14 States, 8 Stops, 3900 Miles

Its taken me almost a month- but I'm getting going on my vacation updates.  If only I had a good 3 weeks to spend just on my pictures on my computer I could get my shutterfly books made for the last 2 years and organize all these vacation pics! Somehow I've been super busy with photography right now so everything of mine is on the back burner for now.

I thought I'd give a little rundown of all the states we passed through. I heard this cute idea of getting a pic of the kids at every state line as we passed through, I thought it would be super cute for the blog and for the vacation book that I will eventually make in the next 3-5 years.  Chris was less thrilled with my idea and loved to give me crap about all the time I was adding to our trip with my stopping and dragging 3 kids out of the car. Whatevs, we have fun memories and stories from the experience.

Here we are as we passed into our first state- we actually pulled to the side of the road here.  Later I would find out that that was impossible to do.

 We pulled into the visitor center here- I think the sign was on the bridge if I remember right?

 The kids were sleeping, and I might be crazy- but not crazy enough to wake these fools up just for a picture.  It was my first attempt at a drive by sign. It was super small and I didn't quite catch it.

 Here's where it got a little bit hairy.  After missing the AL pic (which I was fine with) I really wanted a pic of us in FL since that was where we were spending the most time and the biggest part of our vacation.  According to my driver it was EXTREMELY dangerous to stop on the side of the road for the sign.  I was trying to get a drive by at least but he could only slow down to about 84 mph for my attempt.....I *might* have "gently tossed" my phone to the ground after my failed attempt at getting anything.  (Mind you this is at the end of a full day in the car with 3 kids). Chris pulled over to the visitor center and got us a whole family picture.  Then pointed out that this was even better than the state line- and that I was a jerk.

 After our fun filled week in FL we headed North toward MI.  First stop Alabama- Chris decided to always go to the visitor center from here on because of all the perceived danger ;-) on the roads. 

 Some places had pretty unimpressive visitor signs- this was all we could find.  The kids were very cooperative.  We stayed in Nashville for 3 days having fun with just the 5 of us.

 We spent some time on our way through KY going to Abe Lincoln's birthplace and visiting the Patton Museum.

 It got pretty Dicey in OH.  My cousins have a severe hatred for OH and since we pulled in during rush hour in a huge rainstorm we got off to a pretty rocky start.  We were actually able to make a list of 10 things that we dislike about OH on our way through.  My favorite one was being cut of by a lawn mower in the interstate.  They also have signs all over about a number to call for suspected drug use (must be a pretty big problem there).  Excessive graffiti on bridges was another. We also found out that when major cities are on the state line there isn't a visitor center. None that we could see anyway.  Their sign was hanging over the street instead of on the side so I couldn't get that pic either. Thanks Ohio.

 Welcome to my birthplace!  The weather cooled down just for our arrival- they had been in the high 90's low hundreds, which wasn't really going well with our plan to come to MI for cooler weather and to visit family.  We spent 4 nights in the Detroit area visiting my grandparents, aunts, uncles and most of my cousins.  Then we went to Kalamazoo for a night to visit one of my other cousins.

 A quick pass through another one of my home states- it was raining and it was a quick pass thorough so no pic of the family.

 Another state with their major city on the state line.  Its okay though- because when your city is Chicago I will forgive something like that :-) We spent most of the day and one night here.

 The next morning it was a bright and early send off to try to make it all the way home without stopping for the night.  St Louis is on the state line- so this is what I got.

 I don't know what is excellent about OK.  The only place we could find to stop in the entire state was McDonalds. Yuck.

 WoooHOOO! Hit the TX state line around 10- so I pulled this one from the internet- the kids were all passed out and it was too dark for photography.

 Now for a few of my favorite car pics.  How sweet are they?

 Poor Patton had little to entertain him. He did enjoy being faced forward for the first time and was thrilled about the DVD player.

 Some peek a boo

 You would think I would be happier that they were all asleep- this was after the seemingly day long fight about blankets.  After they fell asleep I gave them all back and covered them up.

 Patton finding ways to entertain himself (notics the blanket that he wouldn't let anyone else have tossed to the side of his carseat?)

 Patton was a pretty big fan of smokes on the trip. We thought it was pretty hilarious- when nothing else would work, I'd pass back a smoke to him and he'd be nice and happy for a bit.  We found a candy store in Chicago before we left, I loaded up on smokes for the drive home.

 He cracks me up! I had 3 pics on this - but apparently I did one twice instead of the other one. Oops.

We're Back!

Its going to be a little unusual for me, a post with no pics. I know its going to take me entirely too long to go through all my pictures, move some that I dumped onto the laptop to make room on my memory cards and actually create a post.  I am sure there are millions of you checking my blog daily to see if there are any new little Pomeroy updates so while I"m waiting for the first few hundred of my pics to download I thought I'd do a quick rundown.

We have been on a huge fun road trip for the past 3 weeks.  It takes a little bit of crazy to load 3 kids (one 18 months old) into the backseat (side by side going across I might add) and drive from Texas to Florida.  From Florida to Nashville.  To Detroit.  To Kalamazoo.  To Chicago and home.  That's right- we logged 3900 miles in our little SUV and Chris and I are still married and all 3 kids made it home with us- AND we'd do it all again!

I'll do a running picture log soon- but a few funny things along the way

Our first fight of the trip was called " Stop looking at my foot" I'll let you guess who that was said by and to.

