Making memories in the Midwest

We have been camping and haven't been able to use the computer in a while. So here's what we've been doing the past week.The pictures are a little out of order!


My dad grew up in Chicago so we drove around his hometown. We saw his elementary school, high school, the place he worked, and we also toured the house that he grew up in.  Then we went and toured the Michigan Shores Club and saw Grandpa Knowlton’s picture on the wall. He was the president for two years. It was awesome!

We took the train into downtown Chicago. All the tall buildings were amazing. We took a boat ride on the river that went through the lock into Lake Michigan. We also had Chicago-style pizza and a Chicago hot dog!! While we were there we saw them filming a new movie. It think it’s called Jupiter Rising or Ascending Jupiter.

Yo-ho!! We went to a lumberjack show. We watched the lumberjacks compete in the axe throw, cross-cutting, climbing, boon-running and log-rolling. They were amazing and so funny. I loved it!

We took a tour of the Miller Beer Factory. It was cool to see the men make beer, but it smelled bad!!

These are some other places that we visited. The Kellogg's, a cheese factory, beer factory, watched a lock, and the Dells. I loved them all!!

 

We stayed at a KOA that had waterslides!! It was lots of fun to ride down.

We walked through the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum in Walnut Grove.  I learned a lot of interesting facts. I had a lot of fun!

 

 

 

 

Hangin' with the Howlands

We spent the week at the Howland's cabin in Michigan. Mr. Howland and my dad grew up together in Chicago. When my dad was little he used to come here in the summer. It was really cool because the house is right on the water. There was a dock that we could jump off of into the water!

Mr. Howland drove the boat so we could go tubing! It was scary but really fun!!

Here's a short video we took before the camera battery went dead!! Bummer!!

 

 

In the middle of the lake there was an inflatable trampoline raft-thingy and a rock wall slide that we played on. There was something called the Katupult that you sit on and then someone jumps on the other end and launches you into the air. I loved when dad or Mr. Howland launched me. I would go so high. It was really fun!!Here's a video-

 

Besides tubing and playing on the trampoline, we got to do lots of other things too like fishing, collecting guppies, swimming and just hanging out. It was so much fun!

We had a birthday cake to celebrate my dad and Mr Howland's birthdays. They both turn 50 this week. We also had cake another night for Mr Howland's mom's birthday. At night we would play Apples to Apples. It was really fun!

 Mom's thoughts--For the past week Jim and I have been taking a walk down memory lane. First visiting my grandma's house, and then spending the week at Indian Lake with Jim's best friend growing up. Besides the beautiful surroundings and days of water-filled activities, we enjoyed reminiscing with Scott and his wife Marlene. Mid-week Scott's parents arrived and we loved hearing stories from their childhood. There's just something special about reconnecting with the past. So Scott and Marlene-thank you so much for hosting us (longer than expected!) We loved every minute of our time together and I know this was a highlight for the kids. We would love to host you in San Diego anytime! ;)

Next up, Jim's hometown Chicago!

 

 

Henry Ford and daddy!!

(guest speaker-daddy Knowlton)Linda took the kids to see Despicable Me 2, so I could have a free afternoon to explore the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. I enjoyed the walk downtown to the museum, which ran right along the waterfront. The museum was great. There was lots of memorabilia that traced the roots of rock-n-roll from rhythm & blues and country. I especially enjoyed the Rolling Stones exhibit and reading more about The Beatles and Springsteen. Good thing Linda wasn't there because I saw no reference to Wham!, Rick Springfield, or Depeche Mode. 

 

Daddy's Birthday!!!

(Ashley) This week we celebrated daddy's birthday. Lauren and I made him a crown to wear for the day. After breakfast, we went to Greenfield Village in Michigan. It was fun.  All the people were dressed up as olden days. We saw lots of things like a covered bridge, old houses, people making glass jars and a lots of animals. Then we went to a restaurant and had pizza for daddy's birthday. Then we ate chocolate cake and ice cream. Finally we finished and went to bed. 

