March 19-27
We took an early Spring Break with the kids and headed to
Indiana to spend time with Jill's Grandma Rea and family. Rea had taken a turn for the worse and Jill
wanted to help where she could along with visiting family.
PDX...Here we are!
Flight was uneventful other than none of use really slept
like we should have for a night flight.
We arrived to find our ride....REALLY?!
Of course we played it cool like, "Yeah, we live like
this every day."
Yup! Not only did we
have the wonderful man holding our sign but we rode in style to Gma Rea's!
Both kids GLOWED.
Cole: Well this is one thing off my bucket list.
Mom: You have a bucket list at 10?
Grandma Rea
She was staying at a hospice center while she was getting
her medication's regulated and some of her strength back.
The kids needed to stretch their legs after the plane ride
so I took them to a water park while Oma stayed with Rea and family.
Couple good hours of fun and they were worn out finally!
Along with the family visiting we caught a few sights.
YEAH! Louisville
Slugger Factory and Museum.
Along the sidewalks around this factory were home plate
plaques and bat sculptures of some of the famous Louisville Sluggers themselves
Looking though our photos I guess I though Babe Ruth was
important so we have all kinds of photos of him or his bats.
The kids holding a replica Babe Ruth bat.
Our Home Run looks!
A little AAGPBL history too!
As much as Jo enjoys baseball (not very much) she actually
really enjoyed this tour!
I did mention that I took a lot of photos of Babe Ruth?
This is one of his real bats.
While on this side of the river Oma grabbed a Geocache.
Coming back to this area and staying longer doing the
tourist thing is now on our to-do list.
We then headed towards Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial for
a little more history and education.
Um...Santa Clause town?
Who knew?
And Santa selling liquor just made me laugh.
Definitely "Old Time Liquor" if Santa is selling
it.
And to Lincoln!
We didn't time this visit very well (through a time zone we
didn't know we would pass through) as you can see the place was packed with people!
No one here but the employee! We had 20 minutes before the
building closed so we walked quickly and read fast.
I'd say we will have a better plan next time but probably
not. It's always an adventure.
Cole thought that the bathrooms here were "Not
Fair".
Left: Men's bathroom with sinks and toilets.
Right: Women's bathroom with a sitting room before entering
the bathroom.
To Lincoln
Lots to look at, read and see for such a small building.
Gift from Cole to his classmates.
One of Cole's schoolmates asked for a gift from his
trip. "Even a rock would be
neat" according to what Cole stated.
So here he is taking enough rocks for each student in class from the
state of Indiana.
The living museum was closed but the grounds were open to walk
around, so we did.
This is part of the hearth and foundation to Lincoln's
Boyhood home.
(actually a mold of the original wood and stones)
And a homestead.
We imagine that during "normal hours" people would
be dressed in period clothing in this area and giving some history and lessons
of life back then. But we just walked
about a little and played with what we could.
Children's Museum!
What a HUGE MUSEUM!
And TRANSFORMERS!
We met up with Rich, Sandy, Nate & Caden (Jill's cousin
& family) to play at the museum for the day. The kids getting along right
away like they have known each other always.
Digging up fossils.
And then knocking over a Terra-Cotta warrior puzzle.
To put it back together again.
It was the time of Super Hero's while we were there.
Replica of Harry Potter's broom.
SUPER MAN CAPE!
Actually worn by Christopher Reeve in the 1978 Superman
movie.
(Mom thought this was cool! "Stand here Cole so I can
get this picture!")
A little dress up like a super hero!
Or a Super Tim Tebow pose.
It all worked.
Jo and Oma stood in quite a long line to get her face
painted and she looked GREAT!
Until later that evening when it was time to wash it off.
Poor kido. Skin
reaction to the paint they used.
Tender and raw for a few days.
Speedway
The following day we went back to the speedway for a tour
the kids could remember this time.
This picture was for Gma Marie as the kids are pointing out Danaca's name!
(and as you can still see batman outline on Jo's cheeks.)
While the kids and I took the bus ride around the track Oma
grabbed a quick geocache.
We all had our fun.
Stopping at the start/finish line.
I love the history here and what they do to try and preserve
it.
How awesome would it be to kiss those bricks?
Only one to the photo car this time.
Inside the museum of the speedway.
Gma Rea's home.
This is where we lived for most of our stay.
We were chillin' this day...
With a little house work too.
Why just hanging on this day do you ask?
BECAUSE IT WAS SNOWING!
And we were LOVING it!
Of course we came totally prepared for snow as you can see.
We put socks on the kids hands (old time version of mittens)
and sent them outside to throw some snowballs at each other and me.
They even built a snowman in the parking lot.
And after less than ten minutes out in the elements the kids
were frozen and in need of hot cocoa! Good times!
We met up the Rich & Sandy at a play house with video
games and such so the kids could run, laugh and we could visit.
Shouldn't this game be in a bar instead?
Jo had no problem standing for a photo with this game.
The last couple nights of our stay the kids and I stayed
with Rich and Sandy at their beautiful home by a pond.
Jill stayed at the condo with her mother and Gma Rea as she
was back home.
It was a lovely time all around catching up with family,
listening to Gma Rea and her sense of humor, Jill getting to spend that last
two nights with just her mother and Gma. A little travel and sight seeing for
all of us. And just being with and
around family. Always good.
We ended our trip as it began.
Limo ride to the airport in the wee hours of the morning.
And our flight home.
Saying goodbye to the snow and Indiana.
Until next time!
Thanks to ALL our family in Indy!
Grandma Rea 4/28/24 - 4/25/13
