Vacation, Day 16

16 days, 1748 miles, 760+ pictures and we are finally back home!!!

Last night was LONG.  Went to bed late after being at Mel's, getting boys to bed, then finishing getting our bed & stuff set.  Noah was up just over an hour after I'd gone to sleep.  Even in bed with us, he tossed and turned and was very restless. 

The wind picked up early this morning and we could hear distant storms, which kept us up, wondering if they'd come our way?  would we get much rain? would they be severe and require us to wake the boys and seek shelter? would we have to pack up wet?

An hour or so after that, we heard a raccoon getting into our neighbor's stuff.  Or at least, attempting to.  He got shoo'd off and spent the next 10 minutes in a tree just outside our tent, very loudly voicing his displeasure and not getting the treat he was hoping for.

Another hour ro so and the rain started.  Some thunder rumblings, but not many and nothing that sounded severe or made us feel we weren't safe where we were.  I finally got into a good sleep around 7:30 our time, after the rain started.  I woke around 9 since Noah was stirring and was surprised to find both boys still sleeping and unfortunately, to find the rain was still falling.

Needless to say.... after such a rough night, packing up a wet tent, knowing it would be followed by several hours in the car, was not pleasant.  The rain had stopped by the time we were packing, but the tent & ground were soaked.

The rain meant no trail hiking or playground time this morning, so we headed to get breakfast at McD's as soon as we were packed.  Noah ate an entire order of hotcakes (3), the rest of us enjoyed our meals and then we hit the road.  Noah slept for much of the trip.  Andrew talked, sang, and did everything he could to keep from sleeping.

Construction traffic in southern Wisconsin.  Normal traffic backups in Chicago.  Noah decided to wake and start screaming that he wanted out of his carseat, while we were on the skyway with no good place to stop.  As soon as we got to Merrillville, we were all ready for a break.  It was late and we had dinner plans, so we got a light lunch then were back on our way.

We got to see the giant wind farm by daylight.  On the way up, it was still very dark and all you could see were these bright, red lights flashing in the sky, which was a very eerie sight.  All the behemoth windmills by daylight were a bit eerie looking, too, but it was still really neat to see.  There are tons of windmills on both sides of the highway and we clocked that it stretches for about 10 miles.  When you're driving through them, it just seems like they're never going to end!

We finally made it to town around 6:45.  Mom had invited us to their place for dinner so we wouldn't have to go to the store and cook after 7+ hours in the car.  A VERY welcomed invitation and it was nice to be able to relax after the long trip.

Finally got to our house around 9:30PM.  We unloaded a few neccesities and decided to leave the rest for morning.  Put the boys in theri jammies.  Andrew asked to snuggle in our bed for a while, so we let him and he fell asleep there.  He did so great going to sleep on his own in Copper Harbor, but insisted on us being right there with him tonight.  It didn't take either of the boys long to fall asleep and they're both snoozing away in their own beds now.  I know I'm looking forward to a peaceful night in my own bed and I think we're all happy to be home!

Wind farm.

In the car.  Andrew was being silly about having his picture taken.

Back asleep in their own beds.  The way things started 16 days ago.

Vacation, Day 15

Up early and had breakfast at Grandma's.  The boys stayed to play while Eric & I packed.  It took a while to get it all done and loaded, but we managed, then we all went to shower-- Andrew with Eric and Noah with me.  We were in the van and leaving the campground just after 11AM.

The Copperman Triathalon was going on, so instead of the lake drive we usually take out, they were sending all the cars up Brockway Mountain so they would avoid the cyclists on the road.  An unexpected delay, but it was nice to see it one last time (though Eric says the cyclists should be sent up the mountain on their ride out, then the lake drive on the way back, so they're only taking up one side of the road instead of both).  There was a big boat out on the lake, so Eric got Andrew out and took him to look at it.  We made it down the other side of the mountain, stopped at the Jampot for cookies for the road, then we were really on our way.

Noah fell asleep on the down side of Brockway.  Andrew was asleep a little before Calumet.  Both of them slep until the "dead road" just before Crystal Falls and the only reason Andrew woke up is because Noah was screaming so loudly.  We were all ready for a stretch and lunch, and had planned to stop sooner, but since the boys were sleeping we kept driving.  Once the woke, there was no good place to stop.  We made a potty stop for Andrew, but didn't get lunch until the McD's in Iron Mountain.  There were much happier moods for all after full bellies and a good stretch.

