We slept in! It was nice that everyone was so exhausted from the previous day that everyone slept in...honestly, I love when that happens. Of course it didn't really help my cause to get out on time.
Ladd flew in to Indianapolis airport by 9 am...haha...I don't even think we were awake yet! But that didn't matter because he had a phone interview and work he was doing that day online, so he just stayed at the airport. Besides the airport was on the way to our next destination so there was really no point in going all the way there to get him, coming all the way back to my parent's house to clean and pack up and then just go right back towards the airport again.
So....we remained at my parent's house...had breakfast, cleaned up, did some laundry, cleaned more....cleaned, straightened, cleaned out the van, packed up the van....etc. The kids were fairly good at helping me. Ethan was the man and vacuumed out the van. The girls helped make beds and vacuum and sweep. I did dishes and mopping. It was a lot of work even though the house was never really that dirty, but I felt like we should leave it better than we found it. Besides the last thing my parents want to do when they come home from being in Columbus, is clean!!!
I was actually quite anal about it all and as the clock ticked away, I was getting more and more ticked too! We didn't end up leaving the house until 3pm!!! oops!
We picked up Ladd at the Indy airport by 4pm-ish and headed out on the road to Illinois. We stopped at Wendys almost to IL border for a bite to eat...it was rather rainy too. Then we just drove and drove across the "corned" countryside of Illinois! We had to get off the highway to go towards Nauvoo, Il and when we did I somehow missed my turn to go west and kept going south. Then when I did turn, I realized I was heading east!!! ugh! Good thing it was only a few miles out of the way. We finally got on the right road and came into Nauvoo along side the Mississippi River. We got to our camping place (Camp Nauvoo) late, about 9:30pm and had to set up tents in the dark. It was so sticky and humid, we were drenched with bug spray on top of that...and that made for a rather sleepless night!
But...we had made it! We were finally ready to start our trek on the Mormon Pioneer Trail!!
Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Day 8 (Thurs. Aug. 6, 2009) Road Trip
Early this morning, Mom and Dad took off for Columbus, Ohio to go work in the Temple. They left before we all woke up, I think around 6am. So, the house was quiet when we finally were up and going. We did the usual...breakfast, cleanup, adn played with legose and lincoln logs.
The kids were excited for this day because I had promised them that we could go to the Children's Museum of Indianapolis in the afternoon. Apparently, the first Thursday of every month, Target sponsors a family night at the museum...for FREE!!!! This free time is from 4 to 8pm in the evening...perfect amount of time. Love that!...and love that we just so happened to be in Indy on the first Thurs. of the month!
So, after 11am, we went swimming in the South Harbor pool, while Tirsa napped. We only swam for a few hours because we had to be showered and dressed to go down to Indy. By 3pm, we drove down to Indianapolis by way of rt. 31 or Meridian Road. I was able to show the kids all the beautiful homes on this historic street to Indianapolis. They were amazed at the size and granduer of many of the homes.
We arrived right at 4pm and had to search for a parking spot becasue every family was there it seemed like! But it turned out to be perfect because they had renovated and added a parking garage plus a skywalkway from the parking garage to the museum! Nice! They also added some huge dinosaur sculptures on the outside of the museum building...the neat things was that their heads went through the building's walls and you could see their heads once you were inside! I think another dinosaur was just opposite that...body inside with his head poking out of the building!! It was so cool!!
At first I let the kids break up into teams so that they could go see what they wanted. Jenika and Karina were together and Ethan and Daria...I had Alia and Tirsa. It worked out all right, but most the time Daria and Ethan followed me...Jenika and karina pretty much did go together to the different exhibits.
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/
It was fun! There were lots of new things to look at and experience and then there were the old standbys: the water clock, the carosell, the hands-on area Science Works(sponsored by Dow), the old trains, the underwater adventures section. Some of the new things to see were: A "Take Me There" section...featured a destination point in the world and you walked into that area as if in that country. The featured destination was Egypt...pretty neat! We also "walked through" a replica of the inside of a pyramid and wrote our names in hieroglyphics. There was also a great display of Dale Chihuly glass sculptures...awesome!!! You could even make your own in a certain area of the first floor. Just amazing to behold and stunningly beautiful!!
