Expedition 2018-a snapshot

Our big trip this summer was an almost 2 week trip to points west, a goal to travel to states we haven't been to yet.  We called it Expedition 2018 because it sounded cool and it really was starting to feel like an expedition with all the miles we were going to travel.  Mission accomplished.  We added Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas to our list of states we have been to.  Our initial plan was to camp in a camper for this trip, but that plan died on the side of the road about 1 hour into the trip.  Lucky for us, Grandpa Jerry came with our van and picked us up so we could keep on going.  Camping turned into staying at hotels, which was also a fun time.  We have already earned a free night with all the rooms we had booked for the trip.  Here are just a few pictures, one from each state (almost).

Cousins!  First stop, Iowa.  We got to spend the night at Uncle Jim and Aunt Courtney's house.  Xander and Everett were fun to play with and it was nice to see their house for our first time.  

Next stop, Minnesota and Mall of America.  We came, we shopped, we ate at Rainforest Cafe, we rode some rides at the amusement park in the mall.  

Then, on to North Dakota and Teddy Roosevelt National Park.  The painted canyons were beautiful.  It was cool to see geological formations different from the flat farmlands of the midwest. We stayed in the area for a few days.

Then, on to South Dakota.  We went to Mount Rushmore (the starting point for the idea of this trip) and Wind Cave National Park.  

We stopped at Chimney Rock, Nebraska next.  This was a lunch break stop on our long drive day from South Dakota to York, Nebraska.  It was so still out there, you could here the wind rustling through the grass.

No picture of Kansas City, KS.  We stayed the night there, had some great BBQ and made a spur of the moment decision to go to a marble store.  We got to see a marble making demonstration and, of course, got some marbles.  

After driving through Missouri, our last stop was to see more cousins in Illinois-Maddie, Abbie and Jacob.  We got to spend the night with Grammy Pammy before heading back to our house.  

It was a long trip.  I hope the kids can always look back on it and take away some good family memories.  We are already making plans in our head for Expedition 2019. 

A Happy 4th!

Here we are.  Worn out from staying up late many nights in a row.  And, I finally got a few minutes to myself (kind of) where I can upload pictures and do a quick post.  

This year's 4th was me and the 4 youngest kids.  Andy, Marcus and Cale are at Boy Scout camp this week.  Actually, Andy had to leave camp and work a baseball game on the 4th.  Yea for work.  

We started the day with the 4th of July parade.  I love our not-so-small town parade.  We sit right by the library, a whole whopping 10 minute walk from our house.  The kids love going, because they are guaranteed to get a bag full of candy-which they did.  

Kinley had a love-hate relationship with the parade.  She loved to go.  She hated that we stopped walking when we got to our spot.  She loved candy.  She did not love all the candy.  She wanted candy.  She did not want to get out of the wagon to get candy.  Typical Kinley.

Happy Birthday America!

Super-simple wind-sockets to decorate outside.  They looked so pretty in the breezes.  

I made time to snuggle with Mr. Orange.  He's really excited for the 4th of July.

We did go to a free fair at a local church.  They had a couple bounce house things and some carnival games.  The kids all managed to win a little something, which made everyone happy.  It was hot and humid-go July in Indiana-that the kids didn't mind only staying for a little while before we went back home to recover in air-conditioning with popsicles. 

And, my finest work.  A deconstructed s'mores that I found on facebook.  Chocolate bars, sprinkle-dipped marshmallows and cooking for 8 minutes at 450.  Done.  Dip  yourself in some graham crackers and prepare for the sugar rush that will follow.  This was our first course for dinner ("dessert" was hot dogs, pasta salad, etc.).  

So pretty.

Kid-tested and approved.  

Dinner was followed by baths, tv and kids that really didn't care about watching fireworks.  In fact, I put the girlies to bed before the fireworks were over.  (Another great thing about where we live is that we can see most of the fireworks from our house.  As the trees have grown, we can't see them as well outside anymore, but can get a great view from our stairwell inside.  Watching fireworks from indoors-no complaints from me.)  