We stopped in Lena for a potty break and to buy some cheese to take home.  We almost made it to Sheboygan, but a few miles out had to stop on the side of the road for Andrew.  Not as easy to do on the interstate as it was on the 2 lane roads in the U.P.

We're staying at Kohler-Andrae State Park in Wisconsin tonight.  With kids, the trip home is better if we do it in 2 days, rather than one long one.  I have a friend I met online a few years ago who lives just a few minutes from here, so we aranged to spend the night here and meet up with her & her family.  They met us at our campsite and let the kids play while we put up the tent.  I think it was the fastest we've ever set the thing up.  Then we went to dinner with Mel & her family.

We had dinner at a restaurant on the boardwalk.  After we ate, we went for a walk on it for a bit, but it was getting dark so we went back to Mel's to visit.  We've been in an online group together for a couple of years, have bought/sold/traded diapers back & forth between our kids and it was so great to finally meet in person!  Her oldest, Miles, is just 2 months older than Andrew so they instantly hit it off and had a great time playing.

We got back to camp a little after 10pm local (11 home).  Noah was exhausted and screaming like mad so I quickly got him changed and nursed him to sleep.  Andrew was asleep about 30 seconds after hitting the pillow, so once both boys were down, Eric & I finished getting our bed made and getting ready for bed.  The campground is huge, so we're hoping to check it out in the morning and spend some time playing before we have to put the boys back in the car for the drive home.

Andrew often insisted that Eric wear the "Captain's hat" while driving.

On the side of I-43... just north of Sheboygan.

My view of Noah.

On the boardwalk.  Unfortunately, after taking this first picture of it, the batteries in the camera died and the replacements were packed somewhere in the van, so I didn't get any others.

Vacation, Day 14

Our last day in Copper Harbor. Since we'll be in the car so much the next 2 days, we agreed it would be best to not make the boys be in the car today for anything more than a drive to town.

We walked through the fort to the playground, figuring the boys could play for a while. There were a lot of older kids being crazy there though, so we didn't stay long. We stopped at the Ft store on our way back to camp and picked out a patch for Andrew's jacket. Going back through the fort, Andrew asked to go in several of the buildins to look around, so we spent time doing that.

We had lunch then went to town. Got patches for both boys and a lollipop for Andrew. Stopeed to say bye to Leslie. Andrew picked out a small mug and tiny bowl. He says they're for hot chocolate and the ketchup for his chicken nuggets, respectively. He was thrilled to get them and upset he couldn't use them at dinner tonight.

I was talking to Leslie about different pieces we have from Dennis, how the different glazes hold up to various foods, etc. Learned that one glaze we have doesn't take well to lemon juice-- it takes the sheen off. I mentioned I had one mug that popped when I poured some hot water in it. She knew immediately what color it was and said they'd had a bad batch of glaze in that color a few years ago and to pick out a new mug to replace it. I guess others had the same problem with the stuff popping (cracking), too, and they were happy to replace any items if you told them about it. And I was happy to have a new mug.

We said goodbye and headed back to camp to start packing things up. I got clothes all packed while Noah napped. Then we packed up the kitchen stuff and took down the dining fly.

Our last night for ice cream, so we got some of the dairy-free sorbet for Noah to try. His first ice cream cone and he pushed it away and refused to try it. This from the boy who'll eat most anything! We offered him some on a spoon and it was still no. but, when he got to hold the spoon, he finally, willingly took a bite. He didn't like the cold and made a face about it. Only tried 1-2 more bites, but had fun playing with the spoon and cone.

Took a walk when we got back. The boys rode their bikes. Andrew was upset it was too dark to do a second lap. Then we sat around the campfire to wait for the stars, figuring if Andrew was up late tonight, hopefully he'll sleep in the car tomorrow. We didn't make it to full darkness. Noah fell asleep on my lap and Andrew was aking to go to bed because he was so tired, so we took a walk to the bathrooms, then put him to bed.

