Portland, Maine - Well we're getting closer to it anyway

Yesterday we headed out of Montpelier and made the drive through New Hampshire to Maine. We arrived mid-afternoon, found our campground, and got settled in. We drove all day through the rain and it continued to rain into the evening. Needless to say, the campground was a little sloshy. Heather and Lauren got the spot next to us and we helped to set up their tent also. We burned some time at a local mall before meeting the family at Newick's Lobster House. In addition to our six, my mother and brother, Lauren, Heather, Joseph and Micah, we were joined by Uncle Rick and Kyle, Michael, Daniel, Molly, and Rosemary, Victoria, Laurie, and Sasha , Elizabeth, Isabelle, and Sophie. I'm not sure whether I really like lobster or that it makes a great vehicle for butter delivery.

This morning, after eating breakfast at the campground, we headed to the Scarborough Beach State Park. It was overcast most of the day, and we didn't see the sun until it was almost time to leave. We were joined at the beach by Uncle Rick, Elizabeth, Isabelle, and Sophie, Michael and Mary, Daniel, Molly, and Rosemary. I didn't notice until I got Alastair into the shower at the end of the day just how forcefully the sun came out when it did. He is a little red. I think we may stay out of the sun tomorrow.

After the day at the beach, we headed to Michael and Barbara's for dinner. In addition to the folks we saw at the beach, we were able to see Barbara, Aunt Lisa, Victoria, Laurie, and Sasha. It seemed like everyone brought enough food for the family and when it was all prepared, it seemed like a crazy amount of food. My kids, though, fit right in. After finishing a bowl of ice cream with hot fudge that Lauren had prepared, Adelaide started over and cut herself another piece of krakowska Uncle Rick brought as an appetizer. It was a fun night, and I enjoyed being able to catch up with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. I don't get to see them often enough.

Sorry for the lack of photographs, but the internet connection here is terrible, I'm too tired, and I've lost my patients for trying to get them uploaded.

- Dave

In and around Montpelier

We've had a busy few days in and around Montpelier, starting late morning yesterday we visited the Cabot Creamery, took the factory tour, then the kids tried every kind of cheese in the tasting room/gift shop. Luckily the kids had had their fill and we left without having to actually buy any cheese. On our way back to Montpelier, we stopped by the Rainbow Sweets Bakery in Marshfield. We were the only folks in the place mid-afternoon, so the owner, Bill, had plenty of time to describe the pastries and cakes and we enjoyed every bite.




The Farm Barn at Shelburne Farms

This morning, we met my mother, Allen, Joseph, and Micah at Green Mountain Coffee in Waterbury. I had hoped this was the place where they actually roasted coffee. Unfortunately, this is more of a gift shop and information center. I grabbed a cup of coffee and we headed to the Shelburne Farms near Burlington. This is an impressive farm and reminded me of the American version of set for Dowton Abbey. We took the tractor ride to the Farm Barn
where the kids (and Jll) tried their hands at milking a cow and wrangling chickens. We ate a packed lunch on the grounds and, since we were so near Burlington, decided to visit the Lake Champlain Chocolates factory. The tour turned out to be more of a slide show and video presentation, but the chocolate was delicious, and expensive. Mr. Lampman is certainly proud of his chocolates. Tomorrow we head to Portland, Maine to visit the Szatkowskis there. More adventure awaits.

- Dave

Waterfalls, Ice Cream, and Fossils

Yesterday started with breakfast at Heather and Lauren's house, the our tribe, along with my mother, brother, Joseph, and Micah went out for the day's adventure. We started at the Glen Moss Falls outside of Waterbury. Despite the signs warning us of the dangers of climbing over the rocks, we could not help ourselves and climbed up near the falls. We had a few incidents of children, and Allen, falling into the water. We made it through without any injuries, for which I considered us lucky given some of the precarious places in which the kids found themselves.

Our next stop was the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury. We were lucky enough to get into a tour just as we arrived and we spent the next half an hour watching a film about the history of the company and learning how they make their delicious ice cream. The tour ended in the tasting room where we were able to try their mint chocolate chunk, Allen's favorite flavor. I disappointed Adelaide by declining her request to stop by the ice cream counter for additional treats, deciding it would be more responsible to eat lunch before filling ourselves with more ice cream. We ate lunch at the Park Row Café, at the suggestion of one of the employees at Ben & Jerry's, and headed back to Montpelier.