Just nice and simple.  Love it.

Time for a park stop

My quest to take the kids to lots of local parks this summer continued tonight with a stop at Tipton Park after karate.  If you are counting, this is the third park we've been to this summer.  A far cry from the "go to a new park every week" dream that I had in June.  

The weather was perfect.  The kids had a blast.  The older three bolted out of the van as soon as it stopped to get to the giant hamster wheel first.  

Liam was immediately drawn to the climbing rock.  He scaled it like a champ, followed quickly by Kella.

Ewan thought the rock made an excellent seat.  "I'm the king of the world!" is what he was saying.

This park was great for us because I could be in one area with the littles and still have eyes on the big three.  Of course, we had to do Kinley's favorite thing...swing.  That is one way to get a smile on her face.

Time well spent tonight.  We love parks!

'round here

We are well into our third week of summer vacation.  It has been pretty humid here and has rained every day for a little bit-like Florida.  Right now, we are coming out of a tornado warning for a storm that went to the south of us.  Yippee.  All plans I had for today are cancelled except for a run to the store for to restock our milk supply.

We've tried to keep ourselves busy here.  Some things have been checked off our summer wish list.

Ewan and Cale went to Cub Scout camp and loved it.  Cale actually passed his swim test (or, rather, the part he was tested on) and earned himself a paddle in the canoe he was in with Andy.  I think both the boys earned their belt loops, and maybe their pins for archery and bb guns, too.

Ewan, climbing a rock wall.

Cale, shooting.

I think we've gotten to 2 parks so far.  It's hard for me to coordinate park time with Kinley's sleep schedule and evening activities.  And, I don't feed like playing in this humid, hot weather.  

Look, proof that Kinley can be smiley.  She really likes these swings.

We've had a guest at our house-Flat Stella from Oregon.  We take her around so she can see some of central Indiana.

Sad news-Mr Orange is missing!  He went missing on Saturday night 6/14 and hasn't been seen since.  I think he got shut outside that night on accident and instead of sticking around, the next door dog ran him off.  I am hopeful that Orange ended up on someone's doorstep and that kind soul took him in.  I keep looking out the doors thinking I'll see his face peeking in.  I tell the littles that Orange is off having an adventure.  Kella says that he is fighting Doofenshmirtz (the evil genius from Phineas and Ferb-a show we watch a lot here.  In the show, the kids's pet platupus, Perry, goes off the fight the evil doctor in every episode).

A week after Cale and Ewan got back, Marcus headed off to Boy Scout camp.  Andy got to go, too.  

Looking spiffy in his scout uniform.  The scarf holder was made by one of the leaders.

The "boys" ready to go.  I think Marcus was tired of getting his picture taken at this point.

Marcus comes back Saturday morning and Andy comes back the night before since I have to work this weekend.  Andy is back for two days and then he leaves for a football camp (for work) on Sunday and will be gone for another week.  Crazy, I know.

We've also been working on the library reading program and have just been hanging out.  Lots of play time, lots of electronics time, lots of relaxing time.  Summertime.

Summer wish list

School's out for summer.  For 7 weeks.  It would be 8, but we used all our flex days at the end of the year as make-up days for all the snow/cold days we had in January.  I've said it before, but I have a feeling that the time will go by too fast.  I've made a list of things I would like to be able to do this summer.  I won't call it a bucket list, things that we need to check off.  But I will call it a wish list, things that I would like to do. 

soccer camp (Marcus, Cale, Ewan, Liam)

basketball camp (Marcus, Cale, Ewan) 

swim lessons (M, C, E, L and Kella)

Cub Scout camp (C and E)

Boy Scout camp (M)

band camp (M)

summer reading program 

trip to Holiday World

camp at Lake Rudolph

geocaching

day trip to Warren Dunes

Indianapolis Indians game

Indy Eleven game

visit different local parks

trip to the Ft. Wayne zoo

use our Y membership and go to the swim park-often!
go to a movie
go bowling
go mini-golfing

Here's to a great summer!