Road trip, in pictures

So...once again a full demonstration of my inability to eliminate pictures. However, I can at least rationalize that it's acceptable because this is also serving as my scrapbook!

Gorgeous fall colors on the drives...


Rudy wrestling with Grandma. (Have I mentioned yet that she is a most amazing 87 year old!?)


We took a tour of "Grandma's forest" in her golf cart. (Originally it was 3500 trees that she and my grandfather planted!)



This is the same merry-go-round that I used to ride...except now it's manually powered!


...and the same swingset (and just as much fun!)



The boys found a "woolly bear" caterpillar.


Playing in the pond...


Brady and I got to do some china painting with Grandma. Brady painted a technicolor stegosaurus and I got through the first two firings of a hydrangea Christmas platter. Grandma said she'd finish it up for me (she probably has a lot of touching up to do!).


Baking with Grandma


Playing Battleship


We found a unique pit stop between Ohio and Chicago...the RV hall of fame and museum. Betcha didn't even know that existed!! The boys had a great time exploring the campers which dated from early 1900's all the way to brand new (and quite fancy).



In Chicago...the kids met last spring but picked up right where they left off...


We spent several hours at the Museum of Science and Industry and could have easily spent several more hours there! (We got in free with that awesome museum pass...we need to keep that updated for all future trips!) They had an "idea factory" just for younger kids with this huge water feature, balls, hoses, wheels, etc.



The kids trying to catch the "bubbles" with their shadows


At the train exhibit. (Note that Rudy asked ALL morning to see the trains. When we left the museum he told James that his favorite part of the museum was the "pish" [fish]. There were no fish.)


Brady made friends with the chicks...


Dave and kids riding a cow...kind of weird, huh? For those of you who know about all the "food" books I've been reading...don't get me started on this farming exhibit sponsored by Monsanto and various other key players in the food industry!!


At the Brookfield zoo...Hudson the baby polar bear was by far the biggest hit. (Note that Rudy told James his favorite part of the zoo was the "A-planes". No airplanes at this zoo. Do you see a trend?)


Like father, like son...


One of Brady's biggest requests for the trip was to see the "big lake":


We timed it so that we left Chicago close to bedtime and drove a few hours to get a head start on the long hike from Chicago to VA. It actually worked and the kids fell asleep in the car.