3,170 miles in 12 days...We are the Griswalds!We did our first real summer vacation this year and had an absolute blast! We kind of decided last minute to take a drive up to Wisconsin and hit some fun spots on the way up and down. I was so totally dreading the long car rides but I'm so glad we went ahead and did it. The car time really wasn't too bad and the four of us had a great time together. Troy and I only almost killed each other twice and both of those times were over directions and that damn GPS and the girls did really well being together non-stop for 12 days. I think they had a great time and will remember this vacation for years to come! We started our trip on Monday July 27th (Anne's birthday) and drove up to Gammer and Bumpa's house in Atlanta to drop off our sweet Rudy boy. Gammer and Bumpa were so kind to watch him for almost 2 weeks. It was a huge relief to know he was being well taken care of. After dropping off Rudy, we continued on to Chattanooga TN and spent 2 days there. We then started the drive to WI and stopped to stay the night in Indianapolis on the way up. We got to WI on the Wendesday July 29th and stayed in Fredonia with Grandma Crass for 2 nights. Then we headed to Aunt Jen's in Pewaukee on the 31st and stayed there for 2 nights as well. We headed out on Sunday August 2nd to make the long drive down to Beech Mountain, North Carolina. We stopped in KY to stay the night after a long day of bumper to bumper traffic. That was the worst day. We got to our dear friends' cabin in Beech Mountain on Monday and stayed until Friday morning. We had such a wonderful time there. We got back to Gammer's house on Friday evening and left for home on Saturday August 8th. It was a long time to be away from home but it went by so quickly and it didn't feel like we were gone that long. It was such a great trip and I'm so glad we did it!I wish we could have done one more week to have more time with everyone! I'm ready to start planning next summer's trip already! A big huge thank you to everyone who housed us, fed us, shared time with us, and made our trip so wonderful! We love all of you guys!

Troy and the girls outside of Ruby Falls.

Anne and Allison checking out the caves.

Troy had to spend a lot of time bending down!

Walking through the mountain.

The girls in front of the cool waterfall!

Checking out the view from the top of the Ruby Falls tower.

My girl on her official birthday. 9 years old! :)

Waiting to take the Incline Railway up the mountain. It was a steep and kinda freaky ride up!

Me and Punker on the train car. I was freaking out just a tiny bit.

View from the top of the mountain, heading back down.

The girls checking out the trains at the Chattanooga Choo Choo station.


Me and Honey on the train ride.

Troy and the girls watching our train on the turnaround thingy. That was pretty cool.

The girls would have been just fine skipping the machine repair shop part of the trip.

She looks like she's having a blast hey?

Going through the tunnel! They really liked that part!

Troy sticking his head out the window.

Someone's getting tired...

At the top of the Children's Museum in Chattanooga. It was an awesome museum and a great place to stop since it was pouring down rain. The girls had a great time in there!


They loved the stage area!

Allison working the sound and lights for the production!

Anne working the sun and cloud props from side stage.

After a fun 2 days in Chattanooga, we started heading towards Wisconsin. We stopped along the way to have dinner with my high school friend Darren outside of Louisville, KY. It was nice to see him again and meet his great kids. Thanks so much for dinner Darren!

We finally made it! These pictures were actually taken on our way out of WI on Sunday. We missed this exit on our way in to WI on Wednesday but they go better here don't you think?


Playing with Ella at Aunt Mary's house. I love the cows right in the background. Only in Wisconsin!

The girls playing softball with Ella at Aunt Mary's house.

Anne, Allison, and Great Grandma Crass at the park.

This park has the really fun 40 year old play equipment! The girls loved it!

Me and Grandma.

Allison climbing the monkey bar thing...I think that same structure was there when Bumpa played there as a kid! Love it!

Troy and Grandma Crass

The girls with Aunt Mary and Uncle Larry.

Allison entertaining Sweet Alayna

Happiest girl ever!

The boys hanging at the bar

The Crass Brothers

Carl and his new lovely girlfriend Tiffany.

All the girls!

Aunt Mary, Sweet Alayna, and Katie

The girls with Uncle Terry

Having fun with the DSi at GG's house

GG trying to put together Anne's homemade puzzle!

GG and the girls! So cute!

Getting some lessons from Uncle Terry on throwing the football.

Nice throw Anne!

Aunt Mary, Grandma, and Uncle Larry enjoying the WI sunshine!

The two monkeys!

Anne, Allison, Ella, and Ava hanging out at Jill's house!

WEEEEEEE!

Jill, Hillary, Lee, Jim, and Troy at Water Buffalo in downtown Milwaukee. Totally cool area of downtown!

Blurry but the only one I have of the three of us. It was so great to see them again!

Somehow we always end up with a picture like this of me laughing my head off and burying my face!

Jim and our freakish waiter!

The whole gang!

On the phone with our best Southern girl Sherry!

Drunk dialing Sherry. Poor girl!

This picture cracks me up!

There's that pesky waiter again!

We left Fredonia on Friday and headed out to Aunt Jen's house. The girls loved seeing sweet baby Ella again!

