One Wild and Crazy Summer

Summer came with gusto! We have been running around like crazy since late spring! Maegan had ballet recital and preschool graduation on the same night. Then the following weekend was season end of soccer. The weeks following that, we visited Aunt DeeDee up at her home in Gainesville. (Dee is my sister for those who don't know.) We spent many fun hours playing at the pool. We also spent time helping Dee pack for her impending move back to the home place.

At the end of June, we ventured off on our first of 2 summer vacations. We replaced all of the tires on our minivan, loaded it up, and headed up to Dee's house. We stopped there for some playing in the pool and a little rest before our big trek to Illinois. It was a long night of driving and I even assisted in driving by doing the first 5 hours of our 12 hour trip.

Once in Illinois, we stopped to visit our precious friend Val. Val is a friend I met through Storknet. She and I were both suffering from some fertility issues that were very frustrating. We bonded early upon meeting on line. Once we realized where Val lived, we decided to make her place a stopping point on our journey's out west (when we drive). Val is an amazingly gracious hostess. And beyond that, she's a top photographer and graphic artist. Val and I have seen each other through 4 too many miscarriages, and we now are both proud parents of living thriving little people. Val has Noah and Maia. Noah and Maegan are the same age (2 months apart) and Maia and Wils are a little over a year apart in age.

The children had such a ball at Miss Val's house! Maegan felt so comfortable, she actually stripped to her birthday suit and jumped in the kiddie pool in the backyard! Wils ran around in a diaper and polo and made himself right at home riding Maia's Barbie bike and playing with Noah's construction trucks! Mia enjoyed posing for Miss Val's camera. Matthew got some much needed sleep for the next part of our trip.

Saying goodbye to Val is never easy. She just makes you feel so at home, you don't want to leave. You want to stay and see all of her newest photography, drink a yummy beverage, and just chill on her absolutely adorable deck, that is bedecked with party lights on the patio furniture. We hated missing Neil this time, but hope to get back there before too long to have a nice visit with him as well! (Maybe golf for he and Matt?) Sadly, after only a few hours, we hugged each other, said our goodbye's and began the next leg of our journey. (pictures from Val's are on her flickr account)

Once back in the car, we headed up through Wisconsin and into the great state of Minnesota. We pulled in around 2AM to the Brown's house. Stacy, Matt's precious and wonderful cousin, met us at the back door and helped us get everyone down to the basement. We got there just in time to send Greg off to work (YIKES, I could never go to work that early). We slept well and woke up at nearly 9 AM!!! Stacy has five kiddos. Sebastian is the oldest, in HIGH SCHOOL, no way! Elias would be son #2. He was followed closely by Hayleigh. E and H are in elementary school. Last year, Stacy and I found out with in a week of each other that we were expecting. A big surprise for both of us! Stacy was due shortly before me, but delivered twins over a month before little Mia joined this world. Christian and McKinley are absolutely precious little ones! It was fun seeing them rolling around on the floor with Mia. Hayleigh and Maegan became fast friends and played outside together and Wils... he just hung out with everyone.

After a few hours with the Browns, we loaded up again and headed out. The Browns were supposed to go the last leg with us, but unfortunately, Greg was not able to get away from work when he'd hoped. We told them we'd see them the next day.

Off to North Dakota! Through the prairie we went, through a massive rainstorm (couldn't see anything), through some crazy winds, we finally arrived at 3 AM in Epping, North Dakota, to the home of Greg and Pat Bjella. Everyone was asleep, so we snuck into the trailer we hoped was the one we were supposed to be sleeping in. SCORE! Grandma Sister (as Maegan calls Matt's mom) woke up straight away and came down to the "living room" for hugs and kisses from the kids. She met Mia for the first time, that night. What a sweet meeting it was. Grandpa Gene woke up and welcomed all of us, then took Maegan to find Uncle Geno and wake him up. Geno was in a tent.