On our way into town, Jll dropped me, Allen, Alastair, and Dagny off at the state capitol. We took a quick tour, guided by our tour guide Thaddeus, and learned that the black marble floor tiles contained fossils, which very much intrigued Alastair and Dagny. By the time we left, it started to rain pretty hard, so we had to stop at the Capitol Grounds coffee shop for coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. When the rain subsided, we walked back to Heather and Lauren's, where we met up with Lauren's mother, Suzanne, and her friend Sue. We had a big family dinner to celebrate Suzanne's birthday and ended the night with more ice cream.

By the time we got back to the RV park, it had started to rain pretty hard again and I lost my flip flops in the mud running to the shower house. It was pleasant falling asleep at the sound of the rain hitting the top of the RV. By looking at the forecast, it seems like it may well rain for the duration of our stay in Vermont, so we'll see how many indoor activities we can find.

Flash flood

On Sunday morning we cleaned ourselves up and headed to church at Parkside Lutheran Church in Buffalo, where Nate Presisinger is the pastor. I always find it interesting to watch relatives preach, and I thought Nate did a great job. He had a very compelling message about the virtues of Starbucks' blond roast, which I have yet to try. After church we headed to breakfast at Kostas Family Restaurant with Nate, Amanda, Evelyn, Jessica, and Mamadou.  We ultimately hit the road for Herkimer at about 1:30. When we got to Herkimer, we found that the road to the campsite was closed because of flash floods. After waiting for about an hour, we talked with the firemen on scene about the detour to the campsite and after being asked by three different men "how are the brakes on this thing?" we decided to abandon Herkimer and drove another two hours to Lake Luzern. I did get to make my first u-turn, which turned into a three-point turn of the 32' motor home, 8' tow dolly, and minivan. I am happy to report that I accomplished this feat with no mishaps, though at one point I thought for sure I'd dump the van into the flooded river.

 

On Monday morning we woke up, ate breakfast, and hit the road for Montpelier. We arrived mid-afternoon, set up the RV, and headed to Heather and Lauren's. It was great to watch the kids play with their cousins and catch up with my family. My mother and brother flew in on Saturday and had made a great spaghetti dinner for everyone. After dinner we headed to the Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks for maple creemees. They also have a goat which stands on top of a two story structure waiting for visitors to deposit 25 cents worth of goat food into a cup attached to a rope between two pulleys. The goat the pulls the rope using its teeth, raising the cup, so that it can eat. The kids found this very intriguing and despite the fact that they were being eaten alive by mosquitos, we could not leave until each of the kids had their chance to feed the goat.

The City of Good Neighbors

Yesterday we went to Niagara Falls with Amanda, Evelyn, and Mamadou. I really was impressed and we had perfect weather and tons of fun.  We took our boat ride out to the falls on the Maid of the Mist.  I am glad I did it but I think it is a bad idea.  It seams really dangerous to me to intentionally drive out really close to the falls.  Amanda and I both put eyes on the cupboard storing infant and child life vests.  I am really glad we didn't sink.

In the afternoon, we stayed close to home and the kids enjoyed swimming in the pool at the KOA on Grand Island, which has been our home for the last few days. This particular pool has two "water slides" that look very much like the ones you would find in a McDonald's play land complete with mesh climbing platforms that weave the path to the top of the slides.  I liked them because they eliminated the opportunity for the children to fall down slick, steep, slide steps.  Maggie ended the afternoon with a new milestone.  She would go down the slide and swim all the way to the edge of the pool all by herself.  It was only about 6-8 feet, but a really big deal for her and for me.  I plan to have her pool safe by the end of the summer. 

The 6 of us had a really simple dinner of steaks, grilled by Dave, and cantaloupe before Dave headed off to play poker at the Seneca Niagara Casino.  The kids and I participated in the KOA ice cream social and were in bed for the first reasonable bedtime in 2 weeks.  Too bad it stays light until 10pm here in the north and I still couldn't get my crew to fall asleep before dark. 

Today we had breakfast at Nate and Amanda's house then spent a leisurely few hours at the Canalside Park. The giant sand box was a hit for the first hour and we found plenty of time for Rook and lunch on the grass.  Mamadou and me against Jessica and Adelaide.  Rook is a card game and a Scates family tradition.  Scates rook skills have to be developed and my oldest two are already creating the foundation for a lot of years of family fun.

While Dagny and Magnolia claimed quality time with their cousin Evelyn, Dave, Adelaide, Alastair and I visited the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park where we toured the USS Little Rock, the USS The Sullivans, and the USS Croaker.  We all agree that living on a naval ship or submarine would be a very bad idea.  Those living quarters make our RV look like the Ritz Carlton.

