Here are some of the highlights of our trip.
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Amanda, Eva and Taylor on a visit to the park with Grandma Jo
Taylor was like a big sister to the girls, and she watched over Eva with the greatest of care.* *
A Saturday morning in Madison is not complete without a stop at the Farmer's Market on the Square. We weaved our way through the slow moving crowd and purchased all sorts of goodies like sweet sour pickles, cheese bread, rhubarb and giant cookies.
After Farmer's Market, we stopped for a light lunch and dined outside at a Mexican restaurant on State Street.
Eva sure loves her chips and salsa.* *
One day, we met up with Josh, April and Taylor for pizza at Rocky Rococo's so I could satisfy my pizza craving. Afterward, we headed down to the Children's Museum in Madison. You can never go wrong with a Children's Museum.
The boys had just as much fun as the kids did. Here they are having a contest to see who can stack the most beanbags on their heads. (Josh won, with a total of six.)
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The cousins had an absolute blast the day we went to Little America's amusement park! There were plenty of kiddie rides for them to enjoy and there were even a few that Eva could handle. Before we knew it, several hours had passed.
The flying helicopter ride was a big hit with the kids.
The best part was since it was a dreary day with sporadic showers, there were no lines for any of the rides. On the boat ride, all four cousins decided to pile into the same boat even though there were plenty of other boats up for grabs.
And here they are again: the girls all crammed in one car while Brady gets the truck.
The flying helicopter ride was a big hit with the kids. The best part was since it was a dreary day with sporadic showers, there were no lines for any of the rides. On the boat ride, all four cousins decided to pile into the same boat even though there were plenty of other boats up for grabs.
And here they are again: the girls all crammed in one car while Brady gets the truck.
The girls: Eva, Amanda and Ella
Pausing for a split second to get a group photo.Another day, we managed to meet up with my college friends and their children for some fun at a one of the many gorgeous Wisconsin parks. It turned out to be a fantastic day, for the kids AND the moms! It always feels so good to catch up with the old gang again and it's as if nothing has changed between us since our college years.
Amanda was so happy to see A. again! Luckily A. was very receptive to all of the hugging and they were the best of friends!
Eva, A. and Amanda: patiently waiting for their picnic lunch!
After a quick lunch, the kids all hit the playground!
Unfortunately we didn't think to get a group photo of the moms this time around, probably because we were all so busy trying to get good shots of the kids!* *
After quite a bit of teamwork in setting the net up, we had a lot of fun playing badminton one evening at Mom's house.
After quite a bit of teamwork in setting the net up, we had a lot of fun playing badminton one evening at Mom's house.
Jared and I rallied for a record high of 75 volleys. (Unfortunately there were no witnesses to confirm this!) * *
Cousins Ella and Brady invited Amanda over for a sleepover one night, which she was absolutely thrilled about, despite the fact that she ended up sleeping in the basement with Daddy instead of in the kids' bunk beds. Amanda proudly showed off her beautifully painted nails the next morning!
The morning after: Ella, Brady and Amanda* *
One Saturday morning, we drove to Nana's house and treated her at her favorite Chinese buffet restaurant. After lunch, we enjoyed some time at the beach on Lake Michigan with Mom, Nana, Josh and April.
Amanda, Nana and Eva
The crew tentatively tests out the water. 
Amanda, Nana and EvaI was surprised to find that Lake Michigan's water temperature was actually warmer than I had remembered it being - certainly warmer than the ocean!
Don't be fooled... Despite how it looks, Josh is NOT on a tropical island.
A quick family photo with Nana before heading back to Mom's house.* *
We went over to Taylor's house to play one morning. The kids really enjoyed the pool, playground and spending time with their cousin.
Taylor and Amanda* *
After a fun-filled two weeks in Wisconsin, it was finally time to head back to Massachusetts.
Saying goodbye to Grandma Jo before we embarked on our long drive home.We planned to break the 20 hour drive up into two long days, which in hindsight, was a bit overambitious. We stuck mostly to I-90, which was very monotonous - not to mention expensive with all of the tolls, some of which reached $12-15!