http://www.chihuly.com/installations/childrens/
As it neared 8pm, I made my way with Alia and Tirsa to the front of the museum...of course the others had wondered off right at closing time!! But I wasn't really worried because we were all dressed in bright lime green shirts and I figured I could spot them easily...besides the 4 older ones were told to meet me at the front and they are pretty good at following that kind of instruction. I waited there a while until finally, as the crowds got down to the bare minimum, a security guard ask me who i was looking for. I wasn't really worried, but she asked me for names, full descriptions of what they looked like, what they were wearing, etc. I told her but just said I was just waiting to see if they were still in the building before I wandered outside to look for them. But NO, she put out a "Code Adam" and had multiple workers on the job. I kept trying to tell her that I had told them to meet me at the front of the museum and I hadn't checked outside yet, so that they were just probably out there waiting for me. She was all business!!!....well sure enough, we simply walked out the front doors and there they were playing on various equipment and sculptures out front with the other bagillions of kids!! hahaha! The Security lady made me account for all of them and sent us on our way...She was helpful, but I think a big deal was made out of not so big a deal!!! hahah! Oh well...
We headed back to the car...we were starving, but happy that we had had such a good time. The older kids did mention that it didn't seem like it was exciting as they remembered it. Ahhh...yes...that is the downside of growing up and older....memories you have as a child seem so much bigger than they really are or somehow they are glamorized to such exciting levels!!! Even still, we DID have a great time there....did I mention it was FREE!!!!!!!
Upon leaving the Museum parking lot, we drove around looking for a place to eat and consequently I was able to drive the kids around the downtown Indy area. We saw the State Capitol building and Post Office, the monument on the Circle and other neat buildings, monuments and fountains. As we left the city I drove into a KFC to get food, but while looking into the restaurant and the kind of people that were coming in and out, I opted to drive out of the city and into the suburbs that I knew! yikes!
We ended up driving all the way back up to Westfield and eating at a Chick-Fil-A. This was a new experience in and of itself for the kids. I remember eating at them occasionally in the West and had forgotten that we didn't really have them in the East. So, we ordered a few things and the kids absolutely loved it!!! The CrissCut French Fries especially. We didn't get home till LATE!!! But at least everyone went straight to bed without complaint! It was a fun day!!!
The kids were excited for this day because I had promised them that we could go to the Children's Museum of Indianapolis in the afternoon. Apparently, the first Thursday of every month, Target sponsors a family night at the museum...for FREE!!!! This free time is from 4 to 8pm in the evening...perfect amount of time. Love that!...and love that we just so happened to be in Indy on the first Thurs. of the month!
So, after 11am, we went swimming in the South Harbor pool, while Tirsa napped. We only swam for a few hours because we had to be showered and dressed to go down to Indy. By 3pm, we drove down to Indianapolis by way of rt. 31 or Meridian Road. I was able to show the kids all the beautiful homes on this historic street to Indianapolis. They were amazed at the size and granduer of many of the homes.
We arrived right at 4pm and had to search for a parking spot becasue every family was there it seemed like! But it turned out to be perfect because they had renovated and added a parking garage plus a skywalkway from the parking garage to the museum! Nice! They also added some huge dinosaur sculptures on the outside of the museum building...the neat things was that their heads went through the building's walls and you could see their heads once you were inside! I think another dinosaur was just opposite that...body inside with his head poking out of the building!! It was so cool!!
At first I let the kids break up into teams so that they could go see what they wanted. Jenika and Karina were together and Ethan and Daria...I had Alia and Tirsa. It worked out all right, but most the time Daria and Ethan followed me...Jenika and karina pretty much did go together to the different exhibits.
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/
It was fun! There were lots of new things to look at and experience and then there were the old standbys: the water clock, the carosell, the hands-on area Science Works(sponsored by Dow), the old trains, the underwater adventures section. Some of the new things to see were: A "Take Me There" section...featured a destination point in the world and you walked into that area as if in that country. The featured destination was Egypt...pretty neat! We also "walked through" a replica of the inside of a pyramid and wrote our names in hieroglyphics. There was also a great display of Dale Chihuly glass sculptures...awesome!!! You could even make your own in a certain area of the first floor. Just amazing to behold and stunningly beautiful!!
