Midwest Tour--Day 4

After the graduation party we traveled from Hinsdale up to the North Shore to spend some time with Uncle Dale and visit with Kathy. The boys had a fun-filled, late night while we talked. We were treated to a pancake/waffle/French toast breakfast the next morning. Then the boys got to "ride" on Uncle Dale's lawn tractor and use his wheelbarrow before leaving.Our next stop was to visit my cousin, Melissa, and her kids Max and Hannah. Hannah was also a flower girl in our wedding and is graduating this week from high school. We loaded up the covered wagon and walked down to the beach to wear out the boys and enjoy the sun and sand. Note that my boys are from Georgia. The beach as they know it is Georgia--warm and sandy (the sand at Lake Bluff is trucked in). McCance began to wade into the water, then ran full blast, tripped over a rock and was christened into "the beach" Illinois-style--Lake Michigan! It was 56 degrees in the water that day. So you can see before and after pictures of beach play.We left Missy's around 4 to remind us why we don't want to live in the Chicago area. It took us over an hour longer than Mapquest told us it should to get to Iowa City. But the results were good.Oh, and how could I forget! Melissa and her family were in the midst of a homewide decluttering effort. She gifted us with many things to fill our van, including a serger and a Cozy Coupe. I said "no" to the Cozy Coupe, but while I was in the house, she convinced Scott to take it. The boys love it and are driving it right now while Aunt Luella supervises. And to know it was Hannah's makes it well worth this. . .