Days One through Four

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Day One

All packed up and ready to go...
Eiley: "Wait, should I bring sunglasses?"
Mom: "Uh, YES!!"
Brianna: "Wait, I don't have a pencil!"
Mom: "Arghhh, hurry up."

Then we were off...

Day Two

Nice visit with the grandparents in Rochester.  Lots of yummy food and beautiful gardens.  An early morning selfie became a picture of everybody taken by the neighbor.

Every trip needs something to look forward to - in this case, it was the "Original Killer Brownies" of West Point Market in Akron, OH.  Akron is not much to look at, but those brownies were the best-est.  A much needed respite after driving for 10 hours!  The Midwest is really not much to look at.

Carol: "Hey girls, notice the corn and soy going on to the horizon" (repeat, repeat, repeat...)

Day Three

We pulled into Big Bone Lick State Park, just outside of Cincinnati.  A crazy night of storms that just missed us dawned into a lovely cool morning.  Of course, there was wildlife: a very friendly raccoon, fireflies galore, buckets and buckets of daddylonglegs, and a bison herd.  Waddles and Charming were impressed.

On to the Newport Aquarium, where the star of the entire day was the penguins.  Eiley was in her glory, "Daddy, I am so happy I almost hopped out of myself."  This Gentoo penguin was very interested in her and kept swimming about, hoping for a photo opportunity.

Day Four

Indianapolis Children's Museum - Fantastic Dinosphere, amazing China exhibit, and lots of cool hands-on stuff.  Frannie saved Bri from being trapped in a bubble forever.

The girls' puzzle solving skills with the Terra Cotta warriors is a bit suspect.

The Everyday China exhibit had a panda research center, of course.  Bri's vet skills were excellent.

Bri: "Did people in ancient China dress like this?"
Carol: "No, only rich people dressed like this." (notice the fine detail on the costume).
Bri: "Of course, it's silk."
Carol: "No, still only rich people could dress this nice..."
Bri: "Oh..."

Then we had our last night at the grandparents, hanging out and playing Chinese checkers with cousin Lisa, and gathered for our group photo.

Tomorrow would be a long day.

Favorite things so far:

1. Killer brownies - original, raspberry, or peanut butter - I'll take it!!!
2. Being surrounded by sharks in the Newport Aquarium shark tunnel.
3. Touching sharks at the aquarium.
4. State quizzes
5. Touching a 150 million year old dinosaur fossil.
6. Checking out the actual mummified remains of a wholly intact dinosaur.
7. The fact that all grandparents serve dessert.