After soaking up as much sun as we could, we headed back to Nate and Amanda's for dinner, a few moor games of Rook, and s'mores.  If fun is measured in dirty feet, we are having the most fun possible.  Each night at 10pm we gather up our pj's and shower caddies and head to the shower house.  I scrub nasty little kid feet until they sparkle and Dave and I quickly hustle the crew into their bunks to sleep before another abundant day of fun, time with family, and amazing memories.  Every night prayers are full of gratitude for this gift of time and adventure together.  We are so fortunate.

Looking forward to more fun tomorrow as we move on through NY onto even more fun with Dave's family next week.  Sleep tight.

Jll

I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob.

In the days leading up to my sabbatical, I was anxious about leaving work for so long and worried that I would not be able to get away from it. Now, not even two weeks into the trip, I am at ease. While I check e-mail regularly to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks, I don't spend time worrying about it. I simply forward the e-mail to the appropriate person, knowing that it is taken care of. Having full days certainly helps me forget about what's going on back at the office.

Because we had arrived in Cedar Point so late on Tuesday night, we did not get up in time to take advantage of being able to get into the park an hour early. It turns out that this was a good thing because just because people got into the park an hour early did not mean they were able to ride any rides at that time. I think all of the rides opened at ten, so I would have been a little peeved to get in an hour early just to walk around. I spent the first few minutes of the morning trying to convince Adelaide and Alastair, our only kids tall enough to ride on all of the rides in the park, to spend the morning with me riding roller coasters. I thought I would have some luck as Alastair agreed, first thing in the morning, to ride the Magnum roller coaster. He did a great job, announced that he loved the ride, and promptly said that was the only one he would ride. Adelaide backed out of roller coasters immediately. They both told me, though, that they would be happy to ride any roller coaster that did not go too high, too fast, or upside down. Being in a park renowned for its tall, fast, and upside-downy roller coasters, I had to part ways with my family. I traded the kids for a Fast Pass, ensuring that I did not have to wait in any lines, and I endeavored to get on all of the roller coasters. By noon I was sure that I had shaken baby syndrome. I met Jll and the kids for lunch, then went out to hit the rest of the roller coasters. By about four o'clock I couldn't take any more, so I caught up with the family and rode all of the rides the kids were willing to ride. By about nine o'clock, Jll and the kids headed back to the RV and I ventured out once more to end the day on the big rides.

This morning we packed up our home and moved out of Ohio. Drove for five or six hours to Buffalo, New York to visit Jll's Cousins Jessica and Amanda, their husbands, Mamadou and Nate, and Amanda's daughter Evelyn. Being in Buffalo, I wanted to have dinner at the Anchor Bar, where chicken wings were invented. They tasted fine, but at the end of the day, they were just wings. I'm glad we were drawn here by things other than the wings.

A trip to Cedar Point

Today I went to Cedar Point Amusement Park.  It's the best roller coaster park in the world.  First I rode the Magnum XL-200, then I rode the Monster, then I rode the Gemini.  We had lunch and I had chicken fingers.  After lunch we rode some kiddie-ish rides, had dinner and then rode the Mine Cart ride and went home. I had a good day. 

Goodbye,
Alastair

Fun

   I went to an amusement park. It was called Cedar Point. I mainly riding kiddie rides. I went on one big ride. It was called Iron Dragon. I rode it three times. Every time I went on it they measured me with the measuring pole and then they would double check me on a second measuring stick because I was just exactly the right height to ride it.  I did the Bumper Boats. It was awesome.

See you next time,

Dagny

Cedar Point

       Hi, Addie here. Yesterday we went to the amusement park called Cedar Point. This place is AWESOME. It is called the best amusement park in the U.S.A. This place is HUGE. We did tons of  fun rides. I have been writing in the journal that Nana and Papa gave me, taking pictures with the camera grandma gave me, putting charms on the charm bracelet Julie and Mike gave me, putting objects in the scrapbook Roberta gave me, oh and Busia gave me a pink journal and she will have to find out what I'm doing with that. Well anyway my point is I LOVE PRESENTS. Anyway about the amusement park. My favorite ride of all was the Gemini. I want to go back someday.


   Addie

Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon

On Monday we woke up in the Moffetts' driveway, much to the chagrin of their neighbors I'm sure. Jll went off for a run and I took the kids to Walker Brother's Pancake House. We chose Walker Brother's because I had heard so much about it. I learned that it is a gaudy version of the Original Pancake House. After breakfast I started noticing just how many restaurants in Palatine and Arlington Heights have "pancake house" in the title.

