Summer Vacation 2013

Last month we headed north again (well, much more east than north really...) to visit Joel's family.   We had SUCH an wonderful trip!  This has been the easiest traveling in a while--the kids slept perfectly, traveled amazingly, and had so much fun with cousins with no tears from any of them!  Even Brahm, who in his short little lifetime had been proving himself to be NOT a people-person, did so well, and loved all the extra attention.  We are so thankful.

Oddly enough, Brahm played with a giant embroidery hoop more than anything else.  It's the simple things!

 

 

We borrowed a DVD player for the trip, but forgot DVD's.  Thankfully, "Elf" was included in the borrowed DVD bag, so the kids got a lesson in awesome quotes.  Even Brahm loved it!

Our hotel the first night had a king bed.  A KING!  So all 4 of them got into the bed and pretended to be asleep.  That hotel was so nice--we love finding good deals that include a pool and full breakfast!  That night, we also went for a walk to a nearby casino with large flashing lights, like any good parents would do.  :-) 

Pit stop!

First stop:  Ohio to Karla's lakehouse.  We love spending a few days there each summer!  This year we spent lots of time on the lake...

 

 

 

On the boat...

Tubing...

And Oliver tried skiing!  

                                              

We also hung out at the house relaxing and playing with cousins.

 

Next, we drove back to northern Indiana to visit Joel's parents and other two sisters.  Even Joel's grandma was there!  Brahm had fun playing with beads with GG...

Lily playing carpet pool....

(have I mentioned that he lines things up?)  :-)

 Indiana has tall corn.  And corn in Indiana gets GREEN!  :-)

We went out for ice cream and bowling one night, too.  Both kids beat me.  NO KIDDING.



Joel surprised me with a quick 2-day trip to Chicago for our 11th anniversary.  (or maybe our 10th, which we missed because we gave each other Brahm!)  ;-)  

We took the North Shore train, which runs from just a few miles from his parents' place right into the city.  It was PERFECT!  And the kids were just fine spending time with Grandma and Grandpa--in fact, we had to CHASE THEM DOWN when we got back to get hugs.  Silly, independent children....

We did touristy things like the Field Museum, walked along the lake, went to Navy Pier, ate at Uno's pizza (in and out in under an hour, people! WE CAN EAT.)  

 

(okay, so TECHNICALLY, we didn't go to the Shedd Aquarium this time....there was a two-hour line OUT THE DOOR.)

Oh, and did I mention we were on the 14th floor of the Hyatt downtown? I almost fainted when we walked in to the room (which had floor-to-ceiling windows) and saw how high up we were.  I had to close the blinds with my eyes closed to keep from freaking out.  You'll be happy to know that I did eventually adjust to it, but still.  I'm pretty sure I couldn't live in a sky scraper.

 

We even found a 'field' of sunflowers right downtown!

We ate breakfast with my bro and his family near Millenium Park.  It was so fun.  And somehow, Tyler got ahold of my phone.  (grrrrr.....)  

 




We left VERY EARLY in the morning the day we came home.  We love doing that!  The kids slept for 5 of the 12 hours home! 

 Fog.  I was the only one in the car in awe of it.  It was so cool.  But we were driving THROUGH a cloud!  

Our favorite.  The kids love crossing the Mississippi!

Another year, another wonderful trip!