http://www.chihuly.com/installations/childrens/
As it neared 8pm, I made my way with Alia and Tirsa to the front of the museum...of course the others had wondered off right at closing time!! But I wasn't really worried because we were all dressed in bright lime green shirts and I figured I could spot them easily...besides the 4 older ones were told to meet me at the front and they are pretty good at following that kind of instruction. I waited there a while until finally, as the crowds got down to the bare minimum, a security guard ask me who i was looking for. I wasn't really worried, but she asked me for names, full descriptions of what they looked like, what they were wearing, etc. I told her but just said I was just waiting to see if they were still in the building before I wandered outside to look for them. But NO, she put out a "Code Adam" and had multiple workers on the job. I kept trying to tell her that I had told them to meet me at the front of the museum and I hadn't checked outside yet, so that they were just probably out there waiting for me. She was all business!!!....well sure enough, we simply walked out the front doors and there they were playing on various equipment and sculptures out front with the other bagillions of kids!! hahaha! The Security lady made me account for all of them and sent us on our way...She was helpful, but I think a big deal was made out of not so big a deal!!! hahah! Oh well...
We headed back to the car...we were starving, but happy that we had had such a good time. The older kids did mention that it didn't seem like it was exciting as they remembered it. Ahhh...yes...that is the downside of growing up and older....memories you have as a child seem so much bigger than they really are or somehow they are glamorized to such exciting levels!!! Even still, we DID have a great time there....did I mention it was FREE!!!!!!!
Upon leaving the Museum parking lot, we drove around looking for a place to eat and consequently I was able to drive the kids around the downtown Indy area. We saw the State Capitol building and Post Office, the monument on the Circle and other neat buildings, monuments and fountains. As we left the city I drove into a KFC to get food, but while looking into the restaurant and the kind of people that were coming in and out, I opted to drive out of the city and into the suburbs that I knew! yikes!
We ended up driving all the way back up to Westfield and eating at a Chick-Fil-A. This was a new experience in and of itself for the kids. I remember eating at them occasionally in the West and had forgotten that we didn't really have them in the East. So, we ordered a few things and the kids absolutely loved it!!! The CrissCut French Fries especially. We didn't get home till LATE!!! But at least everyone went straight to bed without complaint! It was a fun day!!!
Day 7 ( Wed. Aug. 5, 2009) Road Trip
RaeAnna and kids left from their hotel this morning to go back home in Ohio. We moped around missing them! :( But, after breakfast it was back to playing with legos and climbed trees!! I had some good talks with my dad.
Later I think the kids did some yardwork or gardening with Grandpa...I was doing some house work with mom...probably laundry. After lunch, Grandpa took kids to Forest park, driving our big red van, which Ethan has called "The Marooner" (I guess because of its color). While at Forest Park, they saw the pools...Olympic size and Diving, played on the playground, watched a baseball game, got watermelon and popsicles.
Mom and I enjoyed some peace and quiet while they were gone...while we talked and cleaned at home. That night, the kids played the electronic football game with Grandpa yet again!
Ya know...it's really nice sometimes to just spend time together, with no place to go and with no activities to arrange...it's nice to just take it easy and spend time talking and....just "being" together.
Later I think the kids did some yardwork or gardening with Grandpa...I was doing some house work with mom...probably laundry. After lunch, Grandpa took kids to Forest park, driving our big red van, which Ethan has called "The Marooner" (I guess because of its color). While at Forest Park, they saw the pools...Olympic size and Diving, played on the playground, watched a baseball game, got watermelon and popsicles.
Mom and I enjoyed some peace and quiet while they were gone...while we talked and cleaned at home. That night, the kids played the electronic football game with Grandpa yet again!
Ya know...it's really nice sometimes to just spend time together, with no place to go and with no activities to arrange...it's nice to just take it easy and spend time talking and....just "being" together.
Day 6 (Tues. Aug. 4, 2009) Road Trip
Chris and Jess left this morning. It was fun to see them and be with them. As always, it never seems to be enough time together. So, it was Roylances and Wimmers who were left at Mom and Dad’s house.
Again, it was all about playing legos and climbing trees. They did go downstairs to play foosball and other things in the basement. Unfortunately one of those other things was the weight lifting set. The boys of course had to try their hand at it and since it was set to WAY too much weight, they thought they would change the weights off the end of the barbell. This they decided to do while the bar was sitting up high on the rack, rather than on the ground. UGH! As Ethan began to take his weight off, the bar flipped up and all the remaining weight fell onto Tommy!!! Somehow his hand got stuck and he ended up having the skin between his thumb and forefinger torn….ouch!!!! So, Annie took him to the Redi-Med where they super glued it! He was in hysterics when they left, but had calmed down just fine by the time they got home.
