Indiana in July

What were we thinking?  Going to Indiana for the 4th of July, and driving there with 3 small children?!?!  We were thinking we love our family that's what!!  ;)

So yep, we packed everything up in the van, made the almost 1200 mile journey across 5 states to see them all again!  It really wasn't that bad.  We left Thursday afternoon around 4 stopped for dinner, and then the kiddos slept most of the rest of that night.  We had planned on stopping in Kansas City for the night, but with the later start we got we didn't make it that far.  Our new goal was Salina, KS.  Aliy was driving so Cam could catch some z's and was feeling pretty good around midnightish when we rolled through Salina.  So we kept going.  Topeka was still a ways out, so we decided the halfway point of Junction City would be a good resting place for the night.  BIG MISTAKE!!!  We arrived in Junction City about 2 am local time and pulled up to a hotel Cam had checked out online.  Only to find they didn't have any rooms.  In fact, NONE of the hotels in town did!!!  There was a Country music festival (Country Stampede) nearby and there was no place at all that we could stay.  So we drug ourselves back onto the road and headed to Topeka.  Yuck!!  Arriving at 3:30 local time meant it was 4 am before we got in our rooms and in bed.  Only to get up and hit the road again at 8.  It was a rough night.  We hit some other "bumps in the road" that next day too.  A couple accidents and traffic jams delayed us more than we had hoped, and we had to add a few extra stops to git the kids breaks towards the end.  Everyone was just done being in the car.  So it was around 9 Indiana time when we rolled into Grandma and Grandpa Louie's house. 

The next day Saturday, we spent at a cousin's birthday party and the Marion County Fair.  The boys have been to the Larimer County Fair here in CO, but it's just not the same as a good ol' Midwestern County Fair!!!  One of Cam's high school buddies was in the demolition derby, so we left the little ones with G&G and took Riley to the fair.  He had so much fun!! It was the best one-on-one time he's had in a while.  He really enjoyed the derby!  It was pretty short though, so we were able to check out some rides too.  I think that was his favorite part!  He wanted to ride nearly all of them!  We did the Ferris Wheel, the fun house, some "teacups" version of a dinosaur, and a little kiddie roller coaster.  We also had some amazing funnel cakes and Elephant Ears!!!! Yum!!! Cam was so excited for the elephant ears (I think he ate 3 the whole week we were there) because we can't find them in Colorado. 

Elephant Ear

Watching the derby

#9 Steve Cullingford

Lawnmower derby between heats

Good Job Steve!

Ferris wheel

Sunday was a great day with Family.  After visiting some friends, we headed out to dinner with Cam's brothers and the "cousins." Riley and Jayce just love playing with their cousins, and their cousins Love playing with Amara!!!  ;)  And when it got dark they all went outside in the rain to catch lightning bugs (another thing we don't have in Colorado!)  With it being new to Riley and Jayce we had to stick them in Jars and let them be nightlights for the boys the rest of the week.  They were so cute! 

The boys LOVE playing with Grandpa's Mustangs

Grandma Louie's yummy raspberries

Grandpa's Birdfeeders . . . we actually saw some hummingbirds too!

Digging out Daddy's old toys to play with

Daddy tried re-living his past too . . .

. . . I think you're getting to old for that Daddy!  ;)

Just Hanging out on the Circle City Party Bus

Catching Lightning Bugs

I GOT ONE!!!

Monday was spent with Aunt Anna.  We had planned on going swimming, but the rain thought otherwise.  We got kinda close to going a couple times, but after looking at the radar and the time, decided against it.  But . . . we did get some shopping in (Mommy and Aunt Anna liked that!!!)  and were able to find some Colts stuff for the fam!  Tuesday we got some professional photos done of the grandkids with their Grandparents.  It was slightly stressful, but I think Kate did a wonderful job!!!  You can see the sneak preview here if you "like" her page on Facebook.  I can't wait to see the rest of them.  Wednesday we went to Unkie Rodger's and Auntie Kathie's.  The boys played outside all morning, rolling down the big hill in the back of their yard, Aunt Anna and Grandma Wilson came for lunch, and then we went to a carnival for more rides and dinner later that evening.  It was so fun!  It was great that Jayce got the chance to ride some rides too, and he loved them as much as Riley did.  Even crying at one point when Cam came to take him off.  Ahh, 2 year-olds!!!  :) 

Amara got a sink bath for pictures

Amara and Auntie Kathie

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling . . .

Shadow was having as much fun as the boys!

playing with Aunt Anna

Me and my Sissy

Grandma and Amara

The Scrambler!!!

Jayce's first ride

The motorcycles - He cried because he didn't want to get off!!

Did Daddy poo his pants on the Gravatron?!?! No, it's just dirt from where he tried to stand up and fell!

With Unkie Rodger and Auntie Kathie

On the 4th we had Cam's family over to G&G for a BBQ before heading downtown to walk the canal and watch fireworks. 

Eating Roasted Marshmallows

Happy 4th

Pre-fireworks nap on Grandma Louie

Walking the Canal

Waiting for fireworks

I think this one looks like a flower!!  so funny!!

Then we headed back to Colorado!  It was another mostly good trip back.  We stopped in St. Louis for lunch to see the Arch, and just happened to catch an AirShow at the same time.  That was really cool.  None of us had ever seen one before, so to catch by chance a free one, in front of the gateway arch was really amazing.  The boys LOVED it!!!  (all Three of them!) ;) 

Do you see the heart? 

We did a little more research when looking for a place to stay that night, and got a better nights rest!  And the second day was fairly uneventful, unless you count the fits by kiddos who were sick of being in the car.  Needless to say, it will be a while before we do that trip again!!  At least next year.  Anywho, it was a good trip overall.  Much more relaxing to see mostly only family.  And so glad we got to see so much of them! 

So who's coming HERE for Christmas!?!?!  ;)