Last breakfast at our site.  We'll be eating at Grandma's tomorrow.

Andrew, 2007

Andrew, 2010.  He's screaming because he didn't want to stand by the big canon... still scared of them from Battery D.  We explained these aren't the same canons and don't work, but that didn't matter to him.

Noah, 2010.

We managed a little playground fun before the big kids got too crazy and scared us off.

Walking the "balance beams."

Some of the role players at the Fort.

Working in the bakery.

A final stop to play the drums.

More role players.

Andrew in jail.

Noah quickly learned that food was kept in the back of the van.  Anytime we'd walk near it, he'd run to the back signing cracker and wait for us to get him a snack.

Chocolate pudding.  He insisted on eating it with his shirt off, since that's how he eats it at therapy, even though it was a chilly day.

On the big chair.

Nothing beats a lollipop while riding on Daddy's shoulders!

Last dinner by the campfire.

Playing checkers with Uncle Jared at the ice cream store.

Of course, Noah wanted to play too.

Noah's first ice cream cone.  Every other night when we've gotten ice cream, he's gotten one of his Mum-mums as a special treat.  I think he was against the ice cream at first because he wanted his usual snack.

Vacation, Day 13

Pancakes at Grandma's for breakfast.  Noah ate 5.  Andrew ate 1.  So typical.  Though, Andrew did have a pop tart a short while later... so at least he got something more in him.

Went to the AT&T store in Calumet to see if they could do anything for my phone.  The screen suddenly went blank the other day.  They couldn't help, which I figured is what would happen, but he said it's still under warranty since I've had it less than 30 days, so I can get it replaced when I get home.  Good to know, but still frustrating to not have it when it's only a couple weeks old.

The waves on Superior were huge, so we drove by the beach in Eagle River on our way back.  The are we played in yesterday was all under water today.  The waves were breaking off shore and rolling in, big enough you probably could have surfed in them.  And you could hear them crashing when we got back to camp.

Could not get Noah to nap after lunch, so we went for a walk to the rock beach.  Andrew was excited to find a rock that looked like an alligator and asked to keep it, along with a few others he found and liked, so we made a small pile and told him he could keep 3.  Just after that, Eric found a couple of crawdads rolling around in the surf and pulled them out to show Andrew.  We commented how it would be neat if we had a bucket to put one in to take back and show Jacob & Adam.  Nothing to hold water, but Eric decided if he walked fast enough, he could get back to camp and get it in water in one of the ice cream buckets and keep it alive.

We hurried to grab our things and head back, and Eric decided to run ahead.  The boys & I were nearly back to camp and realized in our rush, we had forgotten Andrew's rocks.  We went on to tell Eric, and then all of us walked back to the beach to look for them.  Thankfully, the pile was right where we'd left it and the alligator rock was safe.  (and then Andrew decided it wasn't an alligator, but a boat)

After dinner, everyone took a walk together and we finally convinced Andrew to get back on his bike.  He fell earlier in the week and has been afraid to ride ever since.  We found a spot on our campsite where his training wheels sit just a bit higher than the main wheel, so it's like riding a stationery bike.  He's loved "practicing" there, but the mention of an actual ride has brought a meltdown.  We decided tonight, we just needed to stick him on the bike and make him do it.

With all the practice he's been doing, he rode much better tonight!  His pedaling is smoother and he can go for a longer stretch of pedaling before he stops.  He enjoyed it so much, when we got back to camp he asked if we could go again,  so we did.

Noah was so tired from not napping, he fell asleep on the way back from ice cream.  He only stirred a bit when I changed him into his jammies, then nursed right back to sleep.  It's cooler this evening and I hope it doesn't get too cold tonight.  He wakes more on cold weather nights because he gets chilly.

This is how we found Andrew this morning.  On the floor, out of his sleeping bag, 180 degrees turned from how he started.  Typical of most mornings.

Beach at Eagle River.  We walked on sand to the right of that picnic table yesterday.

At the pebble beach:

Three generations of Russell men:

Walking with Grandpa...

On your mark, get set........... GO!!!

Noah relaxed in the stroller while the big boys rode bikes.  I'm sure next year he'll want to be on one, too.