Rolling down Aunt Jen's hill!

Lissa and Ella. So adorable!

Playing Anne's new most favorite game Clue!

Anne, Allison, and a very pregnant Jess! I love where Anne is resting her head!

Jess and Andy! The new happy parents! Hannah and Ryan were born just a few days after we left. I so wish we could have been there to meet them!

Smiling with Lissa before her birthday cake celebration!

The crazy singing!

Andy, Jess, and Ella hanging out.

Grandpa and his little girl...out like a light!

Allison snuggling up with Lissa and Luke before bed.

Pancakes in the morning! Yum! I wonder if Anne likes syrup with her pancakes YET...wink wink Aunt Jen!

Poor Lucas. I can't even imagine how many hours he logged playing football and frisbee with the girl. What a great guy.

Hanging out with sweet baby Ella!

Bathtime! You could just kiss her face off!

She loved it!


Laughing at Grandpa's hair! As you can see, Aunt Jen didn't approve of the styling job that morning!

Aunt Jen with the girls at the park. It was a beautiful Wisconsin day. Luke gave Allison that frisbee to take back home with her. She was thrilled!

Posing at the monument in the park.

My sweet girls!

My beautiful 9 year old girl! I still can't believe it.


Grandpa and Ella sharing a moment.

All the girlies!

Funniest part of the day as you can clearly see!

So damn funny!

The proud Grandma!

Luke, Aunt Jen, Uncle Gary, and sweet Ella

Allison tore up those monkey bars. She must have zoomed across them at least 20 times that day.


Anne was determined to make it across too. She never gave up!


Aunt Jen zoomed right across them too!

She was so quick, I couldn't even get any goofy pictures!

I never quite made it and there was plenty of time for the goofy picture taking.


Lissa almost made it too!

Luke and his girl!

Luke had no problem either. Show off! :)

Lissa and Ella! Love it.


Troy and Luke playing frisbee in the park. Luke showed us all his cool tricks!

Don't hurt yourself honey!

Ahhhh...after many hours in the car, we finally made it to the cabin in North Carolina! What a beautiful place! Allison and Jackson couldn't wait to get in the hottub!

Getting ready to explore!

Going out on one of their many adventures in the woods!


Elizabeth and I enjoying the warm fire and a much needed beverage!

This pretty much says it all!

Troy and Matt slaving away in the kitchen. Matt and Elizabeth were the best hosts! They cooked for us every night we were there. They were wonderful!

Making smores by the campfire. After Coach Matt's Indian Ghost story on the last night, I think Allison will be 20 years old before she ever sits around a campfire again.

Troy and Matt around the fire.

Allison and Jackson ready to raft!

Eggs and B ready for an adventure!

On the bus on the way to the Watuaga River in Tennessee

We were just a little nervous!

The kids posing by the bus after lunch.

Excited to go!

Allison couldn't wait to get on the river!

Family shot by the lake

Elizabeth, Anna B, and Jackson

All geared up and ready to go! The river is dam controlled and the water was released about 5 minutes before we put in. It was FREEZING. Like the coldest water I've ever felt in my life...it's about 50 degrees...I'm not even kidding. I wanted to die.

Allison making the jump off the cliff. It was all fun and games until she hit that 50 degree water. She freaked out just a bit when she came up but she said the jumping was fun!

Anne climbing up the side of the rock. I couldn't watch. I was freaking out.

Anne loved it!

Ready for the rapids!


This was the one class 3 rapid and it was a blast! The kids loved every minute of it. I can't wait to take them on a tougher river when they are old enough. We had the best time!


Hold on everyone!


The dreaded water fights. This was where the "so cold I wanted to die" part came in.


Heading off the river. What a great day! I would love to do it again.

Celebrating Elizabeth's birthday back at the cabin.

The kids putting on the birthday show for her!


The kids at Grandfather mountain.

The girls in front of the bear exhibit.

The spoiled rotten bears. If you didn't throw the food directly in their mouth, they weren't eating it.

The girls walking across the bridge at Grandfather mountain.

That bridge was totally cool and just a tiny bit scary.

The girls and I at the tippy top of Grandfather Mountain.

Family picture on Grandfather Mountain.

Allison and Jackson...the old married couple...they are a riot together.

The Baumeisters. Love them.

Allison loved tended her bar!

The four of us went horseback riding the next day...up the mountain...after it had rained all day the day before...it was slippery and I was a little freaked out! But it was awesome and we had a great time. The girls did so great. Anne was completely on her own with her horse and did a fantastic job with her! Allison was tied to the guide but still had to steer her horse and did really well too. It was such a great afternoon!



Allison and her horse Sonny.

Anne and Muffin.

Mommy and Noah.

Troy and Big Momma! I'm serious. I died laughing.

One last look at the beautiful cabin. I was so sad to leave there! But it was time to head back to Atlanta and pick up our sweet Rudy boy from Gammer and Bumpa. We missed him so much but Gammer and Bumpa took great care of him while we were gone.