 (Lauren)We toured the famous Henry Ford Factory.  That's where they make cars and trucks!  Today they were making F150 trucks!  It was amazing to see all the men and women each doing their own part to make the truck.  It was also cool to see robots doing jobs, like putting the windshield on as the truck moves down a conveyor belt.  Some of the jobs look very hard and complicated.  We also went up to the observation tower and viewed the whole plant from a bird's eye view. I had a fun time at the Henry Ford Factory!!   

 

(Mom's thoughts)-A drive through Michigan wouldn't be complete without a visit to Grandma Parrish's house. As a kid, every few years my family would pack up the family station wagon and head across country to visit my grandma in Michigan. (see where my love of road tripping stems!) This entire trip I've had flashbacks to my childhood vacations and today was no exception. I remember the older folks smoking on the screened-in front porch, hearing my grandma say "my you're growing like a weed!," playing bingo in the dark dank basement, and sleeping in the creepy room upstairs while hearing the static from grandma's police scanner in the corner--the same room we were told had been previously hit by lightning.  Upon arriving at 1302 Greenwich Street, I steeled my courage and knocked on the front door.  After explaining who I was and why I was knocking on the door, the woman allowed me in inside to take photos. The place is just as I remember as a kid. I'm so grateful for the memories and times we shared there!! (Dad, Kathy & Sherry- I have more photos that I'll share when we get home.)

 

Choo! Choo! Here comes Water

(Steamtown by Ashley Knowlton)-I went to Steamtown. It is a train place. I got a Junior Ranger Book. I took a tour of a roundhouse.  I saw a train go in the roundhouse. It had a lot of people in it. Then  I went in a caboose. It showed me what kinds of trains there are and I learned about all the jobs for trains, like conductor, hobo, engineer, and tycoon. Next we went to a train called the Big Boy. It has 24 wheels and the engineer is 10 feet off the ground. It was BIG! Then I went to the office and I got a Junior Ranger Badge. Finally, I left. I love my fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, trip very much!!!!

  (Lauren) We visited the 1000 Islands in New York.  It's a place in the St. Lawrence River with 1,864 islands. Some are big and some are super-duper small. We only went to a few of the islands- not all 1864!!  We also went on a boat ride. It took us into Canada! The captain was really cool and he let us drive the boat and gave us boating licenses. It was really neat. We stayed at a cute campsite with tons of trees. While we were eating dinner a huge thunderstorm appeared out of nowhere and we got drenched, but it was really fun too! I had an awesome time at 1000 Islands.

(Lauren)We drove to Niagara Falls on a hot sunny day. The falls were sooooo big!! I didn’t want to fall in!! We went on the Maid of the Mist boat that goes right up into the falls. It felt as if we were in a rainstorm. They gave us garbage- bag-like coverings to wear but we still got soaked!! After, we walked over to the Canadian side and viewed the falls from there. It was awesome to go to Canada.

(Ashley) At my campsite I made some new friends called Brilana, Kenya and Amarra. I played with them on the playground. We had so much fun. At night we watched the sun go down. I could see Toronto across the lake. It’s a city in Canada. I like camping. My favorite part is making new friends.

 (Trevor)When I went to Lake Ontario, we got to go swimming. When I first got in it was cold, but I got used to it. I used Ashley’s lifejacket so me and my mom could swim all the way out to the buoy.  It was a little scary because it was so deep. After swimming we searched the shore for driftwood and sea glass. I found a very smooth piece driftwood on the shore and I put it in my treasure box to bring home.  I had a great time swimming in Lake Ontario.

Mom's thoughts--I always thought my love of water stemmed from my being a Pisces, but while reading a Niagara Falls pamphlet I learned that it’s been scientifically proven being in and around water increases happiness. Something to do with negative ions and serotonin levels. Well, after this week of water-filled activities my serotonin levels must be high!! I loved watching the shimmering sunsets over the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario with the Toronto skyline in the distance, diving into the murky green waters of Lake Ontario, and feeling the drenching mist of Niagara Falls as we rode into the mist. Even the sound of raindrops pinging the tent roof are music to my ears (maybe just not the accompanying thunder!!) Maybe there is something to this science stuff afterall!!