Adults talked and kids played. Dad also brought out the Electronic Football game for all to enjoy! They had a great time with that. It was kind of a gloomy day….but later, Dad took all the grandchildren down to the South Harbor playground and we had ice cream under the pavilion. The kids wander around the lake front as well, and Dad and I had a good talk.
Once we got home, Grandpa took boys on a hike in the woods at the end of the road, while we prepared ham and corn on the cob for dinner. It was getting late, but we still decided to go back with RaeAnna to their hotel and swim. It was the smallest pool EVER!! I swear once all 11 kids and I got in, it might as well have been a giant bathtub!!! Hahahaha! Too Funny! It was a small room with a small pool….and very loud and echo-y!!! oh my! We only got to swim for about an hour or so, because it closed at 10:30pm. Oh well….we went up to their hotel room and changed and snacked and watched TV. We had to say our goodbyes as they were going to leave straight from the hotel in the morning. I had a good chat with RaeAnna, as I always do, and then we went back up to Mom and Dad’s house to sleep. It is so hard for me to say goodbye!!! The kids were bummed too…they love their cousins!
Again, it was all about playing legos and climbing trees. They did go downstairs to play foosball and other things in the basement. Unfortunately one of those other things was the weight lifting set. The boys of course had to try their hand at it and since it was set to WAY too much weight, they thought they would change the weights off the end of the barbell. This they decided to do while the bar was sitting up high on the rack, rather than on the ground. UGH! As Ethan began to take his weight off, the bar flipped up and all the remaining weight fell onto Tommy!!! Somehow his hand got stuck and he ended up having the skin between his thumb and forefinger torn….ouch!!!! So, Annie took him to the Redi-Med where they super glued it! He was in hysterics when they left, but had calmed down just fine by the time they got home.
Adults talked and kids played. Dad also brought out the Electronic Football game for all to enjoy! They had a great time with that. It was kind of a gloomy day….but later, Dad took all the grandchildren down to the South Harbor playground and we had ice cream under the pavilion. The kids wander around the lake front as well, and Dad and I had a good talk.
Once we got home, Grandpa took boys on a hike in the woods at the end of the road, while we prepared ham and corn on the cob for dinner. It was getting late, but we still decided to go back with RaeAnna to their hotel and swim. It was the smallest pool EVER!! I swear once all 11 kids and I got in, it might as well have been a giant bathtub!!! Hahahaha! Too Funny! It was a small room with a small pool….and very loud and echo-y!!! oh my! We only got to swim for about an hour or so, because it closed at 10:30pm. Oh well….we went up to their hotel room and changed and snacked and watched TV. We had to say our goodbyes as they were going to leave straight from the hotel in the morning. I had a good chat with RaeAnna, as I always do, and then we went back up to Mom and Dad’s house to sleep. It is so hard for me to say goodbye!!! The kids were bummed too…they love their cousins!
Day 5 (Mon. Aug. 3, 2009) Road Trip
We slept in this morning, and even missed the continental breakfast! Geesh! But we did get everything packed up and ready to go by 11am! Ahahhah! Rebecca called and told us Grandpa and Grandma were going to head out early if we wanted to say goodbye, but it just wasn’t going to work with 11 children who hadn’t eaten yet!! Oops! We had said goodbyes the night before anyway, so I was okay with it.
We checked out of the hotel at 11am and then went down the road a bit to a Denny’s for breakfast at 11:30…hahahah! We ordered a bunch of food and some of us shared…it was yummy! Then on to Mom and Dad’s house we drove. We had a good time talking with Rebecca and Amber before they left in the afternoon….Rebecca had a flight out and Amber was driving back to St. Louis, so she drove Rebecca to the airport.
In the meantime, the kids played rugby, croquette , Frisbee, Legos, and climbed the tree in the back yard. The little ones had to be kept out of the gravel rocks that surrounded the deck…they kept wanting to play in it! It was also fun to see Alma Cooper, Scotty, and Alia play so well together. Scotty seemed to take charge and the other two followed close behind. If someone, got out of line they let each other know, but then went back to playing! It was cute!
