Summer 2009 Road Trip

We started our road trip on Tuesday, July 28th. It was just the kids and me. Carey had to work, so he met up with us in Denver on Thursday. The first day was just driving. We managed to drive only 600 miles in about 14 hours. Not good. We travel a bit slow when kids are in tow. Anyway, we made it to Colorado City, CO and stayed in an awful Days Inn ... never again Days Inn. I was afraid to touch the light switch and the carpet was wet??? Not to mention the piece of plywood we slept on. Fortunately the accommodations improved on our trip.

We made our way to Colorado Springs on Wednesday and stopped off at Focus on the Family. So much fun for the kids! They have an area just for kids to play in with a stage and dress-up clothes, puppet show stage, a huge 4-story slide (which we didn't get to do because of the incoming thunderstorm as you can see from the picture at their Pike's Peak lookout), and tons of other really neat stuff. Then off to Denver to settle in at the hotel.

View of Pike's Peak from Focus on the Family lookout.

Thursday was a big day of tux fittings, picking up Carey at the airport, rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and then some late-night bowling fun. Big day and it was so fun that some of our dearest friends were there with us too. Had a blast with them, even amidst the car-sickness of the Colorado mountain drivin'.

Lookout Mountain in Colorado

Red Rock in Colorado

Friday was the big wedding day in Evergreen for my little brother. We were hoping for no rain, but about 30 minutes before the wedding, huge raindrops were falling. The sky cleared up right at 6PM in time to dry off some chairs and get everyone seated. The kids looked so good. Victoria was not happy about getting dressed, but finally resolved to the fact that she was going to wear that dress and that headpiece. And Riley was very excited about wearing his "tux-speedo." Isn't that hilarious?! "Tux-speedo." I just hope on the first day of school he doesn't tell everyone that this summer he was in a wedding and wore a "tux-speedo." Riley and Victoria did fantastic walking down the isle together. Riley carried 2 white roses in one hand and was holding Victoria's hand in the the other. Then Riley stood by Uncle Kevin (the best man) and Victoria sat down with Pops. The rain started up again. Fortunately it only last about 10 minutes and was just sprinkles. The rest of the ceremony was just so sweet and precious. Riley and Victoria really enjoyed the fresh fruit slushes and the sparkling cider afterwards. They had a ton of energy and danced most of the evening. Poor little Victoria had blisters on her heals from her pretty princess shoes.

With Pops

Enjoying fresh fruit slush after she did her job at the wedding.
She cheered up quite a bit after having a couple of these.

Saturday was the brunch at the Father of the Bride's house. The kids got to feed the horses, which they loved. Then off to Mount Rushmore. It is about a 650 mile drive from Denver. It happened to be Sturgis Bike Week, so we saw our fair share of the motorcyclage. Thousands and thousands of them. We also had no, I mean absolutely no cell signal from the border of Wyoming until about halfway through the state of South Dakota. And Carey could not stop talking about wanting to move there. In the middle of no where. I can appreciate living in the country to be away from the hustle and bustle of city-life just as much as the next girl, but no cell phones and more livestock than people ... no thanks! Not to mention I saw no Walmart or Target or mall for that matter for many many miles.

View of the mountains from Aunt Katie's Dad's house near Denver.

Sunday morning was Mount Rushmore. The kids were SO sleep deprived at this point. Riley was standing in front of the mirror at the hotel holding his eyelids open. "They won't stay open, Mommy." I felt the same way. Alot of late nights and early mornings and so much driving. Anyway, he was really impressed with Mount Rushmore, but was ready to head out after about 10 minutes. We stayed about an hour and a half. It has changed so much since I had been there 25 years ago.


Then off to Chicago. We had a 900 mile journey in front of us. We got as far as somewhere in Minnesota by that evening. And let me tell ya, there is nothing, nothing, nothing in South Dakota but a bunch of grass. And there is only farmland in Minnesota. I missed the mountains and civilization.

By Monday afternoon, we were driving into Chicago. I was so nervous. Our plan was to park by Union Station, buy 2 all day commuter passes, go to the top of the Sears Tower, take the L-train and Subway to the Magnificent Mile to shop at the Lego store, grab a slice of pizza and make our way out of town.

