Family Vacay 2014 Part 1

Almost ready to go. Forrest told me about three times that morning, "I don't think all of this is going to fit." He was right. I'm admitting it. 

Right now as I'm typing the song "Summertime Sadness" by Lana Del Rey is playing, but it's not very appropriate to the occasion since the first part of our summer at least has been anything but sad. Poor Lana Del Rey. Maybe she needs to visit the Outer Banks?  But perhaps an almost two week long road trip/beach house extravaganza, seeing sights all over the country, visiting with family and friends, exploring historic landmarks and frolicking on the beach wouldn't have worked for her--after all, we did spend a lot of time in the car, battled East Coast traffic, got eaten by mosquitos, and enjoyed a few nasty sunburns. But all those things paled (even the sunburn--ba dum ba!) in comparison to the good stuff. And now "Sky Full of Stars" by Coldplay is on. Much more appropriate.

This first post is mostly going to detail our driving adventures and our short little mini-visits to Chicago and Washington D.C.  We decided to take it relatively slow on our way down to North Carolina. First stop, six hours from home--the Windy City!

We pulled into Chicago on Wednesday afternoon and immediately took off for Navy Pier. Unfortunately it's undergoing a lot of construction and wasn't nearly as charming or bustling as I remember it being in past visits. I did immediately make the children gather together for a photo however. The smirks say it all!

After going into a restaurant, sitting down, perusing the menu, then deciding it was too expensive and ditching the place--we actually did that--we settled for dinner at the Navy Pier food court then headed out to further explore. Once we started walking the city streets, though, the evening started shaping up. A few sights:

The famous bean!

We walked up to the amphitheater right as a free concert was concluding. We got to hear the final couple of measures at least. Such a beautiful venue.

We found a building adorned with stones from all over the world. Here's one from a familiar spot. And Jonas's very best dramatic chipmunk face. (Wyatt's hand is covering the words "Mormon Temple Salt Lake City").

After walking all over the city we fell into bed then woke up bright and early in order to put in our first 12 hour driving day. But before we could leave we had to fight Chicago traffic and park illegally in order for Forrest to get these donuts that he read about on the Internet:

I admit it; they were tasty.

Then we spent a long long long long long long time on the road. Lots of tolls. Interesting to look out the window at least, and the kids were effectively anesthetized by all the electronics and carbohydrates in the car.

One of many toll stops. Greedy Eastern gubments. 

We pulled into our hotel in Washington D.C. late at night but everyone was awake to see the Washington monument just a few blocks away. I'm glad we took an extra day to explore the city. I haven't been to D.C. since I was 16 years old and the kids have never been there. We woke up pretty early and hit the streets expecting it to be cool and rainy, but the humidity hit us hard right away. The kids were good little soldiers, though, traipsing to all the important sites. A few shots:


I know who lives in that house! Forrest even has a t-shirt with his face on it. But I won't let him wear it in public (although I think most people we know would assume he was wearing it ironically).

So apparently this is a Boy Scouts of America statue. For some reason the gentleman who appears to be the Scout leader is carrying his clothing instead of wearing it. Made me wonder if the BSA PR people have thought twice about the message being sent? At least the lady has fire handy in case they can't get one started with flint and kindling.

Washington monument, view #1:

Washington monument View #2:

Strolling along. I love that Jonas isn't a teenager quite yet. We'll know once he is: the photo below would be impossible.

The Lincoln Memorial:

We also visited the Vietnam Memorial but it didn't feel appropriate to take a picture. So much time has passed--a war that was fought before I was even born--but all those names are still so moving.

After a few hours of walking in the humidity, everybody needed a Slurpee.

We checked out of the hotel then parked in a weird parking garage where you pack you vehicles in three deep and leave your keys in the car so an attendant can move it if the person behind you needs to get out.  It felt very strange leaving our Tahoe and all its stuff and the keys inside, but when in D.C. I guess? We weren't sure where we were going to eat lunch, but on our way to the Smithsonian we stumbled upon a veritable plethora of food trucks. Dozens of them. Latvian food, Ethiopian food, Turkish food. Of course the three younger kids had cheese pizza (but very good cheeze pizza) but Ethan, Forrest and I branched out a bit. Everything was tasty but the baba ganoush (the white pasty stuff in the lower right). It's more fun to say than to eat, but at least we can say we tried it.

