School’s out, bedtimes defined by how long I could force my eyes to stay open, fish fins sprouted at my sides, and ice cream flowing at every meal. I fondly remember these days of my own childhood like they were yesterday.
I can't help but remembering a good friend telling me years ago how good his kids had it. Their summers were filled with much of the same and they didn’t know how good they had it. He joked that he had to come to work every day to fund their summer adventures and that when he died he hoped that he could come back as either his kids or his dog. Only years later can I truly appreciate what he meant.
Summer vacation started for us the last week in June when we picked the kids up from their last day of school and went straight to the airport and off to the US. We were all so excited that the 13 hours to Toronto hardly fazed us. We then spent the next 5 weeks bouncing all over the US, flying on 7 more flights to visit with all of our families and friends, meeting our newest cousin and niece Emma, and feeling our future cousin and nephew Charlie kick in rhythm with the chaos of his big sister and two older cousins. We ate more ice cream, hot sticks, cheese curds, steaks, brats, cereal, pancakes, and Chipotle then I thought was humanly possible. We went to every park, zoo, water park, lake, and amusement park east of the Mississippi. At every turn, we all felt like kids again, without a care in the world, wiping ice cream from our faces, and sound asleep by 9.
Sitting on our final plane, waiting to take off back to China, I stared out the window and found myself wiping tears from my cheeks. Happy tears. We had a summer that you dream about. One you just never forget.
Oh...to be a kid again.
I can't help but remembering a good friend telling me years ago how good his kids had it. Their summers were filled with much of the same and they didn’t know how good they had it. He joked that he had to come to work every day to fund their summer adventures and that when he died he hoped that he could come back as either his kids or his dog. Only years later can I truly appreciate what he meant.
Summer vacation started for us the last week in June when we picked the kids up from their last day of school and went straight to the airport and off to the US. We were all so excited that the 13 hours to Toronto hardly fazed us. We then spent the next 5 weeks bouncing all over the US, flying on 7 more flights to visit with all of our families and friends, meeting our newest cousin and niece Emma, and feeling our future cousin and nephew Charlie kick in rhythm with the chaos of his big sister and two older cousins. We ate more ice cream, hot sticks, cheese curds, steaks, brats, cereal, pancakes, and Chipotle then I thought was humanly possible. We went to every park, zoo, water park, lake, and amusement park east of the Mississippi. At every turn, we all felt like kids again, without a care in the world, wiping ice cream from our faces, and sound asleep by 9.
Sitting on our final plane, waiting to take off back to China, I stared out the window and found myself wiping tears from my cheeks. Happy tears. We had a summer that you dream about. One you just never forget.
Oh...to be a kid again.
1st Stop - The land of the never ending hot sticks, boat rides, and Miller Lite - Wisco
Our costume birthday party - A bunch of crazy cats!
(click on the picture to see more Wisco photos)
Our Pia and the new toy from Grandpa Dar (guess who is still talking about it?!)
The cousins
Forth of July Parade - A classic picture, perfectly timed to capture each of their true personalities
Family. Enough said.
Next Stop - Dogs, dogs, dogs...and finger-licking Bojangles - North Carolina
The newest Wisch addition - Our beautiful Emma Marie
(click on the picture to see more NC pics)
The newest Wisch addition - Our beautiful Emma Marie
(click on the picture to see more NC pics)
Grandma Les and Grandpa Don doing what they do best
The Great Wolfe Lodge and Tweetsie Railroad
Can we say kiss a$$?!
Final Stop - Fun-noodles, camp fires, and 4th birthday parties - New York
Happy 4th Birthday Eric!! (FINALLY!!)
(Click on the picture of Eric to see more pictures of NY)
BFFs and their Super Heros
Dare Devil Pia
Bonus - Our Surprise Trip to Detroit (Thanks Delta Airlines!)
The Detroit Zoo and the Dino Exhibit
(Click on the first picture to see more of Detroit)
Cool pool time with "Grandma" Debbie and Uncle Mike ;O)
Great-grandpa Ted
2 comments:
What an Awesome Summer.. Now that is how you make memories.. We miss you all! Love you :O)
Big smiles across my face reading this....
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