Well, it didn't quite work out for us. The line to go to the sky-deck of the Sears Tower was probalby about 2 hours long. It being about 2PM, we decided to forgo since we hadn't eaten lunch yet and just make our way to the Lego Store. I am kinda glad we did. We since foudn out that Carey's cousin just got a job in that building and has volunteered to take us up next time we visit ... cool! So we make our way to the L-train and purchase two $5 passes for our 1/2 mile journey through town via public transportation with two kids in tow. Scary. I was so afraid we would get on the wrong train/subway and end up on the bad part of town protecting out children for dear life. Or someone would snatch them away from us or we would get separated ... I know, I watch too many Lifetime movies and crime-solving dramas.

Anyway, we did good, except when Victoria went through the turn-style before Carey and he had nothing left on his card. So glad the Subway attendant took pity on us. We (or I) forgot the stroller, so Victoria spent most of the time on Carey's shoulders and I was in charge of Riley.

It is definitely different there. It was kinda neat seeing all the street talent, musicians and singers. Everyone was walking so fast though. We met some people at the Sears Tower and on the subway. Neither were from Chicago ... just visiting. We did grab a slice before we headed out of town. The thick crust pizza was ok, but the thin crust was SO yummy! The kids didn't care for it, so more for me!

On the subway in Chicago.

Sears Tower - I was just about laying on the sidewalk
and I still couldn't get the top in the picture.

We finally made it all the way up to Suttons Bay by about 10PM that night. The kids were SO excited to see Grandpa and Grandma!! And it was nice just to lay low for a few days before hopping back in the car again.

We spent the next three days (T, W, TH) just being around Carey's family. We always enjoy that. Played at the park, road the train, played with cousins, slept late (Yay!!), got new tires for the van, went sailing on Lake Michigan with Carey at the helm, went swimming in the lake (them, not me) and finally went t-shirt shopping. I was so incredibly bummed that we didn't have time to get Colorado t-shirts or sweatshirts, so I went a bit crazy/nut-so getting t-shirts for us in Traverse City. We just had a blast visiting with family and having everyone play with the kids.

Carey got stuck at the playground. The kids are "helping" him out.

Victoria with Grandpa at Lake Michigan.

Sailing with Daddy. She loves the water.

At least one of us is smiling. Not sure what Victoria's deal was.

Swimming in Lake Michigan

It was a bitter-sweet visit though. It was our first time up in the summer without Carey's Grandmother around. We, especially Carey, miss her so very much. Her house was always our first stop everyday. We know without a doubt though that we will see her again in glory and that works for me!

We headed out on Friday morning and made our way to East Lansing, MI. Carey and I lived there our first 4 years of marriage while he went Michigan State University. It is always so great to go back there to visit. We of course bought some more MSU-wear ... can't have too much, and then had some yummy Gyro's at Lou and Harry's.

On the road again and made it to St. Louis by that evening. By this point, my car was a totally wreck. The back seat was covered in milk, juice and cereal bars. I climbed back there to get something out of the ice chest at one point and had food on my leg when I stood up ... so gross!

Our last leg of the trip was on Saturday. We decided to stop at the Meramac Caverns in Missouri just because we were there and we always wanted to do it. Carey had been there when he was a kid and said it was memorable. So we did it. It was ok. I think Riley was impressed and really liked it, so it was worth the $45 and 2 hour detour. Then home. We got home around 9:30 that night. Totally exhausted. The kids hadn't had a bath since Suttons Bay Michigan. My van just reeked.

4500 miles. 14 states. 3 timezones. 12 days. So tired. Lots of laundry. But some awesome memories. Our kids are hilarious and my husband is the best. He is such a great traveling companion. I loved it when the kids were sound asleep in the back seat and him and I are singing Ooops I Did It Again by Britney Spears at the top of our lungs. So fun.

We did have some casualties from the trip ... the diffuser for my hairdryer is at some hotel in South Dakota, one of Victoria's really cute sippy cups is at an Applebee's in Indiana and my pillows are in Suttons Bay, MI. So sad to see those things go, but at least I will get my pillows back at Christmas.

Oh, and the next time I eat a french fry will be too soon.