People and food trucks all over the street:

I do think food trucks are the way to go. Why can't a couple dozen pull up in front of my house every day at 5:30?

Then we headed off to the Smithsonian. There are lots of Smithsonians so we took a vote to choose the two or three we had enough time to visit. First stop, the Air and Space museum.

Below, Wyatt rather astutely answering questions about the purpose and function of a space suit. I can't remember the questions because my brain is no longer that astute. I just remember being impressed with Wyatt's astuteness.

The spacecraft in the background is an actual, for realsies moon landing space craft. It looks kind of like part of a set for a ward road show if you ask me, but hey! If it works it works!

Our next stop was supposed to be the Natural History museum (dinosaurs!) but when we walked outside, the following sight greeted us:

Ominous.

Then, moments after snapping that photo, downpour! We ran across the plaza as fast as we could but still got drenched.

We decided to take shelter in the art museum. I was secretly happy because I like art museums, and I think the kids enjoyed it more than they thought they would. We saw all sorts of good stuff: Degas, Matisse, Monet, VanGogh, Cassat, Rembrandt (Tony's favorite guy--I took a photo of Rembrandt's 15th century selfie and texted it to him):

Of this particular photo Ethan said, "Hey! It's a painting of four-year-old me after being dropped off at the YMCA daycare!" Classic.

We wanted to try and squeeze in an hour at the natural history museum, but the rain wouldn't let up so we decided to call it a day and hit the road. We figured we had PLENTY of time to make it to Norfolk (my mom does not approve of the way I pronounce Norfolk) to meet Darrin and Katie and their family and go and see How To Train Your Dragon 2.  Quick explanatory note: Elise has been a touch obsessed with How to Train Your Dragon. Yes she is 16 but it's a thing I guess. At any rate, when she found out about the trip, instead of exclaiming, "Hooray! What a lucky girl I am!" instead she pulled a Lana Del Rey (if Lana Del Rey was into Dreamworks animation) and moaned, "But I will miss the premiere of How to Train Your Dragon 2! Woe is me! What shall I do?" Because we are kind and loving parents, we found a movie theater just minutes away from our hotel in NorfoLk (emphasis on the L for Mom) and planned to have the whole family go together after checking into our hotel in a leisurely fashion. In fact, we even pre-bought our tickets.

What we did not plan on was I-95. Oh no, we did not. We were stuck in traffic for three hours. Three hours, creeping along, the rain battering down, watching the time tick away. As it became clearer and clearer that we wouldn't make the 8:30 show, I finally called the theatre and they told us they'd allow an exchange for the 9:30 3D show. We pulled up in front of the theater at 9:29 and kicked the kids out the door (Forrest and I decided we were too tired and needed to get checked in anyway).  We had a fleeting thought that letting our 7-year-old stay out until 11:30 p.m. in a strange city with no actual adults in attendance might be a little iffy, but all's well that ends well. The kids loved the movie and we finally got a little rest.

Which we needed because the next day? OBX baby! More on that soon.

End of Year Extravaganza

So I recall that I said at the end of the last post that I would continue and post prom pictures the next day, but that next day somehow turned into nine days. Oops. So now what I'm going to do is simply plow through all the major goings on of the last three weeks in as expeditious a manner as possible. Let's start with Prom since I know some of you have been waiting for photos for a good long time.

Mormon Prom was great! Elise was so excited to get all gussied up, and I admit it was fun to help her. We ended up taking her to get an updo at the local Fantastic Sam's and I found some perfect silver shoes with a nice low heel that worked great: stylish yet comfortable. Ethan was also looking dapper in his suit (tuxes were not required at the Mormon Prom) and his date looked absolutely beautiful.

Here's Elise's gussied up hair:

And here she is pinning a corsage onto her cute date:

Ethan went to his date's house to pick her up, but her parents very kindly shared some photos with me:

If you recognize the other girl in the photo, it's Elise's good friend Ashlee. Her big sister Kenzie was Ethan's date.

Our wonderful bishop rented a limo for all the kids in our ward and we gathered at his house to take pictures and watch them get whisked away. All the kids looked smashing.

A wonderful time was had by all. I think they had the most fun in the limo and at dinner (Buca di Beppo) but the dance itself was a lot of fun too. And I got pictures of Ethan at at least one high school dance before he graduated! Miracles! 

