Eye Surgery and More

Haven't been able to post for a while.  I have been recovering from eye surgery and complications related to it.  On top of that, I was the lone parent at home while Brad was in Kentucky on business for a week.  I still can't see super great, but I am getting better.  Hopefully I will be able to post more in the next while.

4th Grade

School starts again!

Wally World- Oh the joy of road trips!

The LONGEST Road trip ever!!!!!! 

We drove for 2 straight days- sleeping in Kearney Nebraska- until we made it to Chicago.

Little did we know what we had gotten ourselves into.  We had no idea that every state that we traveled to was in some sort of record heat wave.  We are talking around 103 degrees, but when you add the humidity index (or whatever they call it) they were saying on the news that it felt like at least 109 degrees!

Oh, and can I just say that I am so grateful that I live somewhere that does not make me pay extra to drive on the road, take my money every few miles, and then make me drive in road construction on the roads I just paid to drive on. (Stupid Toll Roads!)

So, here is a sprinkling of photos taken on our long, hot vacation.

 We visited or experienced about 85 percent of the things listed above.

 A famous clock that people meet each other under.

 The "Sky Deck" in the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower).  This is a piece of glass that you stand on and see all the way -103 floors- to the sidewalk below you.

 Willis Tower

 

Willis Tower

Famous Chicago Theatre- Wish I could have gone to see Barry Manilow there.

 Our future astronaut.

 Museum of Science and Industry

 Turnstile to board the "L" (subway)

 The BEST place for Chicago pizza- Gino's East  (We tried several pizza places just to be sure.)

 Elijah enjoying his deep dish pizza

 Brad with the skyline of Chicago.  He wore a different Chicago (The Band) shirt each day we were there.

 Lucky to get any pictures at all during this vacation since the heat was not a friend to the camera.

 Jellyfish at the Aquarium

 Buckingham Fountain and enjoying the spray in the record heat.  This was on the 4th of July...so we had to be sure to sing "Saturday in the Park" since they apparently were referring to this park.

 Art Institute

 The Bean- actually quite interesting!

 Garrett's Popcorn- we tried the Chicago blend.  It was surprisingly good...Cheddar and Carmel Corn.

 Navy Pier

 Wrigley Field

 The skyline from the beach. (How dare that young woman try and pose for our picture- ha ha.)

 North Avenue Beach

 Trying a Chicago Dog

 Chicago Temple

 Jelly Belly Factory Tour

 Stopped at several cheese shops in Wisconsin.  Josh sporting a cheese head.

 Welcome to Minnesota

 Minneapolis Temple

 Minnehaha Waterfall in the middle of Minneapolis

 Mall of America- we spent many hours there.  It is HUGE.  They even have a theme park in the center of it.

 Off to North Dakota

 Bismarck North Dakota Temple

 Billings Montana Temple

The last time we saw the Rexburg Temple it was still under construction, so we stopped by to see it again.

Ten days, 4 new temples and almost 4000 miles.

Raingutter Regatta

 Pack Meeting- Elijah has worked hard and has received his BEAR!

 He painted and carved his boat for the Raingutter Regatta.  Then he raced by blowing into the sail with a straw.

He did a great job and had loads of fun.  Can you see Yoda on the sail and the numbers 5 & 4?  The numbers are for May the 4th (may the force be with you).

The Ice Cream Man

Are you the person who runs outside when you hear the sounds of the ice cream truck? OR Do you hide because of the annoying nursery rhyme melodies that play over and over signaling that summer has arrived?  I must admit that I cannot remember actually seeing anyone purchase anything from the ice cream man since I was young- it just doesn't seem to happen much in front of my house.  Josh had seen and heard the ice cream truck on his way home from work, and when he heard it coming he ran out to snag a cone.