June & July Trips

Here's an update of June and July.  I apologize for not posting for such a long time.  There's really no excuse, I have been busy keeping up with the kids (even the one in utero), sorting through our belongings, packing and repacking for all of our trips.

On our month long trip in May, Sam and Liza made a few new friends, but that trip mostly consisted of family.  Our 2 week long trip around Minnesota on the other hand consisted of a little family time and a lot of time with new friends.  13 boys & 10 girls and that’s just counting our host families’ kids.  Sam and Liza had lots of fun, but of course when your kids get together with other kids there are always more battles.  Why can’t toddlers just know how to share?!  I’d have to say our month long trip was more enjoyable for me as a whole.  It’s just more relaxing when your family gives so much attention to your kids.  Yet, I think the MN trip was a great social time for Sam and Liza.  Exhausting as it might have been at times, I loved watching them interact with all their new friends.

Liza checking out the chickens with her new friend

VBS in Sartell, MN

We got stuck on high ground in the middle of a flash flood on our way to a presentation.  The road was closed down after we started driving on it.  We were stuck between two flooded points in the road.

Thankfully the kids slept right through it.  Of course 2 hours later when we made it safely back to where we started, the kids were done napping and we still had to drive all the way to our next stop.

A few of Sam and Liza's new friends wanted to go home with us

The kids all had the chance to pet horses when we went to a members house for dinner and fellowship after a presentation

We were only home for a week and a half before going to Bremen, IN to celebrate the 4th of July with family.  Sam & Liza really enjoy all the time they’ve been able to spend with all their cousins this year.  

Wildauer Cousins 4th of July, 2014

Fun with the Family on the 4th of July

Cousins playing so nicely together in the sandbox

After being back home for just a few days, we left again for a part work, part family trip.  We spent the weekend with my high school friends and presenting at my home church, where I was Baptized and Confirmed.  After 6 years of living in Milwaukee, Grace will be my home church once again.  Since Micah is called to be a theological educator at a seminary and not a parish pastor, we are transferring our membership to Grace Lutheran in Versailles, MO. 

Rosalie, Hollie, Katie, & myself, 10 years after graduating from high school

VBS at Grace Lutheran Church

Micah and I left Sam and Liza with Grandpa and Grandma for three days to go to the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education in St. Louis.  Since we will be homeschooling our kids in Togo we figured we should probably learn a little about homeschooling.

I think the kids did alright without Daddio & Mama!

We drove to Jefferson City to meet up with the kids.  Spent a day with cousins getting muddy down by the river, and then drove back to St. Louis.

After petting the goats at Grant's Farm, Sam said he wanted a pet goat.  I told him that could be arranged when we move to Togo.  (Side note:  I had goats when I was a little girl)

After preaching and a presentation at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Barnhart south of St. Louis, we journeyed down to Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel, Cape Girardeau for Weston Wildauer's ordination and installation. Weston is Micah's cousin.

We drove to Faith Lutheran Church, Bloomington, IN the next day for a presentation and VBS the next morning.  After VBS in Bloomington, we drove a few hours north to another VBS.  2 VBSs in one day for Sam!  

Our travels with a u-pick-em blueberry farm on the side of the road on our way home from Indiana.

Home for 2 weeks (+ Easter Egg)

Home for 2 weeks, then on the road again for 2 weeks.  The 2 weeks at home have been very busy.  We started out with our last annual Memorial Day Shindig, 19 adults and 28 kids throughout the day, mainly friends and pastor families.  We were able to sell a few household goods.  If you are near Milwaukee, or willing to drive, and are in need of any household goods, just ask.  You could probably find it at our house.  Pretty much everything is for sale.  You'd be helping us out a lot!

We've had several doctor appointments.  The highlight, of course, was our ultrasound appointment to find out if we are having a boy or girl.

Big Brother and Big Sister are waiting to find out

.....................

Big Brother, Big Sister, & Baby Brother

I finally unpacked the last of our bags this week just in time to do laundry and repack them all.  Thankfully I was able to do laundry in TX before coming home.  Otherwise I'm not sure we would have had clean clothes to wear last week.  It sure is hard to get much of anything done with 2 little ones running around my feet, but thankfully I was able to stay awake through enough nap times to catch up on all our mail and sort through our accounts.  

We are looking forward to meeting our newest Goddaughter and seeing her Baptized before leaving on our 2 week trip around WI, MN & IA.

Here's the schedule for our trip.  If you are in the area, come on by!

Date	Church	Time
June 8	Mt. Zion Lutheran, Greenfield, WI Saint Paul Lutheran, Wittenberg, WI	9am preaching & presentation 6:30pm presentation
June 9	Christ Lutheran, Trego, WI	7pm presentation (tentative)
June 10	Trinity Lutheran, Hayward, WI  Zion Lutheran, Turtle Lake, WI	10:30am Ladies’ Aid presentation 6:30pm presentation
June 11	Messiah Lutheran, Sartell, MN	VBS & presentation
June 12	Messiah Lutheran, Sartell, MN	6:30pm presentation
June 13	Trinity Lutheran, Holloway, MN	6pm potluck & presentation
June 14
June 15	Redeemer Lutheran, New Ulm, MN	9am preaching & presentation
June 16	Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Pipestone, MN Immanuel Lutheran, Terril, IA	Pipestone Circuit Pastors, afternoon presentation 7pm presentation
June 17
June 18	Saint Paul Lutheran, Chatfield, MN	5pm presentation
June 19	Trinity & St. Paul Lutheran, Waltham, MN	7pm presentation
June 20	Prince of Peace Lutheran, West Salem, WI	7pm presentation

  

Let's go to....Texas & back to Milwaukee

Our drive to Texas from Tennessee was one long day.  We started early, but got stuck in traffic for a few hours because a semi-truck carrying chemicals was in an accident and caught on fire (no fatalities).  Both directions of the Interstate had to exit and take a parallel highway for a few miles.  Thankfully we didn't come across any other problems on our trip.

