A Guest Post by Minnesota Dad
Over the years my lovely, talented, and charming wife has had many guest posters, but out of an abundance of good sense she has never let me post on her blog. She took the kids to the park this afternoon though, and I’ve managed to sneak onto her computer.
We just took a wonderful family vacation, and I thought I’d take the opportunity to tell you all about it. We started in Minnesota, naturally.
We traveled south through Iowa. They have corn and rest areas there.
Several hours later we passed south through the nose of Iowa (geography lesson from my wife during the trip–something to do with some “man in the map”) and into my home state of Illinois. They too have corn and rest areas.
As you can see the kids were very excited by this.
After a night in IL, we continued on into Indiana. They also have corn and rest areas. One of our sons is a big Colts fan, so he was very excited for this rest area. Maybe we’ll see Peyton Manning! We must have just missed him though.
Action shot:
After Indiana, we continued on into Ohio. I’ve noticed a trend: they also had corn and rest areas! Does anyone plant wheat anymore? One of my favorite childhood memories was the wheat on Grandpa’s farm. I don’t think I saw anything but corn and soy beans this trip.
We were eager to get to our final destination, so after supper in Ohio (which I’m sure Margaret will expound on) we drove onward.
One of my favorite parts of the vacation was how we could just unplug from all the distractions we have at home and spend time together. Of course that lasted until we hit Rochester, MN, and then it was all back to normal.
We passed through West Virginia:
Penn’s woods:
and into Maryland:
They were excited as we passed through Maryland:
Eventually we reached the beach in Delaware, and had to stop driving as our van does not float.
After a quick break on the sand, while the chauffeur slept, we turned around and headed back into Maryland, and down into DC, where they also have benches and rest areas. They called it Congress:
Apparently the benches were overwhelming our oldest:
After DC, we swept back through Maryland and ate mor chikin. Our first time at Chick-Fil-A, saw it on the road side and had to stop.
We then crossed into Pennsylvania and drove back through Indiana,
and into Illinois where we were able to visit my aunt and Grandma.
With that, we came home. The kids are thrilled with the vacation, they got to see corn and rest areas in 8 different states, showing how diverse this country really is.
Some travel tips we learned. First, while a 15-passenger van is nice to hold all those kids, it’s way too long. I can only reach the kids in the first row when I need to swat one. Consider stacking the kids kind of like they do in those capsule hotels, you’ll be able to reach more of them.
Also, bring more than one role of duct tape. When you do have to pull over to chase down the kids in the back of the van, its a long ways back there. Just keep an extra roll back there so you don’t have to repeat the trip to get it.
The problem with sugar is its side effects last way longer than the silence while they eat it.
That’s all for now, and we are glad to be back in Minnesota. We have way better rest areas than you all do.
Love the post….I see humor is abound in your house. š
I have always pointed out to my children after a rest stop in Montana or Ohio, pay your Minnesota taxes gratefully knowing you can go to the bathroom in cleanliness and peace.
I just went to Chick fil a for the first time too. What a small world! My advice for long trips is to bring a rubber snake along. Hide it under the driver's seat. When the kids are at their rottenest and you can't take it anymore, reach down for the snake, throw it toward that back row, and squeal. Trust me, it's awesome.
Thanks for the great laugh today. Tell Margaret I said that she should let you post more often . š
So Margaret isn't the only witty one. This was laugh out loud funny.
Having done a similar trip in distance and direction, I so agree with the sugar and corn observations! Impressive that the kids stood still for pictures at each stop…ours were ready for action.
I suggest you head West next time, if you want to see wheat. Though, it will be flat (better gas mileage) and the rest areas are few and far between for quite some time.
Hysterical! What beach in Delaware though? That beach looked so wide! I haven't been to Delaware in about 4 years but the beaches were eroding away big time. Did they build them back up???
Someone once told me that there's a place in Ohio with cake and ice cream and takeout antipasto. Could be they also serve corn.
Hilarious! Sounds like the trip was worth the long drive š
Dear MN Mom's hubby….
You should blog more often eh!! Very interesting post….
Um, here in Alberta if you love your children you donot allow them to use the rest stop toilets….ick ick ick ick ……;p
How is it that MN Dad is just as hilarious as MN Mom?? You two can start tag-team blogging š
I thoroughly enjoyed the post and all the photos. A whole post full of MN Mom's belly, hooray!! I've been waiting to see more. Thanks for sharing the rest areas, corn and belly with us!
I loved the post! What's better than a man's perspective of a vacation? Yes, corn, soybeans and rest areas pretty much sums up the Midwest. God Bless.
OK, Margaret, I must get Geoff to blog for me now. But you did it first.
Hee!!!
My goodness you have an awfully lovely wife- look at how radiant she is all pregnant! And on a ROAD TRIP! Pregnant!!! That's heroic, that is.
š
I am just amazed that you (1) know how to use the camera and (2) take pictures with your wife in them. Can you teach my husband?
The question is, does she get it from you, or do you get it from her? You two must keep one another razor sharp. You're obviously a hit – guest post any time MN Mom is too tired and pregnant to get off the sofa.
I always wonder where one has to go to see crops other than corn and soy – California?
You should try our state. In addition to corn and soybeans we have cotton and tobacco. It's practically exotic.
I grew up in Illinois. My Dad always said the geographical name for our region was "the Great Soybean Desert of the Midwest."
Great post!
SO FUNNY.
Love the photos…especially of mama.
Love the teen and the benches.
would not love all the driving, corn and rest stops. Plane ticket please!
Fantastic! Great shots and great commentary.
John, do you offer writing classes? Helen is curious. Seriously, though, I am jealous of your up close views of 8 states with corn! It doesn't grow well at all up here.
Oh so funny. My face hurts from smiling – I am holding the sleeping baby or I would laugh. Those pictures are great, especially of the baby bump! I was the second youngest of 8 kids when we all took a trip to DC. We still look back to the "diary" that we made during that trip. What great memories for your kids!
Oh and we are in SD and there is not much wheat here this year either, prices are anticipated to be much better for corn.
LOVE this post. MN Dad should do more guest spots.
That was a marvelous travel log! You two certainly share the same weird-err- quirky- err- great sense of humor. š
Why is it that I feel like eating corn? š
MV
Oh my gosh the best. This post was so written by a man. Love it.
Oh goodness John, you paint such a wonderful picture!!
I feel like I was there right with you!! š
The overwhelmed shot of your oldest… priceless!
Loved the lovely pics of your wife.
Thanks for posting!!
Blessings~
loved your trip! Especially referring to the benches and rest stop: Congress
Fun! Love the rest stop pics.