We've also had our fair share of end-of-year concerts, awards banquets, field trips, etc. Here are a few highlights.

First, both Elise and Jonas had solos at their respective end-of-year choir concerts. Jonas found out he was doing his solo on the day of the concert because the guy who was supposed to do it was sick. Way to step up, Jonas Leo!

The above concert was the 7th and 8th grade boys concert--choirs that ALL 7th and 8th grade boys must be a part of. Needless to say, there were a few boys, especially in the 8th grade choir, who were none too happy to be there. Forrest and I had a great time watching a couple of particularly sullen specimens who stood there, resolutely, with their mouths firmly shut the whole entire time. But Jonas was also a part of Vocal Jazz, an audition choir that meets before school, and their concert was just great. Here's a snippet of that concert; the boys are singing the music of Sting. Such nice harmonies for 12 and 13 year olds!

Elise also had her final choir concert of the year as well. She was excited (and nervous) to learn that she scored a solo herself, but she did SUCH a great job. I know I'm prejudiced, but I think she sounds absolutely lovely.  Her solo is at the beginning, but this video is of the whole song. (Also, isn't it just so perfect that the people directly in front of us decided to switch seats the minute Elise started singing?) 

Wyatt had a ball at his big end-of-the-year trip to the Minnesota Zoo.  I was glad to be all done with school so I could go on this one--the zoo is a good field trip as far as field trips go. I have learned through years of experience, however, that school field trips are MUCH better if you are one of those moms who doesn't ride the bus and instead meets the kids at the appointed venue. All of the moms who had to ride the bus home with the kids at the end of the day looked longingly at the rest of us--more "experienced" mothers, most of us--who simply got into our cars and drove our kids home after almost four hours of field tripping with 1st graders on the hottest day of the year so far.

They've gotten to the age where rabbit ears behind the head suddenly becomes a thing:

The zoo had a new "bugs" exhibit that was a big hit. Giant size bugs--so creepy! Although Ethan assures me that it's physiologically impossible for bugs to actually grow that big because they would collapse under their own weight--they would need to have legs like elephants. Or something. But at least I can take comfort in the fact that giant praying manti won't be descending on us from the sky anytime soon.

There were dozens of kids waiting patiently in line so they could jump off the top of this giant caterpillar. Who needs actual animals when you have fake ones to climb on?

Or stick your head inside?

Hard to believe Wyatt's first grade year is almost done. They're all just growing up too fast.

And speaking of growing up too fast, some of the biggest endings of all--actual commencements!--happened this last weekend. But before I post the graduation pics, here are a few pictures from a few of the "end of year" celebrations we attended.

First, the speech banquet. Ethan and Elise both got to enjoy this one, and Ethan, as a senior, got a lot of time to both perform his pieces and offer advice to the up and coming speech students on video. Ethan's advice was far an away the funniest (but not as funny typed out--delivery is key). It's not enough that I have a funny husband; now I have a funny son. Don't get me wrong, I love funny people, but now there are TWO people in my life about whom I must answer the question, "Are they always funny like that? Do they have you gasping in hilarity at all hours of the day?" Okay, maybe not all hours of the day, but between the two of them I get at least three or four good laughs a day, which is most certainly above average.

Some shots from the speech banquet. First, all the seniors. Such great kids.

Ethan and his coach, Alex Carlson, who is a goofball and a really great guy. He and his wife (an English teacher at East Ridge and a really great woman) have made the speech team so much fun to be a part of. And excellent as well.

Ethan and his duo partner Ryan.

The speech boys. These four racked up a ton of awards between the four of them, and also spent a lot of time in our basement playing video games.

Elise and Garret, one of the nicest boys on planet Earth.

Speech siblings, holding their NFL certificates as proof of all those early Saturday mornings.

We also attended a (THREE HOUR LONG!) theater banquet for Ethan. Alas, no photos. The ones I took up on stage were completely blurry and not worth posting. It was still fun to see all the kids and reminisce, however; although both Forrest and I agree that the reminiscing went on about an hour too long.