We spent the day relaxing at the Moffetts', with visits from Aunts Gerry, Maddie, and Chris and from Kelly and Mark Kolozsy and Diane Anderson. Our kids played in an inflatable pool, mostly filling and breaking water balloons, for the better part of 12 hours with Carrie's daughters, Madeline and Laine, and Kelly's kids, Matthew, Hannah, and Abby, along with a few assorted neighbor kids. After having to call my father to get the address of our former home in Arlington Heights, I drove over to see it. Not surprisingly, since I moved to Colorado when I was three, I did not recognize the house.


At dusk, Don hung a screen between two trees in the backyard and brought out the AV equipment for a movie in the back yard. We watched RV with the kids, which was a funny movie but perhaps a little too close to home at the moment. The kids are now waiting for me to shower myself with sewage. It was a cool evening, which made for great sleeping, for the last time in the Moffetts' driveway.





This morning we sat and had doughnuts with Aunt Maddie while the kids played with Madeline and Laine. At lunch time we headed up to Gurnee where we met my Uncle Ron for lunch, at a pancake house, of course. It was great to catch up, and it ended too quickly. We picked up the RV and hit the road. It turned into a long afternoon, evening, and night as we drove from Palatine to Cedar Point, Ohio. We rolled into the campground at about 11 o'clock and settled in quick. We have our tickets for the park tomorrow, and we get a jump on the crowds by an hour. Hopefully I can get Adelaide and Alastair to puke by noon.

- Dave

One week down, ten to go

I think I was out a little too late last night. As it turned out, our campground in Joliet was only about five miles away from the poker room at Harrah's and the temptation was too great. Once all of the kids were in bed, I snuck away for a little no limit hold'em. I doubled my money within the first ten minutes, so I assumed it would be a great night. Unfortunately the cards got cold, which was truly too bad because I was seated next to a dentist named Bob, also known as Driller, who typically plays pot limit Omaha and didn't feel any rush unless he was bluffing at big pots. I saw him bluff off one or two thousand dollars over the course of the night, and not nearly enough of them came my way. I ended the evening in the black and rolled back to the RV at around one in the morning.


This morning the kids ate a quick breakfast and we headed to church services at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Joliet. It was a small congregation and everyone was very welcoming. We had a nice visit with Pastor Matt before the service and he was kind enough to ensure that our kids participated in the children's sermon, which included handing out mini Snickers bars to the fathers in the congregation. Somehow, despite the fact that I had four participating children, I ended up with only two Snickers. Thankfully, as we were leaving church, Pastor Matt called Adelaide back into the church and he sent us on our way with all of the leftover Snickers, a little something by which to remember the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

After church we had an enjoyable Father's Day brunch at the Original Pancake House in Orland Park followed by another visit with my grandmother, Aunt Kathy, and Uncle Charlie. After an hour or so, it seemed like our kids were gearing up to do some serious damage to my grandmother's house, so it was time to go. We headed back to collect our RV and headed north to catch up with the Clark clan. Carrie and Don were nice enough to let us park the RV in their driveway, which I'm assuming was not cleared with their neighbors and violates a few covenants, and Aunt Gerrie made delicious beef sandwiches. It was nice to catch up with Aunt Gerrie, Uncle Jim, and Carrie and to get to know Don. There was talk with Don tonight about skydiving tomorrow evening in southern Wisconsin, which occurred after Jll went to bed. I just need to figure out now whether my life insurance policy has an exclusion for skydiving.

- Dave

My Relatives

Addie, yep, again. Today we started out by having cereal at the RV. Next we went to Great Grandma Wilma's place. Nana and Papa were ther along with Uncle Charlie and Aunt Kathy. I almost cried because I had missed them so much. We ate a little more there. We played there for a while and then the six of us went to see Great Grandma's old house. Soon after, we went to Fox's, then we went to the Science and Industry Museum. We had so much fun. We headed back to Great Grandma Wilma's and we then all went to Mimi's. Right now, I'm laying in bed catching up on journals.

Goodnight,

Addie

P.S. Nana is one of the best people I know (she told me to say that).

Missing

I am missing my Busia. She means a lot to me. She's really nice. It will be a long time until I see her again. I am on the seventh day of a seventy-five day trip. Today I went to Fox's and ate four pieces of pizza. I went to Mimi's and ate a lot of rolls. In between, I went to the Museum of Science and Industry. I like the museum because I got to see baby chicks. I also liked the Swill Jolly Ball machine.

