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The big trip!

We just got back from a 19 day trip to the Midwest, which only partially explains why I haven't posted for a long time. I did consider posting from my in law's house, which plan was canceled when I managed to crash my Mother-in-law's computer (using Mozilla, I think. Fortunately, no harm was done!). For your amusement, here is our schedule:
  • fly to Indianapolis, stay in a "suite" which was one big room with a knee wall
  • fly to Menomonie, WI, then drive to Hudson, then back to Menomonie to sleep. This was the first time we have ever driven anywhere and had all 3 kids asleep in the back of the car. Luke fell asleep about 10 minutes before we got home (it's a 45 minute drive)---he kept being woken up by the bumping of the car over the breaks between sections of concrete.
  • on Sunday, drive to white bear lake, sleep in the "grand lodge and water park" hotel near the Mall of America. This actually was a suite, but had a balcony right over the surfing pool---not so great for sleeping. We stayed at my dad's house the next 2 nights.
  • Monday: Minnesota zoo. I remember when it was 45 minutes away from my south Minneapolis school: it was really about 10 minutes away from the hotel (freeways are amazing things!)
  • Tuesday: Children's museum in St. Paul
  • Wednesday: Mall of America rides (I got a haircut! I have a feeling that many moms understand how exciting that can be), then brats at my dad's house, then drive back to Menomonie for a few days.
  • Saturday: fly to Eagle River for a week in northern Wisconsin. Someday I'll post the tourist activities for the Minoqua/Eagle River area---there is a lot for kids to do there, even if you don't like fishing.
  • Friday: fly to Menomonie
  • Sunday: fly back home, 7 hours in an airplane with 3 small children. Fortunately we did it in 2 jumps: unfortunately the DVD player ran out of juice for the second jump. Someday I'll also post a comparison between long car drives and long plane rides. Plane rides come out on top, but only barely =).
We had a wonderful time and I think the kids grew in leaps and bounds. They always seem to learn so much more from grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles than they do from the daily routine at home. Despite this, I'm glad to be home. Now I just need to do the laundry and unpack the suitcases =)

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