Alternate title: This Post Has Eleven Bajillion Photos Because I'm Not Feeling Like Getting Rid of Any of Them. You're welcome.
Here's a funny joke for you:
Q: What's worse than driving for 22 straight hours in a cozy Prius with two 31-year-olds, a 4-year-old, and a 2-year-old?
A: Spreading that drive out over two days.
I'll spare you the details, but for those of you currently planning your next cross-country drive with a toddler and a preschooler, just ask yourself whether you'd like the pain in one nice 22 hour dose, or whether you'd prefer to spread that pain out over 36 hours? More importantly, ask yourself, "What is wrong with me? Why do I think it's a good idea to drive three million miles with two children who only sometimes have complete control over their bladders and bowels?" And then answer, "If Sallie Mae weren't taking every last scrap of my money, I would do it up and buy four tickets to Kansas and we'd fly." And then shake your fist at Sallie Mae and at the same time love her a little because she's the best scapegoat ever.
That whole section got really long. Anyway, it wasn't really that bad. See?
So, we drove back to the motherland for the beautiful wedding of Kristine and Henry. And it was, as Evelyn loves to say, absolutely worth it.
We left around 4:30 in the afternoon last Thursday. SO excited to hit the road. I decided that I'd take a picture as we crossed into each state. This little project went really well! See?
*Not pictured: West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, and (on the way home) Tennessee
The nostalgia enveloped me. Engulfed me. Pretty much the instant I saw this.
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| Then I discovered the prairie, and a slow healing began. - Stephen R. Jones |
We made it to Nebraska. The kids were great. Jonathan and I were in full zombie mode. But the grandparents were there and it was time to feast on Valentino's and do some shopping. Beatrice is adorable. We attempted to nap, checked out the hotel pool, and then went out on the town with a trip to Risky's. And did they have Boulevard Wheat on tap? They did indeed.
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| Family photo op in front of Beatrice's very own Statue of Liberty. I think it turned out really well. |
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| I think children are born knowing that when on vacation, you jump on the bed. |
On Saturday, we were up with the dawn and it was time for adventuring. To the skate park we went.
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| Little man |
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| She was a bit shy about going down the ramps at first. |
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| Get it, GOB! |
And then, some delicious Chinese food. A nap. And wedding prep.
That's why we made the trek, after all. To celebrate with Krstine and Henry and enjoy their touching and wonderful and fun and gorgeous day. It was so wonderful. Evelyn was enamored with Kristine and she got to hold court at a table of Bartels clear across the ballroom from her parents and brother.
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| Anna, Evelyn, and Kristine |
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| Gideon, Jonathan, and the Matron of Honor, Lisa |
We stayed until they kicked us out (the kiddos went back to the hotel early with MeeMaw and Pop Pop). Talked, and laughed, and drank a lot of wine (that might have been only me). Saw a thunderstorm roll in and ran through the downpour. Stayed up late in the hotel room catching up.
And then on Sunday morning, we got to join in a perfect Brunch at Larry and Kathleen's. There were so. many. people. It was awesome. We discussed hand measurement technology and Nick's baton, we gave Mark ample grief for his new status as a Jayhawk, we ate. And ate. And ate. Played Kubb. Took a walk around the farm and found deer skulls and antlers.
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| She was so eager to see corn up close. |
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| Checking out raccoon tracks with MeeMaw |
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| Kimberly has some strange fondness for the nasal swirl. You should ask her about it. |
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| I just love this picture. |
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| And this one. Prob my favorite. |
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| Lisa, Sherri, Mark, Kim, and Josh playing Kubb |
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| Henry, who may or may not be an official Bartel (last I heard his application was still pending?) and some other menfolk playing Kubb |
FALSE. EIGHT HOURS.
Luckily, Liz and Pete (who Evelyn would only call "Pete the Cat") are flexible and they were totally fine with us being late. We had some delicious pizza at a local place, caught up on the past six years, and then packed up and hit the road again. We made it to Mount Vernon, IL that night and crashed at a hotel, telling ourselves that the next day would be a piece of cake because go us we'd already gotten a bunch of driving out of the way!
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| And the children were nestled all snug in their seats, distracted by electronics as we headed East. |
Friends, that is how you turn what could have been a post about a beloved cousin's wedding into a whiny attempt at humor. The wedding was fantastic. Seeing everyone was really wonderful and overwhelming and beautiful. Jonathan was so happy. He's been wanting this for a very long time, and he kept telling me how grateful he was to be there and to see his family again. And I was so happy too. I was sipping coffee at Kathleen's house at the brunch, and my father in law (Richard) turned to me and said, "Chelsea, I haven't seen you look so peaceful in a long time." And it made me stop and realize that we have things really, really good. So if I'm going to be stuck in a car for 44 hours in a four day period, there's really no one else I'd rather share that adventure with.
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