Goodbye,

Dagny

My road trip

Today I ate breakfast and went to lunch. I went to the museum. It was really cool. I saw in the museum, a fake tornado. I did the smoke thing after. I got on a fake train and saw all the things inside. And then I had dinner with my family, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Kathy, and Great Grandma Wilma. I like to visit Great Grandma Wilma because she has a nice house and I love her.

- Maggie

From Springfield to Chicago

After another late night with the Batchelders, the McLains were a little slow rolling out of bed this morning. We had a quiet morning at the KOA campground (or is it Kampground?) in Rochester and prepared the rig for the drive to Chicago. Prior to leaving town, we headed to the Batchelders for one last morning together. We played a few hands of rook, boys versus girls whiffle ball, in which the boys won, and lunch.

We had about the quietest drive we've had so far, with Jll, Alastair, and Magnolia all sawing logs. Adelaide and Dagny read to themselves, and I got my fill of talk radio. We pulled in to New Lenox just before dinner time, unloaded the car, and headed over to Smith Crossing in Orland Park, the home of Wilma McLain, the matriarch of the McLain family. My father and step-mother are still here as are my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Charlie from New Jersey. After spending a little while catching up, we headed to dinner with my dad, step-mother, Aunt Kathy, and Uncle Charlie. Unfortunately we missed the run to Fox's pizza last night, so we made do with a local Mexican restaurant. My grandmother was not feeling very well, so she stayed behind and visited with one of her good friends, Fran Carlson, who had come to see her.

After dinner we went to spend a little more time with my grandmother before hitting the rack. I had dreams of getting a few hands of poker in tonight, but it wasn't meant to be. By the time we got back to the RV, I was more ready for bed than for the poker rooms in Joliet. They will have to wait until tomorrow. I need to bankroll myself to a few more tanks of gas.

- Dave

A day with Abraham Lincoln

After last night's shenanigans at the Batchelder home, the kids were not up at the crack of dawn this morning. The family did not starting rolling out of bed until about eight o'clock or so, which is a new record for sleeping in. After slowly getting ready for the day, we headed into Springfield to find a place for breakfast and to get coffee for Jll. She ran out of coffee additives in the RV and could not be persuaded to drink it black. We fueled ourselves and headed to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. I appreciated that the museum was able to hold our kids attention and we were able to make it through all of the exhibits, movies, and shows. Perhaps this task was made easier by engaging in the history detective competition, by which we had to answer a series of questions about each of the exhibits.

Here is a picture of Adelaide, Alastair, and Dagny reenacting the end of the Civil War. I can't vouch for the historical accuracy of their reenactment, but it looked pretty good to me.

After the museum, we met up with the Batchelder clan for lunch and a quick tour through the Old State Capitol. From there, we walked to the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, where the kids were able to meet the President.



I have always been enamored with Abraham Lincoln, not only because of what he did, but the adversity he had to overcome in order to get into a position where he could make a difference.

After hanging out at Lincoln's home for a while, we headed back the Batchelders'. While not as historically significant, the Batchelders' home does have air conditioning, so score one for the Batchelders.

Curt and I handily beat Jll and Katie at a game of Rook as we waited for dinner and we took turns listening to the kids' favorite songs from You Tube.  Following dinner we took a nice stroll through the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Gardens. It was fun to watch our kids discover fireflies as the sun went down. Alastair frantically ran back to the van to get a clear water cup from the morning's Starbuck's visit so that the kids could inspect the lightning bugs a little closer.

We ended the day back at the Batchelders' with more games, dessert, and catching up. This was the latest we've been out yet on this trip and I envision tomorrow will involve more sleeping in.

- Dave

Lasers and Blades

Hi, it's Alastair again. Yesterday we drove to Rochester, IL. In Illinois we met up with my cousins Noah, EJ, and Katie. Then we went to their church and played laser tag. I never won laser tag, but I beat EJ at sword fighting about two times. I also dueled my sister Addie in sword fighting. Then I played more laser tag. After that we went home. Then I got ready for bed. Then I read books and wrote this blog post.

Goodbye,

Alastair

Slap jack and laser tag

We were able to have breakfast this morning with my Great Aunt Sue and spend a little time with my Great Uncle Howard.  I am grateful for my little visit to Indianola and for my extended family.  Good stuff!

