Sunday, June 23, 2019

Day 4- Back on the road

Today we added a new state to our ever growing list of places we have been. IOWA!!! 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1XhKCt_0mUsFsFkRqnfbX50VBo_aSsx4p
We literally drive across the entire state. We started by crossing the Missouri River which borders Iowa on the East (near Davenport) And ended in Council Bluffs, Iowa right on the Mississippi River, all the way on the Western side of the state. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1QCOG_eWezqKC8M-Usym7wrjFPkKZKUi7
We found a fun playground at a rest stop! 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1kUeWGMljXRBiKwC2c2ovupfAKcZZs5Ev
It pretty much took us the entire day to cover the entire state and there really wasn’t much to see. Lots of wind turbines and corn fields.https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zrtCHFad4AhUIcRBQDWTHIDNDGgmRCC-
So that sums up day 4. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1IKjlrSr1dR710toXapq3hOfh1Ce1UIbN

Day 3- A Day on the Farm

After spending the night at Uncle Rod & Aunt Sue’s house, Christian and his second cousin Alais walked over to the farm first thing in the morning. It didn’t take them long to get all the vehicles out of the barn. https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1XDwPMNQ139696nSZGxYKrPO4Fl08gdiS
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18qn6BdbRPkqMtvdx-r_iRGwuRV4HFdL2
Will spent a long time climbing trees and dreaming about the kinds of tree houses he could build. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1hRl4hwOVvVWpwYhWULJX1WYxex1k2Rqb
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1c0MTDyLhFPdmsUxEwSJkXvUNwqn9_mAc
Will also really wants to build some sort of fort on the farm. I love his imagination. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1IzAxL6eJ7PRiixgzLPeZ0g8F136b0KWB
Grammy has her swing set up near her bird feeders and flowers. We sat and watched the birds for a long time. It is so calm and peaceful on the farm and the temperature was perfect. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NEM9Fu0Glq9RI0Vrd1_OM-akxhsYiZSN
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HwrSkrVFi9_9YZA5XhPN-Baw-KLJpAj6
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1vOg2zY7byNY8BngCiSTZU15OvjzNro1p
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1951tiul2QuuiVAmKq913P6SMPbXSZxqD
Grampy and Christian spent some time throwing the ball around. I’m sure that brought back some memories for Grampy.https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1LKYjUMPJDypmbsr-nQLKApKYLvhVxSig
We were sad to say “goodbye” but so thankful for a full day of fellowship with each other! 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jefsDxl3G5Flw3egrEG9xK7eGykEGHcQ

Day 2-Cousins

As soon as we arrived at the farm all of the kid’s Chatterton cousins were there! https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1E3oLFMpfhNdBiAubXzemh_9eeVAIlL78
It was MUDDY but Grampy loaded them all up in the wagon anyway and took everyone for a little ride!
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1wURYyP-wlfR-iwld4SuLBpEgVJ5n5DG6
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1y3scCxRRhotmLX0JL4nOFympTksffqf6
I was so thankful that the big kids still wanted to ride too. Pretty soon Grampy was showing the big kids how to drive some of the tractors.https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12k_JCMxOY3vtlx93sfMP8jWZWdEILY7u
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1a7z4NchdXZhBxocVwLhcbcXVuFRD-mQi
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11-6umYP9_7YmnJ2x9x74NiQGZTfJ9AAf
The cousins are always the best of friends as soon asthey see each other!
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zu8240mio4B5qRfHmHvt4V_gtqXWon76
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1CW5dTxMNK7VqAkH_hOKgdXhTm0fXrQqe
Even Aiden hangs in there with the big kids.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1-hhb1zdtuN5QMrQ8wgksDYR4iYZlz2iz
McKenna loved holding her youngest cousin, Andrew.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1QV7Gp_uJWbG2YJfvF5dMouCcBYCgeA37
And Aunt Judy sure loved Andrew too!
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1wZt_Vx10uCL_tFBZYH6TgAX241llmyHW
Aunt Angel even stopped by for a quick visit with everyone!
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HPaW93veSjPDMXlcP3_bQ5tjA0Szy6f2
The kids stayed outside until it was dark, but since it was the longest day of the year, they got lots of outside time!
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1N7Uezosf_xlxPdrZSasYWoSEpwdOzxTT
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1VfOS168VYjwKVM_kY4Phi_qRpeWZ_DAd
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1JnwdcZzA3yvsKuYgiOSSAkguPQScIHnz
It was a short visit. Too short! But so much fun to see everyone when the weather was warm. All these cousins love having a family farm to explore and play on! 