Later, Larry and O’etta Dennis called and said they were in town and came over for a chat. The kids however were chomping at the bit to go swimming, so my dad and brother Dennis ended up walking over to the South Harbor Pool with them…Uncle Chris went too….Annie and I joined later. It was fun to see Chris do some awesome dives off the diving board during adult swim…Ethan really enjoyed that!
Dinner was yummy…a “Hot and Now” deal from Little Caesar’s Pizza!! Yum! I hadn’t had Little Caesar’s in soooo long! They just don’t have them in the East. Later in the evening, Chris brought the TV outside on the deck and we watched some of Scot’s Rugby video, and then the movie “Forever Strong”. It was a fun day! We stayed the night at my parent’s house, in a couple of beds and an air mattress. RaeAnna took her kids back to a hotel in town.
We checked out of the hotel at 11am and then went down the road a bit to a Denny’s for breakfast at 11:30…hahahah! We ordered a bunch of food and some of us shared…it was yummy! Then on to Mom and Dad’s house we drove. We had a good time talking with Rebecca and Amber before they left in the afternoon….Rebecca had a flight out and Amber was driving back to St. Louis, so she drove Rebecca to the airport.
In the meantime, the kids played rugby, croquette , Frisbee, Legos, and climbed the tree in the back yard. The little ones had to be kept out of the gravel rocks that surrounded the deck…they kept wanting to play in it! It was also fun to see Alma Cooper, Scotty, and Alia play so well together. Scotty seemed to take charge and the other two followed close behind. If someone, got out of line they let each other know, but then went back to playing! It was cute!
Later, Larry and O’etta Dennis called and said they were in town and came over for a chat. The kids however were chomping at the bit to go swimming, so my dad and brother Dennis ended up walking over to the South Harbor Pool with them…Uncle Chris went too….Annie and I joined later. It was fun to see Chris do some awesome dives off the diving board during adult swim…Ethan really enjoyed that!
Dinner was yummy…a “Hot and Now” deal from Little Caesar’s Pizza!! Yum! I hadn’t had Little Caesar’s in soooo long! They just don’t have them in the East. Later in the evening, Chris brought the TV outside on the deck and we watched some of Scot’s Rugby video, and then the movie “Forever Strong”. It was a fun day! We stayed the night at my parent’s house, in a couple of beds and an air mattress. RaeAnna took her kids back to a hotel in town.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Day 3 (Sat. Aug. 1, 2009) Road Trip
We slept in!! Yikes! Well, we took all morning long to get packed up to go on the road to Indiana. I don't know when we finally left...2 or 3pm? Anyway, it was later than we hoped. I drove the girls...well Karina really wanted to be with the boys, so minus her. But Lizzy was delighted to be riding in our van with ALL girls...no brothers!! That meant Annie had ALL the boys plus Karina.
We took route 77 north and then I-70 west to Indianapolis. I suppose this was a longer way when I think back at it, but it was all highway and we took turns passing each other on the road!!! We stopped a few times for bathroom breaks and running around, but really we pretty much drove straight thru. We were lucky to have some yummy cookies made for us by a co-worker of Jon's....yummo!!! We also saw a Frische's Big Boy along the way....my mom always talked about these when we were young and how she loved them, but ya couldn't find them anymore!!...hahaha...well there it was right outside of Dayton, Ohio!!!
We finally arrived at the Days Inn in Castleton, Indiana around 8:30pm....late! Wimmers went up to my parent's house anyway, while Roylances stayed at the Hotel and prepped for Sunday. We were able to see my grandparents, Alma Card and Elizabether Clark...Chris, Jessica, Alma, and Abrams, Rebecca, Craig and Amber, and Scot. We had some fun playing and eating and catching up! We got back down to the hotel at about midnight! It was going to be fun being around so much family!!
We took route 77 north and then I-70 west to Indianapolis. I suppose this was a longer way when I think back at it, but it was all highway and we took turns passing each other on the road!!! We stopped a few times for bathroom breaks and running around, but really we pretty much drove straight thru. We were lucky to have some yummy cookies made for us by a co-worker of Jon's....yummo!!! We also saw a Frische's Big Boy along the way....my mom always talked about these when we were young and how she loved them, but ya couldn't find them anymore!!...hahaha...well there it was right outside of Dayton, Ohio!!!