These are a few of my mom's and my fav-o-rite things...mountains and chocolate!!!

When I got to Shenandoah National Park, there were deer everywhere!! I saw lots of mamas with her fawns.  We also saw a bear!! We went on a four-mile hike and saw lots of waterfalls. They were really pretty. I made a new friend named Loren from Tennessee. We are going to be pen pals!

Trevor's thoughts- we went to the lodge and a guy was playing a guitar, singing and playing a harmonica.  At first I was afraid to dance, but then there was a good beat so I got up and danced and clapped to the beat. Everyone in the bar cheered and clapped along. It was fun!!.

We stayed at a campsite in the Catoctin Mountains. We learned from the camp host that we were just a few miles from Camp David. (that’s the place the president goes for vacation). We also heard that he was here celebrating his daughter’s birthday. They had blocked off a big area so no one was allowed near them, but it was awesome to be miles from the president!!



We went to Hershey, Pennsylvania and saw many cool sights. We visited Hershey Chocolate World and took a tour of the chocolate factory. We went on a ride and learned about the life of a cocoa bean and how it becomes chocolate. There were singing cows too!! We also saw the worlds largest Hershey bar!

 




We visited Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It's Amish Country!  It is cool to see all the people dressed as the olden days.  They didn't drive cars, they rode in horse and buggies.  Even their bikes were way different than ours. The kids worked in the fields and sold fruit at stands at the side of the road.

Ashley's thoughts- it was cool to see them all dressed that way. I wish I could drive in a buggy. We went to a farm and saw baby goats that looked like little puppies. I wanted to get one, but mommy and daddy said no!

American History 101

We went to Williamsburg,Virginia. It was one of the first settlements in America!! All the people there were dressed up as the characters from the past.  It was really cool to experience how they lived. We learned a kids game that they played called huckle buckle beanstalk and we also got to help the cook and learn how they made food back then. My favorite part was watching the men dressed as soldiers and shoot guns and cannons and reenacting the Revolutionary War.
(Ashley's thoughts- Williamsburg was tiring but awesome. The cannons were really loud. I had to plug my ears!! I loved the way the girls dressed. They were pretty.)
(Trevor's thoughts- I liked learning about the olden days. There was a lot of history there.)


Willaimsburg, Viriginia

Camping at the awesome campground in Willaimsburg. I think this is my favorite campground EVER!!!

We went to Washington DC. We went to lots of memorials for presidents and wars and we also saw the White House and the Capital.  While we were looking at the White House, someone came out onto the balcony--it could have been the president!! Ashley and I got Junior Ranger badges for the National Mall National Park. 
(Ashley's thoughts- I saw the White House. My favorite part was when I saw the presidents memorials because they were so pretty.  I also saw the Capitol and the Washington memorial. It was tall!!)
(Trevor's thoughts- I liked visiting Washington DC because I love history. It was neat to see. And I liked riding the Metro. It was super fast)



Washington DC



Mom's thoughts--

I've never been a nut for history but over the last week we have been smack dab in American History!! We've seen the  Cheerokee Indian museum and learned about the Trail of Tears, visted numerous Civil War sites as well as Williamsburg and saw firsthand the birth of our nation. We actually stood in the same room where the Virginia delegation met to create the Declaration of Independence. And now we are finishing up the week in Washington DC, touring the memorials for presidents and war veterans.  It is inspiring to be around. I think this fourth of July celebration will mean more to me than any time before. 
I also wanted to share that we visited the Korean War memorial to honor my dad, William J. Parrish, who fought in this war. We also visited the newest memorial in honor of World War II. We found Jim's dad Richard Knowlton in the national registry. He was a pilot who flew PBYs. We also tried to find my grandpa, Delmar F. Lacquement who was a Pearl Harbor Survivor. He was not listed in the registry yet, but I will change that soon!! Thank you dads and grandpas for fighting for our freedoms!!!