Schmucker Reunion in Archbold

We caught beautiful weather this time in the good 'ole midwest. We flew into Detroit on Friday, and Vera picked us up at the airport and we headed to Archbold. Walter drove in with Stacy and the kids to the Sauder Inn. We had upgraded joining rooms, enjoyed the pool, good cooking, breakfast buffet, and the local park. The cousins reunited and had a great time together. The Schmucker reunion was Saturday night, and boy do I truly miss the Mennonite potlucks. There is nothing quite like them! The kids played at the park while the adults caught up and did the usual reunion talk. :=)

Nathan, Lucas, Luka, and TJ:



TJ discovering a new type of swing:



Luka stuffing his pockets full of pea gravel.



Grandpa getting in on the playground fun:



Sunday, we headed "home" to Goshen with Vera. Scott and I enjoyed a bike ride on the 12 mile Pumpkin Patch Trail that will soon connect Goshen and Middlebury. With a ride through the forest and the corn fields, the only thing missing was the fall color. The leaves had just started to turn, so I'm afraid we missed the Maple Leafs by just a few weeks. :=( The one thing I truly do miss, other than family of course, about living up north.

The kids enjoyed a picnic with Grandma.



This is for those of you who wish you too could fly for free:

First, flight loads forced us to extend our vacation by two days, and fly out of O'Hare rather than Detroit. (Note that this means we step foot in 4 states in 4 days.)

Exhibit A- Luka in the umbrella stroller, Chilli in his bag hanging on the handlebars of the stroller, (which will tip over if you let go), Lisa pushing with backpack and shoulder bag. Scott pulling one suitcase in one hand with TJ riding on top in, and pulling another suitcase in his other hand that has the handle broken which requires a makeshift handle and frequent hand switching.

Monday afternoon- Vera drives us to South Bend to take the 3 hour Southshore train to Chicago. Get to Chicago, get up the subway stairs (flash to Exhibit 1 above) walk two blocks to the L Train, up stairs again, ride the L to Oak Park during rush hour. Exit the train, and there are no taxis in sight. Wait 5 min. and still no taxi.

Exhibit B - Same as exhibit 1, except Chilli is now on his leash. Phew. Glad we got that one taken care of.

Start walking the 10 blocks to MiMi and PaPa's house, since they happen to be out of town and cannot pick us up. 4 blocks away, Luka complains of having to pee, so I start running (again, exhibit 2) to their house. Throw open the gate, yank Luka's pants down, and he pees in MiMi's pretty petunias. (Sorry Mimi.)

Wow. We're not even to Houston yet.

Tuesday - Rise and shine! 9:00 flight. In the cab we go, and no carseats. Kids have a ball with the automatic windows. Jump on the plane and 15 min. before landing, Luka becomes a broken record yelling and crying "But I reeeally reeeally have to pee!!" Witness not so amused passengers around us. Seatbelt sign goes off and we race to the back of the plane to pee. Off the plane and then flag a cart to get to baggage so as not to carry Luka all the way from Terminal E to Terminal C while Scott takes TJ via stroller on the employee bus to the employee parking lot to pick up the van. Almost there! Pick up two suitcases, put Luka on one, and meet my smiling hubby at passenger pickup.

Wow - what I wouldn't do for a real photo of Exhibit A.