Category: Travel

Last winter Pearl Jam announced that they were going to play a couple shows at Wrigley at the end of their summer tour. Six months later the older kids and I were off to Chicago. We stayed one night, arriving at our hotel and then heading straight to Wrigley. After dinner at a near-by restaurant we enjoyed a self-guided tour of Wrigley and then the concert.

24On Tuesday, the next day, we headed downtown for just a few hours to play at Millennium Park, see the lake, and walk to Navy Pier. Then it was time to head home.

Last week I got to travel with the kids to the 8th annual cousin camp. I drove our three older kids and the Reagen kids to KC on Thursday afternoon and we arrived back home on Saturday. Activities consisted of swimming, bowling, swimming, outdoor theatre, donuts, park, and swimming. Eight straight years is pretty impressive. Everyone still loves the annual tradition.

We just got back from a 4 day drive around the Midwest. We left this past Sunday afternoon, and spent the night in Bloomington, IL. On Monday morning we left the hotel as quickly as possible and headed to Indianapolis for my Aunt Mary Beth’s funeral. It was obviously sad to be there for the funeral, but it was nice to see a lot of family and meet Jill’s baby, Annie.

After the funeral we hit the road and headed to St. Louis, arriving just in time to swim in a nasty, indoor hotel pool, watch Full House, and then get to bed. Tuesday morning we hit City Museum with the Reagens and stayed until dinner time, when we headed to Nick & Molly Ehlman’s house, to meet their baby. We enjoyed some Imo’s Pizza, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, and some quality time with the Ehlmans. I had a nice group shot of everyone, but my phone died and I lost a few pics.

Wednesday morning it was time to head home. We met Mark Arminio at Tony’s Donuts in the St. Louis suburbs and then hit to road, headed home. It was a fun, busy trip.

This past week we went on our annual, or sometimes bi-annual, trip to Mahoney State Park with the Liess clan. It was fun and the kids always have a blast. This was the first year the older kids could go off on their own most of the time. We also celebrated Rose’s first birthday while we were there.

Today was the coldest and windiest. We hit Rosy Mound for a hike in the morning, bowling in Muskegon in the afternoon, dinner, ice cream at the Pump House, and then one last Musical Fountain.

Today was another day spent away from the beach. In the morning we hit the local mini golf course. I think the Herrels were here nearly every day, but this was the only time for us.

In the afternoon we walked to the pier and took a trolley tour of Grand Haven. At the end of the trolley tour we received an ice cream token for Culver’s, so after dinner at Clover Bar (pizza) we headed to Culver’s for some ice cream. From there the Herrels headed home for bed and we hit the dance on the riverwalk. We were all tired so we had to just listen to the musical fountain from our house as we played cards.