Road Trip! {Staying with the Swishers in Ann Arbor}

The day after the moving truck pulled away was spent tying up lose ends, packing up the cars, and preparing to drive off.  We left bright and early Friday morning.  Ryan and Rooke rode in the "Silver Bullet" (AKA Ryan's car) while the girls came with me in "Snowball" (AKA our trusty minivan).  Our hotel was about nine hours away and, while it was a long day of travel, everyone did great and we arrived safely in the beautiful town of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  While on long trips, we eat outside whenever possible so the kids can be loud and run wild when necessary!

Day two went as smoothly as the first.  We stopped for a late lunch in Chicago where we grabbed some pizza and found a beautiful picnic spot.

And finally, later than planned but still safe, we arrived in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the end of another nine-hour driving day.  Our friends, Steve and Jean Swisher and their kids Jacob and Emily, welcomed us into their home with generous hospitality.  We were so thankful to see them and stay with them for a few days!  We first met Jean and Steve when we were on the same ministry team in China, and they have remained dear friends over the years making two visits to see us in different places.  It was fun to have a chance to visit them!  We were blessed by their hospitality, and grateful for how comfortable we felt being together as families.  Stopping over with them for three nights days was the best part of our trip!

Jacob and Bridgette are very close in age and both wanted to go fast in circles!  

Jean prepared a beautiful picnic lunch for all of us to enjoy near the University of Michigan after church.

Steve and Jean are fun and adventuresome, so we were excited for the activities they had planned during our days together.  We walked through part of the UofM campus, stopping by the Law Quad, and walking through the law library.  The absolute silence of the library brought back memories of sneaking through Seattle University's law library to find Ryan and deliver a study snack.  I'm still so grateful those days are over!

Ryan and Steve ducked into a local coffee shop while Jean and I stopped off at the children's museum (where we were blessed to surprisingly all be given free admission!).

DELICIOUS ice cream!!!  Seriously, some of the best ice cream I've ever had.  These kids don't know how good they've got it! =)

Being the fourth of July weekend, Jean had prepared lots of fun, festive holiday foods including red and blue berries, and a cherry pie with whipped cream!

On the fourth of July, we ventured out to the Greenfield Village in Dearborn, close to where Steve works for Ford.  We loved stepping back in time to the days of Henry Ford in a sort of amusement park setting (which wasn't crowded at all!).   

The girls loved seeing "Laura Ingalls" tell some of her stories in a wonderful monologue. 

A carousel ride (or three?!).

Another great picnic lunch!

My attorney getting the scoop inside Abraham Lincoln's courthouse.

The boys heading off in a Model T.

Girls' turn!

Back at the house, Jean and Steve had lots of read, white, and blue fun!

And then . . . somewhere in the middle of all that fun . . . Jean managed to secure a babysitter for the night so the four of us could go out!  It'd been a long time since Ryan and I had relaxed, laughed, and enjoyed such good food with good friends.  

They taught us a new game (which we promptly bought for ourselves!).

The kids, specifically Rooke, loved playing with the Swisher's dog, Freo.


And then, on the morning of July 5th, Jean took the kids to the park while Ryan and I packed the car and we headed out for our last long day of driving.  Eight more hours and we crashed in our hotel beds at Andrews Air Force Base, thankful for a smooth and safe trip.