounds and also a neat pond area.
Ever the climber...
I've never seen a play area like this at a public park (reminds me more of a children's museum). There were different stores and businesses (school, store, jail, etc.) for kids to use their imaginations.
We ate lunch by the pond (Amy loves being near the water).
Some stepping stones across...
Carter found a cool tree to climb after he finished eating.
We had a nice conversation for a wishful fisherman.
Someone had propped this large stick against the tree to aid in getting up there.
4 more hours of driving, and we made it to our second AirBnB -- this time right off the interstate but on a gravel road in Hays, Kansas.
The boys always love exploring all the rooms when we get there. This was a unique place because it's on the farm of Bethesda Place, a local Christian non-profit founded in 1979 when a couple began taking young men with developmental disabilities to live in their country home and work the tree nursery farm. The story of the farm is told in pictures and words on the walls.
Grilled cheese for dinner!
After dinner, we changed into our swimming clothes and headed to the pool on the farm. We had it all to ourselves!
Colson was brave enough to try the slide!
Cooper preferred staying on the side to practice his kicking and to squirt people with the water gun.
Calvin was glad to be able to touch, and he did a great job holding Colson.
This was Carter's first time on a water slide, and he loved it!
We also explored a bit around the farm and found a friendly cat to pet.
Hammocks! This was a different type than the ones they're used to.
We caught the sunset on our way back to the house.
Carter wanted to stay up late to look at the stars on the balcony, but there was a lightning storm.
The little boys started out together, but when Colson fell out of the bed (which became a recurring theme!), they split up and Colson got to spread out in the middle of the bed.
Calvin started upstairs with the little boys but eventually made his way to the couch.
We had some trouble with the toilet not flushing very well, but Amy came to the rescue with her plunging power!
Pancakes in the morning before loading up and heading out again.
Calvin took his pancakes out to the front porch.
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