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.

Let's go to... Iowa & Missouri

So far, so good.  Many different places, many different faces.  Our trip has been very enjoyable thus far.  I have really enjoyed seeing and meeting everyone we have come across over the past few weeks.  Some may think we are nuts for traveling around for a month with two little ones.  Maybe we are.  Although, so far, it’s gone really well.  Sure we’ve had our ups and downs with the kids, especially when they don’t get to bed until after 9pm after only having a short nap or no naps at all.  They can get a little fussy, but really they haven’t been any worse than they would be at home.  I think they are really enjoying going to new places, meeting new people, and seeing lots of family along the way.  

Family picture in front of my grandma's house 

We’ve gone from churches surrounded by cornfields to a historic church in the city to Mission Central.  Mission Central is located near Mapleton, IA on an old farm.  The big red barn has been converted into an International museum of religious artifacts from missionaries around the world.  Old Missionary Gary, founder of Mission Central, seems to work day and night, along with his many volunteers, to raise money and support for LCMS missionaries around the world.  We were privileged to spend our day at Mission Central with Christian motorcyclist as well as a few of our supporters.

We’ve gotten the chance this past week to spend a few days with my side of the family, in between a few church stops.  We’ve spent time with my grandma, aunt, parents, & sister’s family so far and in a week will catch my brother’s family.  We also had the chance to stop at the Lutheran Campus Center of Northwest Missouri State University, where I lived during college.  My senior year at Northwest, I crocheted a blanket with the letters NW on it.  Below is a picture of the kiddos and I saying goodbye to that blanket.  One of many things I have decided to pass along instead of packing away in storage for (who knows how many) years.

Samuel picking shiitake mushrooms at Grandpa & Grandma's.

 4 Cousins playing at the park.

This trip really reminds us a lot of our extended travel team that both Micah and I were on about 10 years ago with Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ: traveling from state to state, going from church to church to present, staying with host families at night.  Leading up to the trip, I was afraid we would be eating fast food most days.  I should have known better, as we’ve been very blessed. We’ve only had to eat out a few times thanks to amazing churches and wonderful hosts.

We even took a picture with the church sign at Pastor Mueller's church (who was also on the extended travel team).  Just like we did at all the churches 10 years ago.

One final unrelated note: For the first time, I can definitely feel baby (17 weeks along) moving while writing this post!