Day 3: Empire State of Mind

Day 3, Mile 1191
After spending the night with the Johnsons and going to church at LifePoint today, we made a slight change in the itinerary.  We were planning to spend another night with them and then all drive to Niagara in the morning.  Renee suggested that we drive most of the way tonight so that we just have a very short trip tomorrow.  We checked into our hotel just outside of Buffalo, NY.  All of the kids get to add another state!  In the girls car, we listened to songs of every genre about NY ranging from JayZ to Frank Sinatra and even Hank Williams, Jr. Now that's diversity!

Day 2: North of the Mason-Dixon Line

Day 2, Mile 504

Today is our longest driving day of the whole trip. We decided to start the day with a short, self-guided tour of Mammoth Cave. It's the World's Longest Cave. It was cool--literally, like 54 degrees--and a good way to get a little exercise before our long trip. I'll post some pics later. For now, it's off to Cincinnati-Columbus-Wheeling, WV-and finally Washington, PA.

Day 2, Mile 647

Okay, so I love "Diners, Drive-Inns, and Dives" (aka "Triple D") on the Food Network. For a while, I've been wanting to visit one of the restaurants that Guy reviewed. What better way to break up an 8 hour drive than looking for a random diner in Cincinnati? Actually, it was just a couple of miles off our course. We had a late lunch at Blue Ash Chili. Jeff liked the chili, but it was weird (not tomato-ey and some random seasoning...cinnamon maybe? IDK.) I halved this huge sandwich with Jeff, gave some of the ham to Nate, and still had a pile of roast beef left over. And even though we had officially left the South, they still had some pretty good sweet tea.

Day 2, Mile 928

Just rolled through WV into PA! Next stop, the Johnsons' house! 

The Adams Family Road Trip 2013

Day 1, Mile 0
I'm about to wake the kids up so we can start The Adams Family Road Trip 2013.  We're not quite sure how a trip to visit the Johnsons has morphed into a 2400 mile, 10 state, 2 country road trip?!?  Clearly, we're crazy.  This will be our longest road trip ever.  I have reserved the right to buy a one-way plane ticket home, if at any point I'm about to lose my ever-loving mind.  Please pray for us on our journey!

Day 1, Mile 418
We're calling it a day on driving.  Just checked into hotel in Bowling Green, KY.  Smooth sailing so far...nice weather (rest of the trip might be rather rainy), made good time except through Nashville, and minimal arguing.  Ashley added a new state to her map - Kentucky.  We have been playing the License Plate game on this trip.  Eagle-eye Jeff has spotted LOTS of states so far!

The Fischer Girls

The Summer She Broke Her Arm

It came as no surprise to any of us that Ash was the first one in our family to break a bone.  The most surprising thing was that she was NOT doing anything crazy when it happened.  Not climbing anything.  Not swinging from the monkey bars.  She was just practicing her backbend and landed the wrong way.  Jeff and Nathan both said that they heard it "pop".  Jeff took her to the pediatrician who confirmed that it was fractured.  She put her in a temporary splint and referred us to an ortho doc to set the bone.  Fortunately, they were able to fit her in a cool new type of "cast" that can get wet.  Great news! 

The day it happened

After the ortho visit
*She really likes this outfit.  Just noticed that she's wearing it in almost every picture I've posted. ;)

More Cousin Pics

We spent lots of time with the Johnson family over the past two weeks.  The Stacy kids even joined us for a few days.  I will try to get some more pics from mom, but for now, here are a few random shots: 

At the hot springs in Hot Springs

Geocaching near Pinnacle Mountain

Posing at the pool

Lounging at the pool

Opening weekend of Monsters University

Getting ready for a ride

Boys playing Minecraft

Sleepover at our house

Girls the next morning

Cheer Camp

Ashley went to Cheer Camp with Lydia last week.  She really enjoyed it and learned a lot!  She perfected her roundoff on Day 1 and got her backbend kickover by the end of the week.  We all went to the performance on Friday.

(Belated) Happy Father's Day!

The Johnsons came home Father's Day weekend, so we spent the day with my family.  A public "THANKS" to Jeff for giving up his special day to accommodate my family.  Not only is he a super dad, but he's the best uncle and son-in-law anyone could want.  We spent part of our weekend helping Dad with his latest building project: a huge carport/pavilion thing that we haven't come up with a cool name for yet.  Aaron really got in on the building project.  He and dad made a lot of progress the day after these pictures were taken.  Updates on the building (and it's moniker) to follow!

How Can We Be this Old?!?

Jeff celebrated his 20 year high school reunion earlier this month.  That's right...TWENTY years!  There's no denying it, we're old!!!

First Day / Last Day

Keeping with tradition, I'll post a first day/last day pic of my 1st Grader and 4th Grader.  With the exception of a few missing teeth, I don't think the changes this year are quite as striking as in the last few years.  2012-13 has been a doozy of a school year though!

I have to brag on Nathan a bit.  We stuggled through most of the year.  More than just academic learning, he really had to learn a lot about motivation, organization, and self-control this year.  In fact, my ad in the yearbook for him read, "Glad we survived the 4th Grade!" Honestly, it was touch-and-go for a while. He finished the year really strong and even made all As on his final report card!  I sent his teacher an email this morning thanking her for all she's that done this year and said that I really think he's ready for 5th grade. We've come a long way!

Ashley's year got off to a rough start too, but I won't vent about it here.  Academically, she has thrived! She's reading far ahead of her grade level, writes really well, and is super at math and spelling.  However, she doesn't love school anymore though, and that makes me sad. :(  Maybe next year will be better.