Industry Illinois August 2009

Industry is always the highlight of any vacation we take. Where else can you slip and slide with cousins, climb a jungle gym with your dad and draw on your face to act like Harry Potter?

Chicago in a nutshell...

Chicago in a nutshell... Day 1: Sears Tower (stood in the glass box hanging on the side of it) Field Museum (saw "SUE"- the biggest dinosaur found in US) Chicago Architecture River Boat tour, American Girl Store (that was a Katie and Mommy only adventure. Money was spent. A Molly doll came home with us.) Day 2: Wrigley Field Tour, dinner at Harry Carey's, Cubs game where the Philly's beat them badly, taxi ride home where the kids fell asleep. Day 3: Museum of Science and Industry where we saw the Harry Potter exhibit (again, money was spent. Wands, glasses, golden snitches, chocolate frogs, etc.) Then the drive to Industry. Chicago was the best vacation any of us had ever had.

Big August Vacation 2009

Day one, third movie.

Charleston, WV

Louisville, KY

Two days down in our big August vacation! Day one was full of driving and one accidental detour. Poor Gary- his Bertha let him down (what we named our GPS lady.) But the mistake in roads did take us to the very cool "Pink Cadillac Diner" near Natural Bridge in Virginia. Katie and Snowden ran from King Kong there and we all ate well.

Then we called it a day in Charleston WV where Snowden took over the bed in the middle of the night like he ALWAYS does when he gets in bed with me, and I, triumphantly, in the middle of the night- got this picture as proof.

Everyone then woke up to breakfast in bed served by Mommy, and we were off to Louisville KY! We went to the Muhammed Ali Museum and all had a great time with the interactive exhibits at Ali's "training camp." Everyone hit the big punching bag in the ring, shadow boxed with ALI and hit the little bag that hangs high. (Sorry Gary- I don't know what you call it.) It's a great museum. Gary had the most fun. As Snowdy says, Ali is "daddy's favorite puncher ever!"

Tonight I knew the vacation was really on when I heard myself say these words to Snowden,

No, what I want you to say is 'I'm sorry that I farted in your face!'

Bike Show with Uncle Billy

Gary, Austin, Frieda, Katie, Jill, Snowden, Sherry, Billy

We went to see Uncle Billy at a Car Show in Norfolk. Gary had a mini family reunion when his Aunt Frieda and cousin Sherry came by too. Snowden liked the bike. Katie enjoyed inspecting the cars, too.

Family Fun July 2009

We visited with our cousins for two fun packed days when they came to Virginia from Illinois. First we joined them at their hotel in Williamsburg (we were given the room right next to theirs by coincidence!) and the kids played in the pool. We also took in some Colonial Williamsburg shopping and eating while we were there. (Apologies to everyone who might have been on Duke of Gloucester street that night and got "shot" by the little patriot thugs with the "shoot gun" as Snowdy calls it. )

Then we went to Nauticuus the next day and visited the Battleship Wisconsin. Then on to the highlight of the trip when we played at the beach for a couple of hours. Nicole saved Katie from countless waves and JD helped Snowdy with a sandcastle. The waves were awesome!