Virgina Trip: the big day

I know that I am probably biased.... but she was such a beautiful bride.  I mean really...

Dave telling the girl... he loves her and how beautiful she looks... Or maybe just joking with her.

It was a beautiful ceremony.  Beautiful family.  Beautiful moments of bringing the lives of so many together on one day to celebrate the becoming of two people as ONE and the beginning of making a new family...

There were so many, so very many things that could have gone badly... but it was perfect- minus the cake melting (but we handled that).

Virginia Trip--- THE WEDDING... Day (pre wedding)

Finally we got to my Sarah!!!! My babies!!! I hadn't seen her for close to a year at this point!  Too long!!

We got to see the beautiful venue and chatted about some logistics!  Then we headed out to check in at the hotel and eat dinner together with the rest of the family....  

The next Morning we started in on wedding business!  We went shopping for the first of three last minute shopping trips! We figured out how we would do this and that... We got her nails done and drove around with the kids and finally ended up back at the venue to get to work!!

There was so much to be done.. But it all came together!  

That evening we had the dress rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.. 

The next day was the day!!!

We had makeup appointments and got her hair done!   Then we headed towards her groom!

I got so many great pictures!! Don't get me wrong I got tons of not great ones too!!

Virginia Day 7

We headed to Indianapolis... I still felt pretty bad, but a whole lot better than I did for sure!

The kids and I had gone through Indianapolis on our way to Chicago a few years ago and definitely remembered the children's museum... So they wanted to go back! Off we went...

This is by far the COOLEST Children's museum I have ever seen!  For one it is HUGE... Massive!  For another it just has the coolest displays! 

We didn't have a whole lot of time so when we got the map of the museum we circled what the kids specifically wanted to be sure to see-- and rated them.. So we got to them in order of how bad they wanted to see them... That allowed is to concentrate on what they wanted to spend their precious moments on--- we could have easily stayed all day! 

Just walking in is impressive!

And once in the lobby ...there was a 6-7 story Transformer!! So cool!!

Once we left we were headed to Springfield, Illinois and all things Lincoln!! 

We got to see his house before he left for Austin, his law office and many statues!! Finally we headed for his grave-- I was expecting some pomp and ceremony, but nothing I imagined was as beautiful as it was--- it was so big and impressive and all marble inside... Very ornate and befitting...  Although I think he would have been happy with less. 

It was very moving walking through the memorial and through the tomb... 

We got there right as they were closing so we didn't get to stay long... And we needed to get to my Sarah girl!!! 

We had a wedding to get ready for...

Virginia Trip the rest of Day 5...

So thing started to head south.. I was dealing with a MAJOR migraine and a lot of other pain and we ended up driving to find an urgent care!  After a shot, some antibiotics and pain meds we left for the hotel... I didnt get to do everything I had planned in Cincinnati and I am pretty disappointed about that... but we did our best.  I was feeling some better the next morning and ended up being able to drive around and SEE somethings even though we didnt get out and do everything!

We did get to see the city, which was as I imagined it!! Old! There were winding streets on hills, old buildings, old everything!  I loved it!

We drove around Eden Park--- love it.. beautiful architecture... You round the corner at one point and can see across the river-- which isn't Cincinnati but the city of Covington, KY.

We went to Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption--- made in replica of Notre Dame in Paris and it is SO beautiful.... just beautiful.  We just walked around for 30 minutes in awe of the building, stained glass, woodwork....

We drove over the Roebling Suspension Bridge.. multiple times, because I have a thing for bridges!
This bridge was on the intro to WKRP in Cincinnati (not that I watched that show, I was a Welcome back Kotter fan.  Not really... I'm not that old. LOL.)

I only have about 60 pictures of this bridge.  :0)

We had lunch downtown at Fountain Square... All the downtown workers were there having lunch.. it was a busy place but yet peaceful!

We found Krohn Conservatory but didn't go it... one of my favorite (junior high) movies was about roller bladers who skate through the conservatory and Eden Park... sigh.

We also drove by the Freedom Center-- which was high on my list.. But alas, it wasn't to be...

We tried foods that Cincinnati is known for like Cincinnati Chili-- which we all agree is gross.

We finally drove to the place that PUT Cincinnati on my tour list--- Harriet Beecher Stowes house!  And WE GOT THERE 5 MINUTES AFTER THEY CLOSED... Sigh.  I got pictures at least!

Then on our way out of town we went to Jungle Jim's!! Wow.  It was HUGE!!! So cool.  Emily put a note on their suggestion box to bring one to Houston-- and less than 24 hours later she received the sweetest reply--that they weren't expanding now but Houston would be top on their list! 

After all that we headed to Indianapolis..

If you are keeping up by this point we have been through 11 states!

Virginia Trip--- Day. 4 plus the morning of DAY 5

We left out from Lynchburg, VA that morning for a full day of driving... Straight over the Smokey Mountains again!  As I drive away I had a bit of a hard time knowing I was leaving Kate and an entire mountain range and four states would be between us!

We were headed to Lexington, KY.  It was a beautiful drive.. a lot of two lane highways though!

At one point on the drive Matt asked what a soda shop was-- he had seen a billboard advertising one-- so off we went on an adventure to find the old fashioned soda shop!  It was fun and quaint.  It is still a real pharmacy-- with the soda shop up front.  We had a great snack and headed out again! 

Our main reason for going to Lexington was to take Emily to the Kentucky Horse Park...

She was so excited!!! 

We got to ride in a horse trolley on a tour of the grounds.. and see a horse show. Emily and I had a great time!!

One of my high lights if the trip oddly enough.... was a cemetary!  Years ago Matt had told me he wanted to go to Lego Land and Daniel Boones grave.  I have weird kids okay!

We amazingly got to a Lego Land Discovery Center on a trip to Chicago-- but it's not LEGO LAND...but them a year later we were going to Florida and LO and BEHOLD they had just opened a LEGO LAND in Florida two months before!

From here it was off to Cincinnati!!!

Virginia Trip--- Day 3

We wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway... So we when we were ready to leave Asheville we hopped on and it was so beautiful!!! We hardly saw any other cars.  (make sure to get gas first!)...

and then we came into the mountains... oh my word.  I could just sit and look at this view for hours on end... it was SILENT.  It was much cooler and so very beautiful...

every once in a while we would go through a tunnel... all rock... it was so neat!

and our shots from the top of the mountain!!!  It was SO windy!

After about 4 hours we had to get off the Parkway and find a "real" interstate because it was taking so long and we had to get the girls to Lynchburg by 5:00 at the latest!

We got them there at 4:55!!   Wheww!!!  They were both VERY excited to arrive at Teen Pact Judicial!

I got her signed in, saw her dorm room, met a few people and then we left.  

insert sad face.

We drove around the campus for a while and finally left, grabbed a Little Caesars Pizza and headed to the hotel to just chill out!  I handled leaving her pretty well and we were all so tired!!  At this point we had driven about 1500 miles and through 8 states in less than 3 full days. Wheww!