Now that summer is here, I got a little crazy and decided to take a road trip. Destination Minnesota--to visit my sister Jenn and family. Mark "wouldn't let me" (haha) drive with the kids by myself so we happily invited Hannah to come with us. Morning of I woke up at 5am, we picked up Hannah in Virginia 2 hours later and continued on to West Virginia, then Ohio, Indiana and finally Illinois before we stopped for the night.
We took a break 6 hours in at Hopewell Culture National Park. It was conveniently located in between two prisons. Seriously, the prisoners were outside in the yard, close enough that I could have yelled to them--a little unnerving when you have 3 kids with you. This place is called Mound City and is a collection of burial sites that date back to the time of Christ. There isn't much to see other then the hills that my kids wanted to run up, but weren't allowed; but, it was a good place to get out and walk around and see a little history. At one point Addy found a piece of something that looked like part of a dead rodent and threw it at me saying, "here is one of their dead heads!'
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| The kids got ahold of the camera |
We made another pit stop at the outlets and again for dinner and kept going until 11pm.
The kids woke up bright and early so we hit the hotel pool and ate a yummy breakfast. Then we drove to Wisconsin and finally to Minnesota. The kids were so good on the ride there--they had been talking about this trip for weeks. They only asked "are we there yet" 3 times in 18 hours. We arrived earlier then anticipated and got in a full half day of cousin time--it got crazy fast.
The next day was Sunday, so after church, the kids had a grand time playing, while the adutlts ate yummy food and tried to ignore them.
Ryan took Hannah, Katie and I to see the Mayo Clinic, where he is finishing up his residency.
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| Katie, Ella and Madeline getting a little crazy at the Mayo Clinic |
Monday we ate lunch at a park and then hit a bike trail.
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| Hannah, Sam, Marcus and Max |
My kids ride scooters more than bikes, so the bike ride was something new for them. After a few mins Katie was a pro and rode with Maddie and Ella. Marcus took off with Max and after a little bit stopped and "needed a break". After break number 6 we got left behind by the group. My efforts to not get frustrated with him and just enjoy being outside with the greatest little boy ever paid off when two deer ran out in front of us and stopped. Marcus insisted they were reindeer because they had antlers. We got really close to them before a passing biker scared them off. In between biking we picked flowers and sang songs.
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| Max, Ella, Maddie, Marcus, Addy, Sam |
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| Addy and Sam |
When the group passed us on the way back Max decided to ride with Marcus and me. Marcus peddled for a while as hard as he could but then had to take another break. At this point it's pretty hot and I was getting a little frustrated that he wouldn't just ride, he is usually so physically tough. Max was excited that we had seen deer and was disappointed when we passed the spot without seeing any...but, then, out of the bushes popped a fawn, both boys were beyond excited. We finished the ride with me pushing both mine and Marcus' bike; it was a little difficult and then I realized Marcus' front tire is completely flat. Poor kid, no wonder he was getting so tired.
We decided to go for ice cream after, and who did we run into? Santa and Mrs. Claus! He gave each kid a picture of himself and thanked them for being good. After the excitement wore off and the kids turned to order ice cream, we noticed shy little Marcus quietly tapping Santa on the back. Santa turns to Marcus and Marcus asked where were his reindeer (remember the deer we saw on the trail?), Santa told him that they were in the North Pole, but Marcus knew they were in the woods on the bike trail.
That evening the kids were outside and Katie rode her scooter down the hill and crashed. She had some pretty good scrapes in four different spots and lots of blood. (Quick back story, Katie fell on the playground a few days before we left and scratched her face. I put neosporin on it the morning we left and her whole face blew up, so we found out she is allergic to neosporin) Dr. Ryan came to the rescue to help clean her up as she is screaming at the top of her lungs. All the kids are gathered around her in sympathy. Addy is crying (with worry) clinging to me as I try to hold Katie. Katie is crying for Rufio (not me or Daddy). When Ryan pulls out the rubbing alcohol to clean her up Max gets a horrified look on his face, then starts shaking his head, saying, "no, no". Despite Katie being hurt, the whole thing was pretty funny.
Tues we decided to explore some caves. It was a lot of fun (other then Addy complaining about being cold, with her two sweatshirts on, and Marcus and Addy saying that something smelled).
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| TOP: Addy, me, Jenn, Hannah BOTTOM: Max, Marcus, Sam, Ella, Maddie, Katie |
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At the playground after the caves.
Tues night we hit the local kids track meet. It was awesome. Katie and Addy (Addy only because I forced her) participated. Katie did awesome. Marcus refused to run despite my threats, bribes, getting mad, etc--he gets social anxiety in large groups and me trying to force him does the opposite of what I want. Someday I will learn. All of Jenn's kids ran and did a great job.
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| Katie and her participation ribbon |
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| Max |
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| Ella |
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| Katie getting ready to run |
After the meet we hit the pool and then got pizza. Katie had a sleepover with Madeline and Ella. It was a late night and I paid for it the next day.
We spent Wed morning at the house playing in the water and on the water slide. After we went to a magic show at the library.
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| Max got to be the volunteer |
At one point the magician was reading Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech where it reads, " little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with
little white boys and little white girls as brothers and sisters". When she finished Addy, the lone black girl in the room, yelled out "YEAH!"
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| Marcus enjoying the show |
That evening the (cranky) kids used marshmallows and toothpicks to build stuff.
Thurs morning we left for home. My kids were tired and sad to be leaving their cousins. The trip home was long and not very much fun-the kids were crazy and in really bad moods.
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| At the outlets, with the crazies--check out Katie's hair |
After two LONG days of traveling, a yucky night in a Red Roof Inn and dropping Hannah off we made it home.
Home Sweet Home
(and thanks to the Swapps for letting us visit, we miss you already)
