Day 6 - UP of Michigan

Since it was raining yesterday, we plan a trip to Land 'O Lakes, Wisconsin (on the border of Michigan) to go to a lodge that has a swimming pool for Ashley and Fayth (her 2nd cousin) to swim off some energy.

The lodge is definitely North Woods style with heads of bison, bear, elk, deer, porcupine and other forest animals up on the log walls. Ashley tool some great pictures. (Just like her daddy!)

The girls practiced their cannonballs and swam for over 2 hours. I was worn out just watching them! There were no other people in the pool, so the girls had it to themselves. What a blessing! I sat and read a book and spent some good time with my sister.

Home to play Sorry Revenge with the girls as Rod took a nap. Rain makes him sleep!! We spent the evening watching movies and laughing a lot. Steph's dog, Desi (a weinie) makes me homesick for Duke and Bailey, but according to Tom, they are having a good time.

Will try to post some pictures tonight, but my sister's computer is from the "dark ages"!! (Hope I can figure this out!)

Day 5 - Arrival in UP of Michigan

We trekked our last 5 hour drive from the Mall of America to the UP of Michigan and my sister Stephanie's home. It began to drizzle when we were about 40 miles from her home and the temps began to drop from the mid 70's to 58 degrees.

I can tell you that Rod, Ashley and Patty aren't used to these winter temps in the summer! We were cold and everyone was laughing at us!!

No pictures today...I need to download the last batch and it's bedtime!

MOA Amusement Park Day 4

The SpolngeBob amusement park was awesome. Ashley and Patty went on every adult ride there was...even the coaster with the 3 story drop and corkscrew. The park is in the center of the mall with all the amusement park food and rides. It was a blast. Boy were we tired after 10 hours in the mall and half of it at the park.

We would go on a few ride, eat, go shop for a while and then do it all over again. The funnest coaster was the one that spins around in a circle as you go down the track. Ashley and Patty went on it 4 times! (Rod sat that one out!) We can now say we have totally done the mall.

Underwater Aquarium Day 4

Rod, Patty & Ashley slept in and then went to the Mall of America. Our first order for the day was to go to the Aquarium. It was one of the best aquariums we've been. The moving sidewalks in the "shark tube" made it a great place to view all the fish and the sharks.

We got to see them feed the fish in the afternoon & it was a feeding frenzy! We also saw a lot of the same fish we snorkled with in Hawaii.

Road Trip Day 3

We made it safely to the Mall of America in Minnesota. I can't believe how huge this mall truly is. I was worn out right after walking inside the door! Tomorrow we will do the amusement park, the aquarium and if we aren't tired from that...do more shopping.

We have been blessed with good weather since we left Arizona on Wednesday afternoon and have only seen 1 accident.

We have seen over 50,000 cows grazing the prairies and over 300 miles of acres and acres of corn. We certainly have gotten our "green" fix. We can do without the humidity. We love the dry heat!

Ashley was able to see up close how the Amish live as we were near one of their towns when we got gas. Several horse drawn buggies came up the road and we got pictures and videos.

We are thankful for the shuttle to the mall so we don't have to drive. (I'm tired of driving!)

2009 Road Trip Day 1 & 2

Ashley, Rod & Patty hit the road yesterday at 3 p.m. and traveled up through the Mogollon Rim to Highway 40 and onto to New Mexico. We caught some rain and took a picture of a beautiful rainbow. Ashley smiles as she eats dinner at a NM reststop. Rod buries himself at the Days Inn in Albuquerque, NM our first stop last evening.

Today we traveled throught the panhandle of Texas and Oklahoma and then into Kansas. We saw elk, deer, lots of dead skunks and Patty ran over a very large rattlesnake in Texas. Once we got into Kansas we saw the amber waves of grain and all the huge combines harvesting the wheat.

We are now at a Holiday Inn Express in Andover, Kansas. Rod and Ashley are testing the waters of the indoor pool and Patty is doing this and resting from the long 10 hour drive.

Tomorrow it's the rest of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota arriving in the evening at the Mall of America and 500 shops. Patty is sooooo ready!