Wagons West- Day 1

We tried heading south last year for our family vacation, so Jon felt like we were WAY overdue for another west trip this year!:)  When we were a short distance from home, Kate said, "When we get to Ohio, THEN it will feel like we're on vacation."  Wrong way, child!

Day 1 seemed like a deja-vu of most of our other west trips.  First stop- John Deere Pavilion.  While Scott isn't as in awe as he once was with all of the machines and (sadly) passed on visiting the toy store/gift shop, he still is very knowledgeable about the equipment and would make a great tour guide there.  I still call everything a tractor- what do I know?!?

We stayed in one of our favorite hotels with the waterfall and indoor/outdoor pool.  The recent swimming lessons paid off and the kids were like little fish in the hotel pools each night. 

This is sweet Kate's face when she doesn't want me to take her picture.   She thinks I won't use it if she makes this ugly face- she was wrong!:)

There was a new dynamic going on in the van during this trip.  Often times at home, the girls pair up and do girly things together.   Likewise, in past trips, they've often sat near one another and would help to entertain one another with things on the way.  This time though, Natalie claimed the backseat and pretty much did her own thing.  She occupied herself with reading, writing, and making creations on the iPad.  This left Kate and Scott in the middle seats, and they were something else!  Daily, Kate would say funny phrases or sing made-up songs over and over, and Scott would get so tickled at her.  This of course encouraged her to become even sillier and the two of them would go back and forth with goofiness.   It was interesting to watch and listen to for miles upon end!