Finally, we made it to Texas y'all!

Samuel was so excited to finally be in Texas, where Grandpa & Grandma Wildauer live.  He didn't understand we still had a few hours to drive before we got to Grandpa and Grandma's house.

Liza likes to ride in style, with her legs up. 

(that's an apple she'd been working on for a while, eventually she ate it down to the core.)

Beautiful Texas sunset as we neared our destination.

Grandpa & Grandma have an awesome park near them.  This was our first splash pad of the year.  We went only 3 times, hopefully that'll hold us over until June 14, when the splash pads open in Milwaukee.

Right beside the splash pad was a huge multi-colored playground that the kids loved.

Liza mastered these "steps" the first time she tried them - no assistance needed.

Liza doesn't like her apples sliced, but she loves whole apples.

After a few days with Grandpa and Grandma in Allen, we drove to Togo, I mean Harrold, TX.  I do believe the climate was about the same though.  While we were there it was near 100 degrees, dry and windy.  

We stopped by a sheep farm with our new friends to see the baby lambs.

Liza, of course, was more interested in climbing.

Our last day came very early.  Our flight was at 6:50 a.m. so we had to be up by 4 a.m. to get the van loaded up to leave Grandpa and Grandma's, unloaded and returned at the airport, us shuttled to our terminal, the bags checked, all of us through security and done with potty time. Onto our first plane we went.  We didn't get a ticket for Liza, so she sat on my lap and we all squeezed into one row of 3, which actually worked out really well.  We flew to St. Louis, got off the plane and right back on another one (no time for a potty stop).  The second flight went as well as the first flight.  Although, I don't think I'll be able to hold Liza on my lap in a few months when baby is bigger.   I'm sure we were a sight to see rolling through the Milwaukee airport after we picked up our checked bags—6 large bags, 3 little bags, 2 car seats, a stroller and 2 kids. Maybe next time we'll get a cart (although we did make it work this time)!

Flying home.

Sam was super excited to be home to play with all his toys again, some at the same time.

Liza was super excited to see Chiz again.  Chiz must have been excited too, because he let Liza pet him while he was outside (usually he gets very defensive when anyone comes near him outside).

We made it home last Saturday, cleaned up the yard, and had our Memorial Day Shindig on Monday.

It was nice and warm, so the kids got to play on the slip n' slide.

Bubble guns were a hit as well.

Many have made the comment, "I bet you're glad to be back home."  It's good to be home to a huge pile of mail to sort through and catch up on, doctor appointments every other day, cooking, cleaning, and crazy kids.  In all honesty, I think I'd rather travel around for another month or so.  I didn't have to cook or clean much, the kids were well behaved (most of the time), and we saw Daddio a lot more.  On the other hand, we have enjoyed seeing our Milwaukee friends at our Memorial Day Shindig and other fun outings this week.  And I wouldn't want to have missed our chance to find out that we are having a baby _____......

Let's go to... Tennessee

 I don't think you can consider our trip a vacation per se, but we did try to find a fun place to stop each day during our week in Tennessee, before heading to the next church...

On our way to Tennessee we stopped to see Superman in Metropolis, IL

On our way to Heavenly Host Lutheran Church in Cookeville, TN.  We stopped in Nashville to walk around the state park near the TN capitol building and we came across water fountains to play in.  You can't beat water fountains and trains (going overhead behind them).

We found Liza's name on the wall of quotes by the water fountains.

Samuel pointing to Togo on the globe while it was rotating.

"I'm not in the way, am I?"  Liza playing on the luggage cart while Daddio was trying to load it up.

Playing on Heavenly Host's school playground, while Daddio presented to the students, before heading to Concordia Lutheran Church in Kingsport, TN.

We found our way through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on our way to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wartburg, TN.

We found waterfalls,

old cabins,

a black bear (a few deer as well),

& gold (coins thrown into the water going to an old grist mill).

Walking across a suspended bridge at Fall Creek Falls on our way to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in McMinnville, TN.  Liza didn't want to be held or have her hand held at all.  She always wants to do things on her own, AHHH!  Now  I understand how my mom felt when I was younger and wanted to do everything by myself.  Sorry Mom! 

Daddio and Sam looking at Fall Creek Falls (rather the camera).

On our way to my brothers, we stopped back in Nashville.  We enjoyed some TN BBQ and a free trolley (aka city bus) ride around downtown.

They were both asleep within 10 minutes of leaving Nashville.  I believe this is the first time they slept at the same time in the van.

Playing at a playground while cousin Aubrey played softball.

Bonar Girl Cousins:  Lily, Aubrey, & Liza

Tennessee is a beautiful state with many places to visit.  I'm glad we had a few hours to spare each day to enjoy a few sites on our way to the churches.  The congregations were all so gracious and welcoming.  We look forward to seeing them again someday.