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Road Trip 2019- Day 2

We left St. Louis to head to the Chatterton family farmin Illinois early in the morning. What should have beenan easy 3 hour drive turned into one of the most stressful driving experiences of my life.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1nwiFAFAOQ2IebSPeuGYtjoQUimL5EhM9
Less than an hour into the drive we hit that massive band of red on the radar. Our phones started buzzing with warnings saying, “Take cover now. A tornado warning is in effect for your area.” We were in the middleof farm land. There was no where to take cover. 
I could barely see the road. The rain was torrential. The roads were flooding and waves were splashing up the sides of the car as I continued driving. I was praying loud and hard and fast. Alternating between praising God for protecting us and pleading with Him to calm the storm. It was high stress. 
Finally, I spotted a Dollar General and we ran inside as fast as we could. We hung out there for awhile & then finally got back on the road to the farm! 

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Hotel Shenanigans-Day 1

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Myy29VBjWHBcW6h-OVZjgNU2OnXfC9W3
We ended day 1 at the hotel pool! 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FXKkGYqyYY0w3-yhanUc4Ok1pYEwrQ5L
Oh dear.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ojmzSlTVZ7KzCuzHJqBNcyojEfqnBhqz
Down they go!
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HSNXVxBQej3f6hsL-m4a5lEOkeAQI9EE
The 3 of them getting along... priceless! 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ksHEysdNtVAob017MqwNEDVbqpFFUbJN
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1pAwfCYW4EuSO9JPelGKip0JisBg80afb

Road Trip 2019- Day 1

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=15Ib-JNf-hyCvtdEpRs8nXBufkk9EWNDZ
There is a park around the Arch that is beautiful! I’m guessing it is purposely surrounded by a park for security reasons.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1QkUMZ2JWYQlqgImz33XwvCkrbutTKvSh
We went through airport type security before enteringthe museum. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1IHTwcZ2flR6vvzNFCrlcawUmH61E4Q9b
My photographer struggled to figure out how to get the whole arch in the picture. So this will have to do. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=162FeAKYhKfmlWP5YaSBFJ4HENIDsqWhj
Time to head to the top!
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1rhKj5NqOpiQM3L5jnJODbFEsW0ws4i1H
This was rough. See that tiny steel door? Well, five people squeeze through that door to sit in a trolley car that takes you to the top. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1w9qSm_coM6xB0Pv-Y6YCbCBNZ8YFBLrk
The view inside. It takes 4 minutes to get to the top. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1daEtpXAWkqzTHJ-nUKVcLV7Scib8MwqG
Four very long minutes.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1dmtrOo9gaYWDyT6nnC-4CO-NotYuEJTV
I took a super fast picture of everyone at the top. I pointed out the Illinois side and the view if the Missouri side and then hopped in line to get out if there. Ugh...the swaying. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=16TCUR_5TcI7EbzYti3y-mLrvE51hUyWL
Will knew the heights & claustrophobia were putting me on edge, so he was quick to give me some love.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AQJHZJquDGRymy09g-eiOkwbyxoTE62U 
Back down to the ground!
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1x4c1QzBxjVa5sAXX2guo_8eshlp7-5FJ
The Mississippi River.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ZO3FncjwI6mXcl0xUvkq7gyMwt2PEU32
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1a6x-dcvvTHzWi_M_oCnuJPBAUaKBcRDf
And I do believe I will never go up in that thing again, but the kids had a great experience. Christian could have spent the night up there! https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1qJxtyU1zJyZCiH3DQft-0-S13BvI93mR