So Anna, Ella and I finally made it out of Portland and here to Michigan (through Batswana) to visit Anna's family... why else would one go to Michigan?
Due to the fact that you cannot fly directly to anywhere from Portland we had to go to Seattle, then Minneapolis and finally to Grand Rapids. If it wasn't for a bouncy ball that Ella chased through all 3 airports, we may not have made it in one piece. At the airport we were lovingly welcomed by Janice and Don with this quote "we've got good news and bad news... the good news is that Gema (imagine a small dog on meth) will be at doggy boot camp for another week, and the bad news is that Leah's entire family is currently at home puking their guts out." Now remember Ella and Anna had JUST recovered from the friggan swine flu about 24 hours ago, and now we're about to go to an enclosed space with 2 sick adults and 4 puking kids... imagine a petrie dish on meth... i'd have taken the dog! Thankfully due to dilligent handwashing and isolation precautions Ella and I escaped unscathed, and Anna just got a mild case.
We had a great time at Janice and Don's place... Ella loved playing with her cousins. She is currently on day 212 of her hunger strike, but continues to have amazing energy and perserverance. After the puke bug ran it's course we were able to go to the Binder Park Zoo, which if you haven't been I highly recommend it. I'm not usually into zoos, but this one was pretty cool. There was a snow leopard, a cheetah, emus, roaming peacocks, kangaroos... and best of all you could feed the giraffs. (See pics).
4th of July brought the big time small town parade in the village of Richland MI. The Lion Club hosted a chicken BBQ and the Presbyterian Ladies (that is a direct quote) had their annual pie tent... $9 bought you a full pie, home cooked of course... thanks ladies! Anna and I are kinda famous as we are related to the Statue of Liberty who closed the parade riding atop the final fire truck... again see pics.
We are now at Tom and Jeanne's where Ella has enjoyed tossing her toys off the cool balcony and watching her dada go down and pick them up.
We send our sincere sympathy to Eric Philps who was nabbed in Idaho going 35 in a 25 zone... which, as his father pointed out, was kinda slow for a go-kart racer.
Take Care
Matt and Anna and Ella
4 comments:
I LOVE the picture of Ella walking the double yellow line. Glad to hear that things are off to a good start. We just traveled 6 hours by car to the Wallowas...I think that is enough for me. I commend your bold adventure for MILES in the car with a toddler. Good luck and continue to keep us posted on the fun!!
Awesome pics, Dowling! keep up the good work! and by work, i mean fun!
Wow, Ella has the same curly hair you did when you were her age...although, you could never walk a straight line ;-)
Matt...I love your little daughter...so reminiscent of our 9 mo old granddaughter who is standing but not walking yet. Aren't little girls delightful?! I was always a sucker for the little ones with blond and curly hair. Savor every moment...they grow up quicker than you can imagine! Enjoy your travels and good luck in getting to Alaska!
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