Our Trip to Illinois!

After being in South Carolina for a week and a half, we loaded up our car again for another long drive, this time to visit Andrew's family in Illinois! We took our time with the drive, and Micah did great! We were so blessed with the opportunity to visit with family that we don't get to see very often and to have a week to relax and rest in between the stress of moving and starting a new job. Our first evening we enjoyed smores (YUM!) and good conversation around Barb & Gail's fire pit (now I want to get a fire pit too, but I fear that I would eat too many smores...). Micah also got to meet his cousins Mo & Mary Emma. He had lots of fun with them, and it was great to watch Mo interact with Micah. Mo is definitely a little boy packed with energy, but he was so gentle with Micah! It was very cute.

While at Uncle Gail & Aunt Barb's house, Micah was trying his hardest to crawl. It was here while getting his diaper changed that he figured out how to "army crawl," getting himself around the bed still on his tummy, but propelling himself forward with his arms. He didn't actually show off this skill on the floor while there though, but when we got back home he was unstoppable! It was amazing how fast he could get himself around even while still on his tummy! Since he is mobile now, Micah has become particularly squirmy when we try to change him. He would not stay still long enough for me to get his shorts back on so we put them on his head instead. It's a great look, don't you think?
Micah was Blake's best buddy for the week! He loved playing with Blake when he got home from work. Micah also discovered just how much he loved graham crackers this week. Blake was kind enough to help Micah with this very messy activity while Mommy & Daddy finished their dinner. Thanks Blake!
Thank you so much Gail & Barb for opening your home to us for a week and for your generous hospitality. The week was so restful and refreshing! We enjoyed going to the park with you to see Annie. Micah liked it too!! Thanks also for letting me win at Settlers & Ticket to Ride. It really doesn't happen that often, I promise! :) Micah had so much fun with you both too, we hope that you will be able to visit us in SC sometime soon, and that you get to enjoy your travels this fall.

Micah also enjoyed getting to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. We got to see them almost every day of our stay, which was wonderful! Micah also got to meet Aunt Pam & Uncle Ron too. Micah was so excited about meeting them that he just couldn't settle down for a nap that day, which meant that he was very tired during their visit, and we didn't get to take a picture. :( Sorry Aunt Pam, but I guess that means we will need to visit again soon!

On our way back home, we decided to try to make it to Gatlinburg, Tennessee before stopping. Micah was getting very tired though and could not make it past Pigeon Forge. We stopped for the night, but were very overwhelmed by the massive tourist trap that is Pigeon Forge! Micah was thankful for sleep in his pack n' play though, and quickly settled in for the night. Our hotel room was a little chilly, so Micah slept in his swimsuit jacket from Aunt Pam. This picture was taken the next morning - Micah was a much happier and rested baby!


We were dissapointed by the atmosphere of Pigeon Forge and figured that Gatlinburg, its sister town must be just like it, but decided to drive through it since we would never come back there again! We were pleasantly surprised by Gatlinburg! The town has much more character and charm that the eyesore of Pigeon Forge. It is situated right in the mountains, next to the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We could envision our family strolling through the town, and hiking through the park. We had to make our way home, so it looks like we will definitely be back to Gatlinburg! Micah did take some time to put his feet in the creek behind our hotel in Pigeon Forge. He wasn't so sure what he thought of the cold water and the rocks. It was definitely a different experience from the Willow Valley pool!