We were in the RV for about 6 hours today which was pretty good, except for the slap jack.  The kids don't play fair and always look at their own card before laying it down which is totally cheating because they always know if they have a jack before they lay it down.  I tried to show them how to pull the cards from the bottom of the deck, but it was still total chaos.  I had to take the cards away because the game was about to turn into slap your sisters. 

We made it to Rochester, IL for dinner with my cousin Jen Batchelder and husband, Curtis and their family.  When you have as many cousins as I have you have to pick your inner circle and Jen has always been part of my inner circle, mostly because we were born in the same decade.  Of notable interest, just my first cousins (not second cousins), range in age from 22-59.  There are a bunch of us and I am so glad my crew can claim some more time with the Batchelders.  We had a great time playing at their house and having dinner and topped the night off with laser tag in the youth suite at Curt's church.  Curtis is a youth pastor and has always been the most fun, especially for kids.  We have stayed up WAY past bedtime for the past few nights.  I know it is catching up to us because Maggie and Alastair took naps this afternoon.  I hope they can power through tomorrow because we have planned about 20 hours of fun for just one day.  Sleep tight little McLain people and the rest of you too.

Jll

I've Been Waiting

Guess who. That's right, Addie. Today we started by going to my Great Great Aunt Sue and Uncle Howard's place. I had delicious cinnamon rolls Aunt Sue made. We then got on the road for our five hour drive. When we arrived in Springfield we parked the RV at KOA and headed off to meet the Batchelders. We got there and had dinner. We played lots of games then we went to their church and played laser tag. We played lots more games. This time I think I had just as much fun as when we met last in Chicago. I can't wait to spend tomorrow with them.

Goodnight,

Addie

My mother's humble roots

Spent the day in Indianola, IA which was my mother's home and summertime stomping ground for me and my sister, Julie.  It really hasn't changed that much and I was really proud of myself that I was able to find all of the sites I wanted to visit on instinct alone.  It is such a small town that the tour for the kids took about a half hour, which is perfect, because that is only as long as anyone wants to hear about "when I was a kid."  I feel so fortunate that my mom was raised in such a nice little place and I also feel really fortunate that she went to college in CO and met my dad.  I find it difficult to envision life in such a small town. 

My lunch with my Great Aunt Sue and cousin Terri was so nice.  We find a way to see them every time we are here and they are so lovely and hospitable.  We will have coffee in the morning with Sue and my Uncle Howard before we hit the road again.  My mother's family was very well known and respected in this little town for a long time.  My few family members are dwindling now and it makes me feel sad that we have fewer and fewer chances to be here.  I had such a great childhood riding bikes with Julie through these cute little streets.  I wish I could go back in time for just a glimpse of those people I loved so very much.  Instead, I listen to my little people breathing deep as they sleep close by and am filled with gratitude for them and for my very wonderful roots on my beautiful family tree.  - Jll

Practice makes perfect

     Hi, Addie once again. I remember just a few days ago Mom and I were talking about how, in the first week of the trip, we would learn about how to work the RV and all of that sort of thing. All I can say is that in these past three days, the prediction came true, and I mean it. Today we started driving early in the morning. At lunch we met up with Mom's cousin and great aunt. We had lunch at Crouse's. Soon after, we ate dinner at Noah's Ark. This time, just us six. We drove to the RV park and played on the playground. They had a merry-go-round, and it is awesome. Anyway, now it is bedtime. Today, we visited grandma's mom and dad's grave. I took lots of pictures. Grandma, Nana, Papa, Busia, Allen, and everyone else that is reading this blog, I just want to say I miss you very much. I miss home.

Goodnight,

Addie

Fun

Hi, it's Alastair again. Today on the drive to Indianola, IA, I read my Lego Harry Potter book. Then I played checkers with my younger sister, Dagny. Next I played Spot It with Dagny. Then I rested a tiny bit. Finally, we got to Indianola, IA. Then we drove to Crouse's Café, where we had lunch. I had a blueberry pancake. Then we drove around and looked at things, like my great-great grandparents' house, my great grandparents' house and grave. Then we played on the play ground. Then we went to dinner at the restaurant "Noah's Ark." I had chicken strips. Then we came back home and played on the playground. Then went to the RV and got ready for bed and that's when I wrote this blog post.

Goodbye,

Alastair

My adventures

I am on my third day of a seventy-five day trip. I love it so much I would want to live here. Do you want to come, too?

See you next time,

Dagny

Driving

Driving is tough but I got through the crash yesterday. It was on fire. The whole semi-truck split in half. I felt scared... very scared. I waited two hours to go ahead. I love my trip. I see a lot of homes and trees. The grass is green in Lincoln, Nebraska. Skies are blue, not grey. Pretty flowers are blooming.

