THE LOWE FAMILY NEWSLETTER: VOLUME 166                                                    JUNE 2026

I flew to Orlando in mid April, flying SouthWest for the first time since they switched boarding systems. Groups A,B and the dreaded C have been replaced by assigned seating and eight boarding groups! I had chosen aisle seat 11c,  close to the front of the plane for  my flights to and from Orlando.. However, once I checked in, twenty-four hours before my flight,  and saw I was in group 8 - the very last to board - I began worrying about space in the overhead bins for my carry-on bag. I never check luggage for my  trips - just another hassle! Of course there were a lot of kids on both flights wearing back backs with their tablets, busy toys, snacks and water bottles that would hopefully keep them from screaming throughout the flight. I prayed that their parents would be stowing these bags under the seat in front of the kids rather than in the overhead bins. I noticed several people wearing huge, weighty backpacks ( that would have turned me into the hunchback of Notre Dame) who were also pushing along a wheeled suitcase! I think only one of these items should be allowed as many passengers will try to fit both bags in the overhead bins and toss their jackets in as well!! I had visions of me  frantically charging to the back of the plane looking for space in an overhead bin and the delay this would cause on arrival as I would have to wait for the entire plane to empty so that I could retrieve my bag. Mother’s bowels were churning! I was already composing paragraph two of my complaint letter to Southwest in my head when I boarded the plane and found my suitcase had a spot just a row ahead of me! I collapsed into my seat and almost became a believer on the spot.

Leslee-Ann picked me up from the airport and drove me to her beautiful,new family home in Winter Garden. They have a very spacious, open plan home with an impressive pool that has a built in hot tub and many fountains. I have to say that I loved their guest bedroom -a big improvement over the Murphy Bed in their home office with no window shades to block out the early morning light! And thankfully Miles the dog can not open the bedroom door at this house so you do not have to barricade the door to keep him out like you did at their former house.  Ray and Callie have adjusted very well to their new schools and made new friends in the neighborhood, 

That evening we headed out for dinner, and explored the local shops, The next morning we watched Ray’s basketball team play with Coach Craig - who has a couple of championships in the basket- but unfortunately the team lost to a team that seemed to have several players that looked more like  middle schoolers than fifth graders!! Ray was the top scorer for his team that day!  Craig’s dad, Roger was also in attendance and was definitely a  bleacher coach! We headed out to lunch with Craig’s assistant coach and family. 

As my grandchildren age they seem to prefer picking out their own stuff rather than being surprised by my choices. So later  that afternoon we headed to Target so that Ray and Callie could buy something they wanted from the toy aisle with the money I had given them . They took their time, and both enjoyed their new purchases once we made it home. 

Leslee Ann was most anxious that I experienced their new pool and hot tub but there was a problem; the hot tub was tepid and  she  was expecting Craig to rectify the situation immediately!

Craig  fiddled with the hot tub controls mounted  on their family room wall and frequently went to check the hot tub temperature with his hand and return with an  assurance that it felt a bit warmer despite the thermostat not reflecting this observation - Craig eventually concluded that the thermostat must be broken and said he would call the pool maintenance guy on Monday. Leslee was not appeased and raised herself off the couch  and went to check the pool equipment. Unfortunately for Craig she discovered that the breaker for the hot tub heater had tripped  . He was now in hot water with Leslee - who was at boiling point having spent a couple of days waiting for the hot tub to  be enjoyed by her mother! Personally I am not a big fan as Norm was always so negative about them - he believed they were bubbling cauldrons of bacteria likely to result in a urinary tract infection at best!

Soon we were all in the hot tub, swimming in the pool and when relaxing by the pool thoroughly drenched by Miles, the dog who loves swimming and playing in the pool then shaking himself dry by thoroughly showering any-one who doesn’t move away fast enough. It is a beautiful set-up for family fun in the Florida sun!

Ray, Callie and Grandma cooking in the Hot tub!

We also made our  traditional visit to the pick your own blueberry farm - they also had peach trees laden with fruit that  unfortunately was just not quite ripe enough for the picking! I do love a ripe peach - unfortunately the ones at the store are often quite tasteless.

Picking blueberries with the Remsburgs!

Ray and Callie showing some sibling affection!

Sarah and Sean are also on the verge of opting for a new home - they would like to move within walking distance of the elementary school attended by their second  grader, first  grader and kindergartener, leaving only Cillian  in need of a ride to and from pre-school. They also think that they could downsize from six bedrooms and four bathrooms to four bedrooms and three bathrooms  and have less house cleaning and maintenance chores! They also would like a cul de sac location so there would be a lot less traffic than there is on their through street. The children love riding their bikes and scooters around my neighborhood with so few cars! However these requirements limit their search to a small area and  so far they have not found their perfect house!  They are putting a new roof on their home prior to listing it as it’s over twenty years old and apparently that is not favorable for mortgage/ insurance purposes for a prospective buyer! 

