AHEC TRIP: Day 1

Day 1:

States driven: Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri

Todd has an externship in Tooele, UT for 5 weeks so we decided to make a trek across the country in our new van. Here is the first of thousands of pictures taken all across the country. At this point in time we were still in high spirits :)

The first ice cream cone stop in Illinois. It was muggy & hot!

We met up with a lot of bugs on the front of the car and windshield along the way. This yellow one was one of the larger ones and really got in the way of my pictures taken while driving that first day.

We attempted to go up the arch in St. Louis but the tours and parking were full at the time. Decided we would try on the way home (which we ended up not doing because we just wanted to get HOME!)

We did take some pictures though.

The first of MANY stadiums.

The first day of driving west with Fisher complaining about the sun in his eyes when the sun started to set.

These next two pictures were taken from the car with the window rolled up. I enhanced the exposure, but the sunset was beautiful even without any editing.

The first of many sunsets as we drove.

This one was taken in Missouri.

We stopped at a hotel in Independence Missouri, right outside of Kansas City.

Happy Fourth!

I still need to post about Cooper's first birthday (and the whole trip) but I am trying to keep up on all the new pictures too.

We returned home from our trip, unpacked our suitcases, got the laundry done only to turn around and pack back up to head to Cincinnati to visit G & G Church. After the couple hour drive, Fisher was itching to get outside. They moved into a new house with a fun back yard that was perfect for Fisher to play baseball with Uncle Jedd. He even started connecting with the ball.

Cooper wanted to join in the fun but it was so hot outside and we didn't want to go out there.

The boys loved G&G's new pad and loved playing with the moving boxes.

They made little beds inside of them. Well, Fisher did. Cooper liked crawling in and out of the boxes.

The next day we spent some time out in the back yard while the boys golfed.

Eventually Cooper and Fisher found themselves digging in the planter. It was a perfect place for the boys to play and get dirty.

This dirt was just the beginning.

Fisher was dripping sweat off his face, mixed in with the dirt. He kept complaining about "water" stinging his eyes. While I love how green and beautiful it is out here, I absolutely detest the hot, muggy summers.

Me and Cooper tolerating the heat.

Taking a break in the shade.

Showing his first tooth. (His two canines broke through but have not popped up yet.)

After all the dirt, it was straight into the bathtub.

G&G supplied Fisher with lots of poppers.

He even started doing them into a box so he could see the spark.

Then Daddy decided to bust out the sparklers.

I like this one.

Fisher was a little nervous at first, as you can see by his face.

He got over his fear as long as they were far from his body.

He started really enjoying himself.

Eventually he was marching and dancing while parading around the back patio.

In the end, they were a huge success.

After playing by ourselves as a family, we decided to join the neighborhood party.

They literally block off both entrances to the street and it becomes party central.

Kids and adults are everywhere, music is blasting, candy is passed out, the kids have a parade of bikes and scooters, games of corn hole were played, there was a water slide for the kids as seen above...It was pretty insane.

Even the older generation got out and enjoyed themselves :)

The loud machine gun sounding poppers and smoke things were doing off like crazy up and down the street.

We all just sat on the front lawn and people watched.

It was really hot and muggy out.

Fisher rode in the parade. Everything started off okay aside from the fact that he was one tired little boy.

Then he fell trying to keep up with all the big kids. In this picture you can see him yelling at all of them telling them they are stupid because they are all faster than him.

He continued to stand in the middle of the road so that he was in the way.

Finally, in a burst of tears, he left the road and cried like only a tired, disheartened, four year old boy can.

So we did what any responsible parent would do and kept him quiet by stuffing his face full of sugar.

Cooper desperately wanted down on the ground so he could run around with all the kids but it was too chaotic to let him go free.

As soon as it started to get a little dark outside the fireworks began.

It was a pretty impressive fireworks display considering they were being launched from a driveway 3 houses down.

Although Fisher missed the big show, Cooper stayed up with us and LOVED the fireworks. He would point in between launches as if saying he wanted more and started making this "Ooooh" noise that was really cute.

I have a lot of random pictures of fire works.

One of those ones that shoots off the ground.

Cooper & Grandma having some one on one time. We played together while the boys went out golfing.

Fisher is really into jokes right now. This is the look that appears on his face when he's heard a good one.

I went out to grab some lunch and came back to find Fisher & Grandma soaked and playing in the kiddie pool out back. It was quite the water fight they had and defintely a sweet day to remember.

Drying off and eating a popsicle. Perfect ending to a fun day.