We finally arrived at the Days Inn in Castleton, Indiana around 8:30pm....late! Wimmers went up to my parent's house anyway, while Roylances stayed at the Hotel and prepped for Sunday. We were able to see my grandparents, Alma Card and Elizabether Clark...Chris, Jessica, Alma, and Abrams, Rebecca, Craig and Amber, and Scot. We had some fun playing and eating and catching up! We got back down to the hotel at about midnight! It was going to be fun being around so much family!!
Monday, August 31, 2009
DAY 1 (Thurs. July 30, 2009) Road Trip
I spent most of the week prior to this day packing...trying to only bring bare escentials and telling the kids they could only bring 1 stuffed animal, a few books and something to draw with!
Thursday morning was chaotic of course, not only because I was trying to pack the van up, but because we still had summer activities we were finishing up! Alia and Daria had to finish their swim lessons with a double lesson since we were missing the last one....and Ethan finished up his summer enrichment class at school. My nails were in bad shape and so I HAD to get those taken care of...heehee!..I know a petty thing, but still....and Karina was coming home from a great sleepover with a friend.
I think we finally left by 2pm! I decided to take the scenic route to Ohio towards Marrietta where my sister, RaeAnna, lives. We headed west into Pennsylvania and then near Carlisle, we headed southwest. This route took us down thru Pennsylvania to the northern border of Maryland and then into West Virginia. Marrietta, Ohio is just cross the river from West Virginia. It sure was scenic! ha! Very beautiful, rolling hills, some great rock cliffs and small mountains, lots of green.
But, oh boy was it a drive!! I don't think the road was ever straight or flat....so much up and down, over and around, twisting and turning!!! It definitely kept me awake!
As far as the kids....they kept me awake too! Remember, I was on my own...Ladd was still at home in New Jersey...he would join up with us later. And, the rule was that unless it was pouring rain or dark outside, they were NOT allowed to watch movies or play computer games! They actually didn't really complain about that and enjoyed the scenery, read their books, played cards....and of course picked and poked at each other! The last hour was the worst! I had to stop for gas and they were really ready to be there!! Tirsa was screaming and I was bookin' out down the highway wanting to get there soon too! Good thing there wasn't a car in sight...we basically had the road to ourselves.
We finally arrived at about 9 pm, had a light supper, played with our cousins and went to bed. I don't think I stayed up talking very late with RaeAnna like I usually do because I was just wiped out!!! :P So went the first day of our trip...mainly just travel with a smiling bunch of faces of family waiting for us on the other end!
Thursday morning was chaotic of course, not only because I was trying to pack the van up, but because we still had summer activities we were finishing up! Alia and Daria had to finish their swim lessons with a double lesson since we were missing the last one....and Ethan finished up his summer enrichment class at school. My nails were in bad shape and so I HAD to get those taken care of...heehee!..I know a petty thing, but still....and Karina was coming home from a great sleepover with a friend.
I think we finally left by 2pm! I decided to take the scenic route to Ohio towards Marrietta where my sister, RaeAnna, lives. We headed west into Pennsylvania and then near Carlisle, we headed southwest. This route took us down thru Pennsylvania to the northern border of Maryland and then into West Virginia. Marrietta, Ohio is just cross the river from West Virginia. It sure was scenic! ha! Very beautiful, rolling hills, some great rock cliffs and small mountains, lots of green.
But, oh boy was it a drive!! I don't think the road was ever straight or flat....so much up and down, over and around, twisting and turning!!! It definitely kept me awake!
As far as the kids....they kept me awake too! Remember, I was on my own...Ladd was still at home in New Jersey...he would join up with us later. And, the rule was that unless it was pouring rain or dark outside, they were NOT allowed to watch movies or play computer games! They actually didn't really complain about that and enjoyed the scenery, read their books, played cards....and of course picked and poked at each other! The last hour was the worst! I had to stop for gas and they were really ready to be there!! Tirsa was screaming and I was bookin' out down the highway wanting to get there soon too! Good thing there wasn't a car in sight...we basically had the road to ourselves.
We finally arrived at about 9 pm, had a light supper, played with our cousins and went to bed. I don't think I stayed up talking very late with RaeAnna like I usually do because I was just wiped out!!! :P So went the first day of our trip...mainly just travel with a smiling bunch of faces of family waiting for us on the other end!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Our 2009 Trek West
Well, I will attempt to write out details about our Family Trip we took out west during the month of August 2009...and yes, it took just about a month!! I think I will post each day or segment of the trip on separate postings, just so it's not too long and boring to read through all at once! hahah! I'll have to dig around and find all the pictures we took as well. I know Ladd has many of them on his laptop as mine is just so full of pictures I'm running out of space.
