Road trip!

Me, Brett, Jackson, Grammy, Poppy, Tate and Peyton

eating lakeside at the local hangout's Tiki Bar

Two Sundays ago the sermon at church was about road trips. I found it very fitting since the next day I began packing for our first family vacation - an almost 5 hour drive to see Grammy & Poppy. As Tracy talked about God being with you wherever you go, we were asked to turn to another person and share our favorite road trip story. As I quickly flipped in my mind through a Rolodex of great road trip memories and selected one from a childhood trip to Michigan I remember thinking 'this next adventure could very well change my perspective on road trips. OK God, I'll hang on for the ride!' Tate and I both love road trips but, then again, we had never traveled with three little ones before! I am happy to say it was a successful trip all the way around. We left at bed time Thursday night - instead of putting them in their cribs we loaded them into their new "big boy" car seats with Jackson and Peyton traveling forward facing! (Brett still needs to pack on a few pounds).

Brett

Jackson & Peyton

They slept most of the way up and all woke during points in the drive but were all sleeping when we arrived around 11:30 p.m. Unfortunately the transfer from van to house woke everyone up and they screamed on and off (mostly on) for a few hours - but who can blame them? They woke up in a new place in the middle of the night with my family fawning over them! We did the ride home Sunday afternoon and Jackson & Peyton fell right asleep, woke up cheerful and said hi, car, truck and bus the rest of the way. Brett cried for about 45 minutes but then peacefully slept for three hours! I am happy to report that we not only survived but are excited to do more traveling now that - as Granddad says - we've got one under our belt!

The stay at Grammy & Poppy's was great! The boys were so happy to see them and had a blast wondering around their property discovering new things, watching squirrels, golf carts, playing with pine cones and Poppy's menagerie of "toys".

Jackson & Peyton

Brett

Brett

Peyton

Jackson

The boys (including Tate) also went to their first Threshermen's Show (pretty much a bunch of old tractors, engines and interesting inventions made from... old tractors and engines).

Grammy was great and had high chairs, pack n plays, beach towels and all the other big stuff all ready for us so we actually were able to pack pretty light.

Tate and I agree our favorite part was watching the boys experience the lake for the first time. They all loved it.

Here is a picture of their first dip in the water. Unfortunately our camera battery died and we didn't get picks of them sitting in the water in their swim trunks splashing, but they definitely had a great time.

Auntie Kerry, Brett, Tate, Peyton, Me & Jackson

Thanks to Auntie Kerry & Auntie Nancy we also had extra hands to help and were able to get some time to relax and sleep.

Auntie Nancy shoveling, Auntie Kerry and Peyton on the John Deere

and Tate supervising (he was on vacation after all)