After several hours of good sleep, we all woke up and were excited to see all of the family. It was a McGhan Family Reunion. Grandma McGhan was there, Auntie Cindy and her fiance Larry, Sommer and her son Hunter, Shanon came with his daughter Raigyn, Auntie Pat and Uncle Greg were hosting us. They have a beautiful A-frame home on the prairie. Lots of area for little ones to explore. Soon enough the Brown's joined us, and Auntie Holly and Uncle Gary showed up as well. We were missing Gordy and Kim, and they came the next day. There was lots of horseshoe playing, some fishing on the lake, some good old family band music (Grandma McG on electric bass!), lots of food, too many pictures, and lots of SUNSHINE. It was a great weekend. We extended our stay until Tuesday. Stacy happened to break her wrist while we were there. Ugh! She's my hero. I do not know HOW she cared for 7 month old twins with ONE arm! Bless her heart! The mosquitoes enjoyed snacking on us every night, which often made us carry the party inside. All in all, it was a wonderful trip. Matthew designed the coolest t-shirts for the event.

Once we packed up and pulled out of Epping, we headed Northwest (slightly), up to Westby, which is both in North Dakota and Montana. We stopped on the way to see the elevator where Geno works. And for those of you NOT familiar with farming, I'm NOT talking about the elevator you see in a building... he's not a doorman! He works for a grain elevator and drives a big rig between the farms and the elevators. The kids got a special treat while they were there. One of Geno's bosses gave them ice cream! I'd say the kids enjoyed that!

We got into Westby at dinnertime. This was the day of Matt's and my 8th wedding anniversary. We had no celebration. We did nothing, but eat fried chicken (on the bone which to me is disgusting, but it was what was offered, and I'm of a southern upbringing where you politely taste what you are served... and being a nursing mom, I had to eat to keep up production for my little nursling!). That and potato wedges. How exciting. What a romantic anniversary. Woohoo! NO MATTER... it was wonderful seeing the Tangedal family. Craig, Tracy, Hannah, Jake, Grandma and Grandpa were at the house. The kids got to see THREE of their great-grandparents while in North Dakota... how cool is that?! So, after dinner and saying hellos to everyone... we all scooted off to bed.

Wednesday we did not do much of anything, that I can recall. We walked to town (hahaha, cracks me up everytime I say it... literally, it's not even a 1/4 of a mile, and it is half a block long), we got some groceries at the store, and headed back to the house. It was a day of relaxation. Thursday night, Matt's cousins Jordan and Ryan, who play in a band, were playing for the Plentywood, MT reunion. So, we packed everyone up and headed into Plentywood for a fun evening of good music! We were the first ones to head back into Westby, because the kids needed sleep. So, it was another early(ish) night for us. Friday was July 4th.

So, normally, on the 4th of July, we spend the evening watching fireworks on the beach. They don't have fireworks on the beach in North Dakota. So, when I woke up Friday morning, I was very homesick. I was wanting to get in my car, head to the Ashton's house for a day of playing in the pool a big backyard BBQ and then our normal walk over to the beach to sit under the stars for fireworks. I was determined to make the best of my day in NoDak, in spite of my no beach fireworks. Tracy mentioned that she was taking her 2 to the parade in Plentywood and she'd be happy to take Maegan with and that cousin Logan was going as well. I thought, sure, she can go. Then I asked Matt if I could go, too. I wanted to do something special with Maegan, since I don't get to do that often. He said sure, and off we went. When we returned, Grandma Sister was watching Wils and Mia and Matthew had gone off to golf with his Dad. Later that afternoon, I found out through Grandpa Gene, that he and Matt would be leaving at 6:30 the next morning to play golf. I also found out, that there were no fireworks to speak of, in the area. And then I learned that Matt was going to go to his brother's house for a while. I put the kids to bed, and silently wished I were back home, because I was really missing it. I came out of the trailer for a while (Yes, we stayed in Matt's grandparents 5th wheel camper for part of our stay in NoDak and then in his Uncle Doug's camper for the rest of our time.) to watch Logan setting off some firecrackers, but I figured I should probably stay in the camper just in the event one of them woke up to the firecrackers and got scared. I asked Matt to stay with his parents that night, in the other camper, so as not to wake the kids at 6:30.

Saturday morning, I putzed around, fed the kids, watched some tv, and then found out that the Tangedal family reunion was taking place at 1pm and NOT at 5 like I had originally thought! I scrambled to get us all dressed and ready. Grandpa G. and Grandma S. took Wils in their car. Matt and I took the girls in ours. We headed down to the park (we could have walked). Now this was a BIG reunion, cousins from Cali, Canada, us from VA, people from ALL over! We ate a little lunch, took some pix, gave some kisses and then got in our car for the trip back to VA.

