We planned on staying for close to two weeks, or as long as Daryl's parents could tolerate us. We were all so excited, it is a huge treat to go out and see them. Paiglee has cousins her age that she gets a long with so well. We miss them bunches. We wanted to have as many days possible with Daryl's parents so we decided to get ballsy and make the 16 hour trip in one day. Yes we are slightly crazy. We left early on July 31st and didn't arrive until 12 or 1 am on August 1st. Daryl ended up getting pulled over in Iowa we weren't sure why, we were only going 6 mph over. Turns out we didn't have our lights on and in Iowa it is a law thirty minutes before sunset you have to have them on. But it was crazy in Iowa they do things different. The officer asked Daryl to get out of the car and walk back to his patrol car with him. We were both like, what!? I guess all there stuff is in the computers and they have to have them come back to sign digitally, they do it with all people. News to us! Since I was not use to this I kept watching thinking the worst would happen. Like that this wasn't a real cop and any minute he was going to shoot Daryl and then come shoot me and the girls. Yep, I was paranoid and freaked out just a little. But nothing happened and they joked and talked in the patrol car and he turned out to be a really nice guy, not a phony cop.
We had big plans to eat out everyday. I was a little worried because I was on my 3rd month of my new meal plan I was doing. And I knew this trip was going to make it near impossible to keep up with it. But I figured I should relax since we don't make it out this way too often and the places to eat there are far superior to places we have to choose from back at home. Day one we headed to Chick fil' A to support them with there whole deal that was going on. Plus who doesn't like Chick fil' A?
August 2, Daryl's sister Brenda came over to the house and all the girls played in the little swim pool. That was there first time seeing each other in 2 years. They played all afternoon in the pool. We went to Uncle Pete's for lunch, some of the best Gyro's around.
August 3, We went to Happy Joe's with Daryl's sister Brenda and brother Wayne. This place serves some pretty awesome taco pizza. Sounds weird but don't even think of knocking it until you have tried it. Plus they have a big indoor play area for kids. It was fun and so great for the kids.
August 3 or 4, we also went to the newly remodeled John Deere head quarters. We walked around there for a bit. Then we headed to their downtown property it was pretty busy and the most humid hot day so we didn't do too much before we were all ready to eat and call it good. Emery was super thrilled with the fact she could climb on the big tractors and not get in trouble, plus she loves to pretend she is driving so this was right up her alley. For lunch this day we went to Arthur's Deli, I will just say it puts pretty much any sandwich place I have eaten at to shame, so yummy! You think all sandwiches are created equal, not this one, I have no clue what they did to it but it is amazing.
August 5 or 6, Daryl's brother Robert and his family drove up from Missouri. They had just gotten back into the states after several years living in Germany. It was great to catch up with them and see how they had all grown and changed. They stayed for a few days, and it was nice they made the 8 hour trip just to come see us while we were in Illinois. We went to church together that Sunday. Daryl loves doing this since he loves to catch up with people he grew up with and some of the families that are still there from when he was a kid. He was also able to set up a euchre game for later in the week. We just hung out and made food this day watched the Olympics and played games. Actually pretty much every night Robert and Heather were in town we played games. And every night I was glued to the TV watching the Olympics.
The following Monday we went to this Park that was fun so we could get the kids energy out. They had this barrel roll that was pretty neat, we didn't have those in any park I grew up with. It was a big hit and I kept finding these little acorns on the ground I have never seen one in person. Marianne made the trip up to see us for the day she is expecting her first and Daryl and I had brought a bunch of our baby stuff for her to have. It was good to see her even if it was just for a day.
Then then later that day we all went to Jungle Bungle pretty much it is similar to a chucky cheese but it had a buffet dinner. It was great just because there was so much to do and it wasn't just pizza that was served. There was laser tag and bumper cars and miniature golf. Paiglee loved playing all the games and almost couldn't hold still long enough to play each game she was so thrilled. Emery loved the baby car ride they had there she thought she was driving the car. I liked the laser tag and Daryl well he wasn't a fan of the place especially after he ended up getting food poisoning. That really messed up our last few days there since he wasn't feeling so great.
We had to take a day off of activities after that to recover. August 8, Brenda, Betty and I took they girls to see the Ice Age 3 movie. It was so cute, I did dose off for a bit during it but only because I couldn't keep my eyes open we had some rough nights sleep and early wake up calls with Emery and Paiglee. But it is a cute movie, I loved the end when they played the credits and played the Theme song We are by KeKe Palmer. If you haven't heard it I suggest you get on iTunes and purchase it. We love it in our house and it is played often in the car. That evening Daryl and I went on a date for my Birthday, to this really nice resturant downtown Moline. It was fun and just nice to do something nice for us. Daryl's parents were nice to watch the girls for us as well. Also I must add almost every night we had Whitey's ice-cream shakes. For those who don't know what that is well the best ice-cream shakes. Delicious!
Also after our date dinner Daryl Wayne and I went to the Batman movie. I was paranoid the whole movie, ridiculous I know but I kept watching the exit. I couldn't stop thinking of the shooting in Colorado. I can't wait to watch the movie in the comfort of my own home. But it was really good after I relaxed a bit, Daryl even said he was a little anxious. Stupid crazy people have us acting all nuts now.
Then the last day we were there a few days before everyone else had left and we had the rest of the time just to ourselves. But the last full day we were there we went down to the Mississippi river front to walk along the path they have. It is a nice one and super long. We just did a short portion and it was seriously so windy the windiest I have ever experienced it to be in Illinois. The river was really low they have sand barges in the river but it was so low that some people had boated up it got out and were standing on it to fish. I at one point asked Daryl if people were standing in the middle of the river and he said no. Wayne said nope those are people. Remember this is the Mississippi River so it isn't like a river here where it is easy to tell what is in the middle of the river. They looked like wooden poles that were in the river.
The next day we left or two days later we both were not looking forward to leaving,we were all ready to go and were packed up at 8am. We said our goodbyes and went to make a last stop to pick things up at the store and well it turned into a whole morning thing we just didn't want to leave and didn't look forward to the 16 hour trip home.
That night we ended up staying in Sidney Nebraska, it was getting late. We had a small incident in the parking lot of the hotel. The girls were over the car and we were all tired a little moody. Emery has this thing with trying to climb back in the van to get in the driver's seat to play. Well D and I weren't paying close attention and we closed the side door that is automatic, well Emery stuck her hand in and got a few of her fingers caught in the door. Umm yes I freaked Daryl couldn't get the door open and I began to cry and yell. Yep it was worse for D and me than Emery I think. She was fine though we got the door open and her fingers were fine. After baths we were all glad to be out of the car, except Emery was getting sick and we didn't get much rest. When we finally got home it was heaven after a 16 hour car trip. Heavenly Bliss, even if we were in the Rock bottom.
I did tell D this trip I can see myself moving out that way now. I never said that before I never wanted to but I could see it happening. We just wish we were closer to his family and Paiglee had her cousins to grow up with.
We were bummed that we came back to fires all around and just ugly southwest Wyoming. Even with the drought in the Midwest it was still greener and prettier than here. It was crazy to see the cornfields all brown and people don't have sprinkler systems so many people had brown lawns that was crazy to see.
We can't wait for our next visit back that way.
1 comment:
I did the SAME thing during the Batman movie. I was constantly looking at the exits and the people coming in and out.
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