- Dagny

Me and Felix

Today let's learn about Felix. Felix is a stuffed bunny rabbit from Ms. Francie's kindergarten class. Ms. Francie will be my teacher next year. Felix goes home with students throughout the school year, and they journal about their adventures. Because Adelaide, Alastair, and Dagny all had Ms. Francie before me, I got to keep Felix for our summer trip.

- Maggie

My people

As David and I started to create the itinerary for this trip we identified our route by my people, his people, and important sites to see along the way.  It has been a lot of fun for me that the first four stops have been "my people."
 
This afternoon we were able to spend a few hours with one of my roommates and sorority sisters from CSU, Barbara.  She and her family have lived in Omaha for the past 13 years so we only get to see each other about every 4 years.  My crew had a great time playing at her beautiful house which backs to a soccer field and park.  My kids needed a chance to run and play with other kids and have fun.  I loved our chance to catch up and hope we see them all very soon.

My father's brother Tom and his wife, my Aunt Ann, also live in Omaha.  They are always good to host us when we come down I-80.  My cousin Kaitlan was able to come to dinner and we were so pleased to meet her fiancé, Benji.  Kaitlan is an elementary ed. music teacher so she gets extra cool credit with the kids for teaching them fun music games.  The kids smothered their dogs and played hard and David and I had a really nice time catching up with my Aunt and Uncle.  My Uncle has an impressive herb garden and he sent me on my way with an assortment.  Very cool.


Tonight's KOA is really kid-friendly and the kids were allowed the last 15 minutes before bed to play.  Lasted about 5 before Addie jumped off of the tetter-totter and dropped Alastair on his back side HARD!  Brought back the good old memories of me and Julie doing the exact same thing.  Ouch.  Alastair will remember that for a lifetime I am sure.

Tomorrow,  more time with my people.  150 miles to Indianola, Iowa to see my great aunt and uncle and to eat at my favorite summer time spots from my mom's hometown.  I had a great childhood and great times with my G and G in this tiny little town.

Next day, some more of my favorite people in Springfield, IL.  The Batchelder's are funny, fun, and super easy to be around.  My kids love these cousins and I expect that our late night routines will continue. I feel so blessed that we can be together and that our children have created a great friendship.

Goodnight my people.

Jll

Anxiety Again

Hi, Addie here. Guess what? That's right, anxiety again. Today while we drove on a highway, we suddenly stopped and when I looked up from my book, there was a huge fire. We waited for three hours. We slept, ate, played Mexican Train and Temple Run, and last but not least, we played highway baseball. That's right. Since all the cars were parked, Alastair and Dad went out in the road and played baseball.

Finally, traffic started moving again. When we passed the crash, it turned out a moving truck had caught on fire and it had been so hot the truck split in two. It was still smoldering when we passed. At lunch time we caught up with Mom and Dad's friend. She has three kids, my age, Alastair's age, and Dagny's age. For dinner we went to Uncle Tom and Aunt Ann's and had a great dinner. Now Mom and Dad are making me go to bed.

Goodnight,

Addie

Highway Baseball

Hi, it's Alastair again. Today after breakfast, about two hours into the drive, we got stuck on the highway behind a truck that was on fire. To pass the time, we played games, read books, took pictures, and I played baseball outside of the RV on the highway. When the wreck was taken care of, we started moving again to reach the destination for today.

Goodbye,

Alastair

It was an early morning.

I think it is safe to say that the whole family was a little on edge leading up to our departure today. Jll and I were woken up by Adelaide at 2:15 this morning. She couldn't sleep and made sure that no one else could sleep either. I could not get back to sleep easily and tossed and turned for another couple of hours. When it was finally time to get up, we packed the last few belongings into the RV and I had to drive across town for Alastair's bat bag. We discovered yesterday that he left it at Holly Hills Elementary after the last Yankees' game and, luckily, learned last night that one the parents picked it up. I retrieved the bag, saving us the hassle of having to buy Alastair and I new gloves, threw the gloves into the compartment for sports equipment and we headed to church. Sitting through church I had a pit in my stomach and I could not help but ask myself whether hitting the road for the next eleven weeks was such a good idea. Also, given the hiccup with the first attempt to tow Jll's van, I had visions of the thing coming off the dolly as we headed down the highway at 60 miles per hour. I wondered if I had enough car insurance for this adventure. Luckily the service ended before I had too many terrible thoughts running through my head and there was no time to rethink the plan.