There was a fight over a baby blanket heading to FL, Patton was unwilling to share. Even though he didn't want it, and just stuffed it down beside his seat.  In FL I bought the girls identical blankets for our remaining drive.  They fought over whose was whose. Yep, identical blankets and that still led to a fight. Who woulda thought? So everyone has blankets right? Right.  Everyone is happy right? WRONG. We had no less than 5 fights about the blankets.  Patton's blanket was no longer good enough for anyone, including him.  Let's just say it was good times.

We watched an endless loop of Mickey Mouse in the car.  It haunts my dreams.  The girls were sweet about watching it over and over, it was that or listen to Patton cry.  Or he was just too darn cute asking for it we all agreed- he'd start waving his hands back and forth, kicking his feet saying "Hot Dog Hot Dog" (Which is the closing song of Mickey Mouse in case you live under a rock.....or are lucky enough to not have to watch that show).

Other than all that fun- it really wasn't bad.  As long as I kept the food and candy smokes flowing in the backseat it was pretty peaceful.  Chris drove the whole time, partly because he can't stand not being in control of his ride and partly because my driving scares him. Fine with me, we made it home with no tickets, I am sure the same could not be said if I had been behind the wheel.

I promise I'll do my best to get some of the fun pics from our trip on the blog asap!

Father's Day- Dance- and Swimming

So my picture of the day fun led to Elliott being super adorable whenever my camera is out to try to make picture of the day.  I like it! {I am reposting my project on my blog right after this- so hopefully I'll start back up with it again}

Here she is running around at the splash park

 Berk thought it was so funny to try to wash her bootie in the sprinklers, mooning everyone in the process, I made her stop....after I got a picture.

 Love them!

 Look at these goofy girls! They were getting ready to go to their dance recital. It has been a looong year of dance and I have to say I'm not too upset that they have decided to do something else next year. Even if it was super cute!

 They crack me up- I love Berkley's foot.

 I was able to get a stellar picture of the 3 of them afterwards.  I did not get mad.....

 Father's Day we went over to my parents house to eat and swim.  I am sad that I never took a picture of me and my daddy.

Berkley had just said she tooted....it was obviously very funny ;-)

 Rylee and Brad

 The girls had fun being thrown through the pool

 There's my Patton, can't have a post without that guy.  He is SO funny. His personality is so cute.  He does the funniest things over food- like sticking out his tongue and wagging it around when he sees a donut, pointing to the counter with a death stare to show you where to put more Lucky Charms, doing a "come to papa" motion with his hands when he saw a pizza show up.  He is hilarious.  He also copies everything the girls do. Its adorable! He and Papa are big buddies- I think Papa has gotten tired of all the girls preferring Grammy so he really goes for lots of bonding with the boys- he's hoping to pull ahead of Grammy in the favorites game.  Whenever we say we're going to Grammys Patton will start saying "Papa" over and over and over again.  So cute.  I even found him a shirt that says I love my Papa- I need to get a pic of them together with it.  ANother thing he's doing right now that cracks me up is whenever our door opens it chimes- if Chris is out as soon as P hears the door beep he says "Dada" in this really deep husky voice. I love it! Elliott taught him how to put his hands in the air and say "Weeee" in his carseat. So now he's like the little pig on that commercial- he'll do it over and over for about 5 minutes.

 E bop rolling down the neighbors hill

 Amanda and I had a girls night with our friends that are also sisters, so much fun!

 I got an underwater camera- so cool! If it would have worked for more than 15 minutes I would totally recommend it. Right now I"m waiting for it to get fixed and crossing my fingers that it isn't ruined.  I could have so much fun with that thing this summer!

Summer Time!

Summer has started! Lots of sleeping in (I wish) and outside fun!  We've been staying busy as usual. Elliott started swim team this week- it is for all of June and every day.  Good times.  She is super excited about it.

Here is P having a drink- I love his serious little eyebrows while he drinks his sippy.

 There is that kissy face! Its his go to move when I have the camera out- I think he thinks if he pulls out the kissy face that maybe I will stop.

 The girls on the trampoline.  It is going to be a loooong summer with these two.  You know the whole reason I had more than one kid? So they could play together.  Not so much. It takes an act of congress around here to get them to enjoy each other.

 Saturday we went to a princess breakfast. Berkley was in heaven as expected. She is patiently waiting for them to make their way over to our table. 

 Elliott surprised me and actually wanted to dress up for it. She looked so cute!

 Princesses each read the girls a story

 Working on back lighting. Its not going so well.

 This one is better and I love it.  There is an even cuter one coming up on my 365 project.

 Chris's Bday was sat- Berkley was so excited to give him his gifts.  Elliott and Patton hung back and weren't quite as excited.  I love her ripped dress and pointed toe. 

 The girls made up a wrestling game (in the one time they've played together the past 2 weeks).  They used a blanket to help protect the person that is getting beat up.  Not sure how much it helped, but it never ended in tears, as fun things usually do. So I call it a success!

 Went to the pool tonight. E had lots of fun on the diving board and even our little Berkley is getting really into swimming.  They will have so much fun this summer!

 Elliott was holding out her arm for Berkley to swim to her, luckily she didn't go for it or they probably all three would have needed to be saved!

 P loves swimming- he does not however love doing what he spent 6 weeks in swimming lessons learning how to do.  So I think we have to go back for a refresher since we haven't been swimming with him over the last month, which is super exciting because Berkley just finished her group lessons and I would love to have something else to go to in the afternoons......

 Patton thought he was hot stuff the other day at the pool

 Ry and Elliott

 They were all looking at the toy that got thrown out of the tub.  So cute.

 Berkley and Patton took turns drinking from the faucet the last half of bath time.

My new project

I did a post on my photography blog about a new project I've started, I decided to post over there because the pictures look better than on blogger.  Go check it out :-)
My 365 Project