Josh is back much to the delight of everyone, especially his nieces and nephews. I learned that he had actually rented a Soviet built apartment in Georgia for several months and seems to have thoroughly enjoyed living in and traveling around Eastern Europe! Of course I was concerned about his close proximity to Russia and Iran  and the possibility of a stray drone or missile hitting his apartment! Of course it doesn’t seem to be much safer in certain parts of Kansas City as we approach the start of the FIFA World Cup matches slated for our city. We are also hosting four teams for a couple of months: England, Algiers, Netherlands and Argentina. Fortunately most of these crimes occur in neighborhoods unlikely to attract visitors from afar.  We have certainly had some bad publicity worldwide after nine people were short -  thankfully with no fatalities around Troost and 79th street after partying at an illegal nightclub! One has to wonder who is policing our streets and enforcing zoning codes!

My social calendar has been very busy these last few months. Kay and Richard hosted our KC family and Richard’s parents for Mother’s day and opted to serve a delicious catered buffet and the glorious weather that day allowed us to eat el fresco! I hosted a welcome back supper forJosh, and then this past weekend I had everyone over, including Sarah’s parents who were in town, for lunch with three different flavors of ice cream cake to celebrate Owen’s 11th birthday and Alex’ 5th! Both boys were born on June 8th! Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate, being extremely hot and humid after a stormy night but when Sarah and Sean proposed walking the three mile trail by my house I was surprised that at least eleven of us  opted to join them! I stayed in the air conditioning, under the ceiling fan with the others that had no interest in risking heat stroke to burn off some luncheon calories.

Celebrating the Birthday Boys!

The day before I had attended Emy -Lou’s dance recital which took place at the Lied Center in Lawrence at the unbelievable time of ten in the morning. Since all the performers were to be there by 9:30 it was decided that we needed to leave from my house at eight thirty ! Sarah  promised to show up with coffee to make amends for getting me out of bed so early!. It took awhile to switch people into my car and one of theirs but we made it on time! I have to say I have never attended a dance recital that was not in the afternoon or evening before but I guess they have so many students that they have several shows throughout the entire day !Emmy Lou gave a stellar performance again this year and her Nana and Papa visiting from Maine were thrilled to be there! Afterwards we headed back to my house for lunch - picked up from Chipotle at  our dancer’s request, 

I have to say that her brother’s were all very into the recital -Liam sat up in his seat, licking his lips watching the teenage girls routines!! I can recall having to force  my boys to attend  their sister’s dance recitals! Remember when Sean was cast in the Top Hatter’s production of the Wizard of Oz as Toto the dog - he took gymnastics there as a preschooler and Marc who could barely touch his toes - then or now- called him the tumbling fairy..

I thought I was going to finish this newsletter last weekend but a bat flying around Liam’s bedroom caused Sean to order the evacuation of his family to my house shortly after luncheon Saturday. Sarah came down to my house with the kids and an invitation to join her - in Sean’s place - for a production of The Little Mermaid at JCCC , just a block from my most conveniently located home! By the time we returned from the show Josh was in my basement installing a box he had built for me to cover the sump pump!  Sean was still at home searching every nook and cranny of Liam’s room for the bat which had disappeared =- probably out of the window I suggested they open! Sean had completely encapsulated his body against a rabid bat bite. Being an always helpful mother, I volunteered my expertise for the job as a few years ago I successfully removed a bat from my living room with two duct taped garden canes and a step ladder! No protective clothing or house evacuation. Later Sean arrived after a fruitless search for the bat and announced he would be staying at my house overnight too! Josh volunteered to spend the night at Sean’s in hopes of tracking the bat!! Sean and Sarah  called their pet control company - who they had already paid to bat proof their house and were not very happy when they said they would not be able to respond until the following week! Of course I do not  pay for any pest control services, loving my eco friendly existence! I fixed supper for myself and the children and sent Sean and Sarah off by themselves for a break, so they picked up sandwiches and took a walk on the trail by my house!

All four children were very excited to be having a sleepover at Grandma’s and after baths, hot milk and a movie they headed up to bed. Emmy Lou and Liam slept in their usual beds, and Lochlan wanted to be in the same room so I set up the folding camp bed for him. -but he apparently ended up sleeping alongside Liam in his twin bed!  Cillin slept with Sarah and Sean had a bedroom all to himself - but the next morning he seemed even more exhausted than me! The children woke me up at about six in the morning - which I consider the middle of the night!

Josh said he had searched every inch of Liam' s room for the bat, inspecting all the clothes in his closet,the duct work and the entire attic! Sean decided that after a trip to the Kansas City Zoo the family would return to their home! Mother would not be driven batty after all. A quiet rest of the day was promised!

Sean covered head to toe in search of a bat!

Bryn and Gabi will be celebrating their marriage in West Hollywood next March and we are all anxiously awaiting the opportunity to view their “mood boards” so that we females in the family can plan what color dresses will be acceptable! Coryn has begun to look into the possibility of finding a short term rental to accommodate the entire family with a pool if possible. Apparently there are quite a few choices to accommodate up to thirty guests!

  

As always mother is as busy as a bee, buzzing around her garden, hovering over her grandchildren and being the queen bee of our family gatherings! Speaking of which, the Remsbergs, Lori and Claudia will all be here in late July, early August!

Love from your honey of a Mother!