And yet ANOTHER ceremony--this time, the senior awards ceremony. Ethan got a "Golden Raptor" award for being on the high honor roll all four years of high school and a special award for his National Merit Scholar commendation. This photo is also pretty bad, but you can make out his (tall) ghostly washed out figure up on stage:

Also, the ERHS academic awards ceremony has cemented my belief that, while white men currently run most aspects of society, women and non-white folk are nipping at their heels. We live in a pretty white bread suburb, but I bet less than 1/4 of the honorees that night where white boys. Girls made up the vast majority of honorees--in GPA, test scores, and subject-area honors--and of the male honorees, the majority didn't have last names like Smith or Jones (or Hallstrom). I note this only because it made me happy (should I admit this?). It goes to show that when playing fields are leveled and opportunity is widely available, all sorts of people rise to the top. I wonder what the world will look like when Ethan's generation is in charge? Nothing against white men--I married one and gave birth to three and I think all the white men I'm related to are wonderful human beings--but I believe this world will be a better place as the chorus of different voices we have the opportunity to hear continues to swell.

And that leads me to the final, and biggest dang deal, of the last few weeks: Ethan's graduation! Luckily we unwrapped his cap and gown (okay, not we--*I* unwrapped his cap and gown) a couple of days before the ceremony because they'd accidentally given him a gown for someone 5' - 5'2" instead of 6' - 6'2". He tried it on and it looked awesome just skimming his knees. We got it all worked out, though, and were able to ensure that he looked properly handsome:

As blog readers are by now aware, Ethan his not a big fan of getting his photo taken and the poor guy had to endure a lot of it on Saturday. I made him take the photo above before he got into his car to leave (the kids had to be there 1 1/2 hours early so they could mill about, I suppose) and he was in such a rush that he forgot to put down his keys. Luckily I was able to photoshop the lanyard holding his keys right out of the photo (although you can tell when you look at his left hand that he was holding on to something). I'm so glad I made him take it, though, because it's the only photo we have of him wearing his honors stole. He thought he was being "proactive" by turning it in immediately after the ceremony and BEFORE anyone got to see him or take pictures. I love him.

Here are a few shots from the ceremony. Grainy, yes. We were kind of far up. I didn't turn in my ticket request until a few days before the deadline (bad Mom!) and we were in the nosebleed section with the riffraff. Gotta love the riffraff. The grandma behind us coughed into my hair during a good portion of the ceremony, and although we were explicitly told NOT to clap or shout when the graduates' names were announced, most of the people sitting next to us did. Although, so did our neighbor and bishopbric member Steve. He yelled out, "Go Big Boy!" when Josh walked out, and Steve has a PhD, so that kind of blew my riffraff hypothesis.  Anyway! Shots from the cheap seats:

Ethan moving his tassel from right to left:

Shaking hands with the principal:

Catching my eye, giving a grin (one of the better shots with the zoom lens):

Josh smiling uncomfortably right after his father calls him "Big Boy"in front of hundreds of his classmates.

The assembled graduates:

We finally found Ethan in the press of people after the ceremony and I got a few more photos of family and friends. Here's Ethan and Josh:

Some photos of the fam. First, Wyatt wearing cap and tassel:

Then Ethan wearing cap and tassel:

Afterward we celebrated as a family at Red Lobster, then that night at 10:00 p.m. Ethan went to the Senior Late Night Party held at the school. Apparently these are super big deals in our neck of the woods; the intention is to keep kids off the roads and out of trouble on graduation night and it works. They lock them in until 5:00 a.m. Almost all the seniors go and they have all kinds of food (Chipotle, Buffalo Wild Wings), games (trivia games, Blackjack, obstacle courses); and shows (a hypnotist who Ethan described as "creepy" as well as an improv troupe. Ethan volunteered for the improv show and "won" his round against the improv people to much acclaim, which made him happy). They also have big raffles and Ethan won an iPad mini! Also very cool. He promptly gave it to Elise because 1. he said he already had a phone and a laptop and 2. he is nice. She is thrilled.

Aaaand finally, seminary graduation was Sunday night. A smaller affair, but still very nice. I have such a soft spot for all the kids who were graduating because I taught them, and Forrest has a soft spot because he's teaching some of them now. Love these guys:

Whew! How's that for a recap! Oh, also, Ethan got his braces off. Holla!

And I got a new bike which is awesome but now my quads hurt.

And Ethan is all done--el finito--with school, but the other three have two more days. Then it's sum sum summertime! Next month I'll have a big vacation post. Until then!