We arrived in Minneapolis at 3AM, we were all exhausted and ready for some sleep. Stacy welcomed us back into her home. She's so very gracious and wonderful. I can't even begin to tell you what an amazing person she is inside and out. I'm so thankful for her. We only stayed for a few hours, long enough for some good shut eye. Then we were on the road again, destination Toledo, Ohio.

Well, destination Toledo got squashed long about oh... Eau Claire, WI. We were STUCK... dead stuck in traffic. THE DELLS... GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Traffic was backed up for MILES. We'd move, we'd sit, we'd move, we'd sit. I was close to going bald from pulling my hair out and trying to keep Wils from going into fits of screaming rage. Mia and Maegan slept through much of this. Finally, I BEGGED and PLEADED with Matthew to take a side road to get us out of there. We made a mistake. We went THROUGH The Dells. OK, it was a mistake traffic-wise... however, it was a sight for the eyes! What a cool place! So much to do, everywhere! WOW! I'd never seen anything like it, except maybe Gatlinburg, TN. So, we choose to get BACK on the interstate. Another big NO NO! So a few more exits and we were back off on a side road, and this time, we were going MORE than 10mph! After the longest ride of our life through WI, we FINALLY (in the dark) made it into CHI-TOWN baby! I love Chicago... and I've only ever driven through it... I hear I'd love it even more if I got to go on the magnificent mile (or whatever it is called)... *sigh* Gotta put that on my to do list! Driving through Chicago is just so fascinating. We passed some big name vehicles. We saw that amazing skyline. And you know what else? God was looking down on us that night... he saw to it that I got to see FIREWORKS in Chicago! (We stopped for gas in Chicago, near where fireworks were going off.) I didn't get to see many, but the one's I saw were beautiful.

We carried on through Gary, Indiana and were ready to truck it on to Toledo (or I was ready, but apparently Matt was not)... when South Bend appeared before us. Maegan woke up crying hysterically. And then the skies opened up and dumped a huge vat of rain on us and made sure to include a stunning light show with extremely loud sound effects. Matthew said, "STOP HERE LISA" I said, NO, I can make it to Toledo. He said "NO! STOP HERE!" So, reluctantly, I pulled off the interstate and into a toll exit, and we headed for Holiday Inn Express, South Bend. OH sweet heavenly peace!

Well, OK not at first. FIRST we had to get a room. Matt secured the room. I stayed with the kiddos. Then we unload the kids and find out just why Maegan was crying... she'd PEED HER CARSEAT! GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Oh Joy! A urine stinking car ride for the next day. So, here it is 2 am, Maegan has to take a bath. Wils is excited because it's a big huge king sized bed. Mia doesn't want to go back to sleep. Matt's exhausted and ready for lights out, and I'm pissed we didn't make it to Toledo.

Finally, the room was quiet. Everyone was snug in the big bed and Mia in her pack n play. We overslept! We were now over 4 hours behind in our final day of travel. We were supposed to be headed to my sister's house and picking somethings up to bring back home, and she and her son were going to follow us. We got up and got ready as fast as we could. Let me tell you, Holiday Inn Express is the WAY to stay!!! Awesome rooms, bathrooms that are stunning! AND a hot breakfast, so we didn't have to STOP on our way out of town. We got to Toledo in record time, and then blew through it. In fact, most of Ohio was a blur. We did bathroom breaks, but that was it. By the time we got to PA, my sister had already left her house and arrived at my parents home. SO, our pitstop in Northern VA was no longer. Come Maryland, Mia began to explain her disappointment with the amount of time it was taking to get home, and she commenced to screaming from MD all the way back to our house. Granted we did see a glorious rainbow on this extension of our trip. And I looked at Mia and told her quite frankly, "Mia, I adore you, but we are 2 hours from home, and this momma isn't stopping for anything!" She stopped crying just as we pulled onto our exit. We were headed to my parent's house (very close to our own, mind you). As we turned onto the main street to get to their neighborhood I started chanting "NO TRAIN, NO TRAIN, NO TRAIN" and with that, the lights came on and the crossing bars went down and Maegan woke up. BUT, it was just a Ghost train. We all cheered as the bars went back up.

By the time we pulled into Mom and Dad's driveway, all of the kids were awake and excited to get out of the car. AND to see their Gammy and PopPop... oh yes, and their Aunt DeeDee and cousin Dawson.

It was a very long trip, a very good trip, a very exhausting trip and a much needed trip. I'm so glad we did it.

SO, that's just the beginning of this wild and crazy summer. Part 2 coming soon!