After seeing the peeps and receiving one last blessing, we hit the road. Five hours later we rolled into North Platte. We were able to get here on less than three-quarters of a tank of gas. I will need to start gassing up only at truck stops. Not knowing exactly how much gas we started with, I do not yet know our fuel consumption. I do know that if you can watch the needle move as you drive down the highway, that's not a good sign. When we got to North Platte, I drove into a regular gas station and not only did I have a hard time negotiating the lot with a 32' RV towing a Honda Odyssey, but the pump cut me off, repeatedly, once it hit the $75 limit. With a 55 gallon tank, $75 just doesn't cut it.  Flying J, here we come.

Tomorrow it's on to Omaha for lunch with one of Jll's sorority sisters and dinner with Tom and Ann Scates.

The First Day

Hi, my name is Alastair. I am eight years old. Last Tuesday I finished second grade. Today we drove the RV to church. We ended up parking it on the sidewalk nearest to the church. After church we started the five hour drive to North Platte, Nebraska. Us six were having so much fun that the five hours felt like five minutes. I guess it's true what they say, time flies by when you're having fun. First, I played Spot It with my older sister, Addie, while my younger sister, Dagny, wrote her blog post. My other younger sister, Maggie, read books (if you have not noticed, I have three sisters). Then I read seventy-two paragraphs of space facts. Finally, we got to North Platte, where we parked and went to the pool. Tomorrow we are going to have lunch with my parent's friends. They have kids my age. I am so excited. I'll write about it in tomorrow's blog.

Goodnight,

Alastair

McLains on the Road

I'm on a road trip having lots of fun and I'm really excited. I passed a lot of cows on my way through Nebraska. Right now it's night time and I need to go to bed.

- From Maggie

Having Fun

I am on the road, ready to go. I'm so happy to go. My first stop is North Platte, Nebraska. I see a lot of construction on the road. If you haven't noticed. I'm on a road trip. I love it so much. I finished a note to my Nana and Papa. I am having a great trip but I'm missing my family and friends. Now I'm in my bed, a little nervous.

Goodnight.

- Dagny

Finally

      Hi, this is Addie again. Finally after weeks of preparing, the McLains are on the road. Today is the beginning of the 76-day trip. We  passed through the north-east part of Colorado heading up into North Platte, Nebraska where we will stay tonight. All we have done today is passed by fields and cows. Once we got out of Denver, I noticed that the nature out here is amazing. Here is the best part, Mom and Dad let me ride in the front seat. Awesome. I know, right? When we got to the RV part, we went to the pool. For dinner, we had hot dogs, but Mom and Dad would not let me have dessert. Now it is time to sleep in the RV for the first time.

     Goodnight.

- Adelaide

Anxiety

      Hi, my name is Adelaide Grace Mclain ("Addie"), I'm ten and on Tuesday I finished 4th grade. About a weak ago, was the fist time Dad tried to put the mini van onto the dolly that is hooked up to the RV. When he and Mom first put it on, Dad was confident that he knew what he was doing. When I looked I thought it looked great as well. We all hopped into the RV for a test drive. We where heading to Papa and Nana's house which is only a block away. On the way there Mom sat in the back on the bed as she watched out the window to make sure her van did not slide off the dolly while we drove. I kept watch in the rear view camera. Everything seemed fine. When we got to Nana and Papa's we parked the RV and went outside to check the car. This is the part where I freaked out. The front of the mini van was scratched up and all of the ropes had fallen. Now you may be thinking why would she freak out over that. I mean its a car with about 90,000 miles and its just a few scratches. Well the reason I freaked out was that I thought we where not going to be able to take the van on the trip. I don't know about you but this worried me. I went inside Papa and Nana's house to calm down. Papa and Nana have a piano and I found that playing piano soothes me. (I play piano.) After I calmed down I decided to join the family again. When I went outside they where measuring the RV and I was just in time to hear Mom say...

     "Do you think I can get on the roof?" and once again hear comes the anxiety.

      "No," I screamed and as I ran inside crying I saw a glimpse of Mom climbing onto the roof. Once again I resigned to my calming method.....piano. When I calmed down I went outside just in time to see the RV pull away only this time the van was parked on the sidewalk. Mom was the only one that stayed behind. Since then Dad and Papa did homework on the dolly and car, Dad went to get the dolly worked on, and I once again got confidence about the dolly working. I hope I never get anxiety like that again. 

- Adelaide