Our blog title is "traveling stumlers", and at a time when we traveled the most, I wrote the least.
Our summer was so jam packed:
Arrived by plane in Norfolk Virginia, the day after school let out.
Spent one evening by the bay before hopping a train to D.C.
D.C. to Chicago was on a sleeper Amtrak (which was sooo cool).
Spent the entire afternoon in Chicago.
We went up the Sears Tower.
Walked through Millennium Park.
Did the ferris wheel in Navy Pier.
Ended up in Indianapolis late at night for one more hotel before Pat and Irvin picked us all up with two vans. We had over fourteen pieces of luggage, and everyone made it back.
Our home away from home was a little cramped in Floyds Knobs. But we made it work with three couches being slept upon and two bedrooms occupied. Close quarters!
Pat and Irvin had a cookout right away to celebrate missed birthdays, and Father's Day weekend. Nathan and my brother's came, along with special friends (you know who you are).
We had a great return with family and friends. Too many late nights singing and carrying on.
Of course this was only the beginning.
We went to Michigan for a week then drove to Batesville to drop the kids off with my Mom.
From Indianapolis, Randy and I flew to Houston. A 4 day cruise to Cozumel Mexico began our trip and a weeklong seminar for Randy ended it.
The cruise was fun with two other couples, one of which were from our island. Glen and Suzie do this cruise every year, and didn't have much trouble talking us into it.
The weather when we returned to Houston was sooo hot, I spent the whole time in the hotel room. But the time alone was enjoyable and needed.
After returning to Indianapolis we drove back up to Michigan for a few days before getting back for Fruedenfest in Oldenburg.
Then on back to Floyds Knobs (only a two hour drive) for a few days to return to Batesville on the weekend for the Volgelsang golf scramble.
Can you guess?
Back up to Michigan. We really enjoyed the lake house this year. But almost not enough.
It was just so here there and everywhere! Always coming and going. I'm looking back on my calendar thinking "What the hell?"
Randy had bought Cubs tickets way back in May so that us and his parents could go together. It ended up Gran wasn't doing so well and Pat and Irv. didn't get to go. Our neighbor Rich was the lucky participant, with two tickets being sold because Sarahjane opted out. (She's un-American!) Sarah had spent the week with her friends and went to Warped tour in Cincinnati instead.
The Cubs game was incredible! We were in the second row behind home plate and Henry has his own souvenir to boast. (A broken bat splinter!) Randy saw himself on t.v. the next day on highlights, but it went so fast, I couldn't tell.
Good times. Gran did recover to a point, but not as good as before.
When we returned again, (Floyds Knobs, are you keeping up?) the renters in our house moved out and it was time to clean and purge. Because we already had new renters, and a moving company was collecting another shipment to be sent overseas, we were in a hurry to get the house in order. Lots of cleaning, and lots of trips to Goodwill. (What were we thinking? I kept that lampshade for who?)
The last bit of excitement came back up north. Pat and Irvin went to the lake and stayed with the kids while Randy and I went to Chicago for Lallapalooza. Pat, Irv and the kids all had a great time. That trip ended with a little ditch digging and concrete filling. (Whenever we would play too hard, there was always some form of work awaiting.)
From Michigan we spent one last week in Batesville soaking up as much family as we could. Oscar and Randy did the first Colts game together, then back to Floyds Knobs for a final pack-up, and many short goodbyes.
What's so sad is I'm already thinking about how to get more people seen into next summer. I promise to plan better.
Thank you for a wonderful summer! See ya next year!
Karen