So, why did we "trek" west? It all started with Ladd's finding out about his 20 year class reunion, Weber High School in Pleasant View, Utah. I think he started getting info on that a year ago, however when I asked about it this past spring (was I going to go, how would we go, would the whole family go...ya know those sorts of questions) he surprised me by saying we should all drive out. We had just purchased a giant van as a family car in February and what better way could one get to make the long haul. Keep in mind, Ladd never went on road trips as a kid and has often dreaded the thought of being in a car with all the kids for majorly extended periods of time. Just keep that in mind....HIS idea!!! :)
I, on the other hand, was elated at the idea!!! I jumped at the chance for a huge family road trip because that is the story of my life! :) We did them ALL the time as a kid...we'd go west or east to see family, friends, church sites, historical sites, and strange/random sites!!! We'd camp, cookout, swim, play on playgrounds, visit waterparks, zoos, museums, lakes & waterfalls, hike mountains, etc. It was great fun and I have the BEST memories of doing such things. So, with the prospect of going west, I got on the internet and searched...talked with my dad and gleaned ideas...so much fun!
I decided (yes, it was purely ME that did the planning! heehee) that on our way out, we'd stop in Ohio first to see my sister for a few days, then head up and over to Indiana to stay with my parents for a week. Ladd would fly out from NJ to Indianapolis, where we would pick him up from the airport on our way to Nauvoo, IL. We would spend a few days in Nauvoo then follow the Mormon trail as we headed west, stopping at several sites along the way...including: Winterquarters (nebraska), Mormon Island/Grand Island, Nebraska, Chimney rock near Scott's Bluff, nebraska, Guernsey, WY oregon trail ruts, Independence rock, Devil's Gate & Martin's cove. When we got to Utah, we would go to Provo first showing the kids BYU campus and visit family. Then up to Salt Lake City to Temple Square, then up to Ogden to stay with the Wimmer Grandparents. On the way home we would high tail it back to Indiana and then to Dayton and Columbus, Ohio to visit friends.
So that was the plan! Let's see how it all fell into place!.....
So, why did we "trek" west? It all started with Ladd's finding out about his 20 year class reunion, Weber High School in Pleasant View, Utah. I think he started getting info on that a year ago, however when I asked about it this past spring (was I going to go, how would we go, would the whole family go...ya know those sorts of questions) he surprised me by saying we should all drive out. We had just purchased a giant van as a family car in February and what better way could one get to make the long haul. Keep in mind, Ladd never went on road trips as a kid and has often dreaded the thought of being in a car with all the kids for majorly extended periods of time. Just keep that in mind....HIS idea!!! :)
I, on the other hand, was elated at the idea!!! I jumped at the chance for a huge family road trip because that is the story of my life! :) We did them ALL the time as a kid...we'd go west or east to see family, friends, church sites, historical sites, and strange/random sites!!! We'd camp, cookout, swim, play on playgrounds, visit waterparks, zoos, museums, lakes & waterfalls, hike mountains, etc. It was great fun and I have the BEST memories of doing such things. So, with the prospect of going west, I got on the internet and searched...talked with my dad and gleaned ideas...so much fun!
I decided (yes, it was purely ME that did the planning! heehee) that on our way out, we'd stop in Ohio first to see my sister for a few days, then head up and over to Indiana to stay with my parents for a week. Ladd would fly out from NJ to Indianapolis, where we would pick him up from the airport on our way to Nauvoo, IL. We would spend a few days in Nauvoo then follow the Mormon trail as we headed west, stopping at several sites along the way...including: Winterquarters (nebraska), Mormon Island/Grand Island, Nebraska, Chimney rock near Scott's Bluff, nebraska, Guernsey, WY oregon trail ruts, Independence rock, Devil's Gate & Martin's cove. When we got to Utah, we would go to Provo first showing the kids BYU campus and visit family. Then up to Salt Lake City to Temple Square, then up to Ogden to stay with the Wimmer Grandparents. On the way home we would high tail it back to Indiana and then to Dayton and Columbus, Ohio to visit friends.
So that was the plan! Let's see how it all fell into place!.....
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