There were not many highlights on the ride back and our stops consisted solely of interstate rest stops.
To prove it, this was one of the highlights of the ride home:
Chubby Checker's tour bus. Earlier in the day, we also saw Kid Rock's tour bus.
There were not many highlights on the ride back and our stops consisted solely of interstate rest stops.
To prove it, this was one of the highlights of the ride home:
Chubby Checker's tour bus. Earlier in the day, we also saw Kid Rock's tour bus.* *
After a 12 hour day in the car, we finally rolled into Mentor, OH (a suburb of Cleveland) just in time for a late dinner at Ruby Tuesday's, a quick swim in the hotel pool, and a good night's sleep.
The following day, we spend 13 hours in the car... and finally arrived home around 8:00 pm. The next day, we were all dragging and a few days later, I found out that I had a sinus infection.
Then, the morning after we arrived home, we realized that our refrigerator was not running. Apparently our lawn guy ran over an outdoor extension cord, which caused a circuit to blow in the barn. For four days, the refrigerator and freezer had no power. It killed me to have to throw away nearly all of the food because I had fully stocked the freezer before we left for vacation. It was not the best way to be welcomed home.
It has taken nearly an entire week (for me, at least) to finally settle back into our old, comfortable routine. But despite the stress from being away from home for so long and being out of our own environment, we wouldn't have traded that family time for anything. The memories that we created together will be cherished forever.
Sometimes it's the simple things that make the longest lasting memories: eating deep fried cheese curds and frozen custard at Culver's; watching the kids ride their bikes down the hill at Grandma's house; the afternoon we spent at the community pool in Columbus; going out with the whole family for a Friday night fish fry in Rio (with a total bill of just $80 for twelve people!) and hitting the ball around at the school playground afterward; watching all of the cousins jump on the trampoline; and a special memory for the girls would be their movie night with Grandma complete with popcorn. There are many more that flash back into my head on a daily basis and that makes me smile.
All in all, we are proud to have a successful family road trip under our belts and we will definitely attempt this type of thing again in the future.
Although it may be a while until we do it again, now that there's a new baby on the way! But in a few years, who knows?
The following day, we spend 13 hours in the car... and finally arrived home around 8:00 pm. The next day, we were all dragging and a few days later, I found out that I had a sinus infection.
Then, the morning after we arrived home, we realized that our refrigerator was not running. Apparently our lawn guy ran over an outdoor extension cord, which caused a circuit to blow in the barn. For four days, the refrigerator and freezer had no power. It killed me to have to throw away nearly all of the food because I had fully stocked the freezer before we left for vacation. It was not the best way to be welcomed home.
It has taken nearly an entire week (for me, at least) to finally settle back into our old, comfortable routine. But despite the stress from being away from home for so long and being out of our own environment, we wouldn't have traded that family time for anything. The memories that we created together will be cherished forever.
Sometimes it's the simple things that make the longest lasting memories: eating deep fried cheese curds and frozen custard at Culver's; watching the kids ride their bikes down the hill at Grandma's house; the afternoon we spent at the community pool in Columbus; going out with the whole family for a Friday night fish fry in Rio (with a total bill of just $80 for twelve people!) and hitting the ball around at the school playground afterward; watching all of the cousins jump on the trampoline; and a special memory for the girls would be their movie night with Grandma complete with popcorn. There are many more that flash back into my head on a daily basis and that makes me smile.
All in all, we are proud to have a successful family road trip under our belts and we will definitely attempt this type of thing again in the future.
Although it may be a while until we do it again, now that there's a new baby on the way! But in a few years, who knows?
2 comments:
Thanks for posting the photos, Carrie. I'll share them with Nana when next I see her.
Oh Carrie, you never fail to impress me! Where do you find the time?? I loved reading about your Wisconsin highlights. I only wish we could have had a little relaxation together. I told Jared the next time you're here we're going to go for pedicures or something, just the two of us!! :) I love the pictures, especially Ella's attitude shot! What fun. :) Take care! Love ya.
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