IL trip: Great Grandmuzz and Grandpa

Friday July 1, 2011:

  After driving all night Alex, Lana, and I made it to Great Grandmuzz and Grandpa's house about 4:30.  We had an easy drive from Colorado and left our house at 8:30 p.m.  We were surprised that Lana was up a lot of the night, but she was content to look out the window while Mommy tried to sleep on the sleeping pad beside her.  We made plenty of stops in the morning for breakfast, gas, restrooms, and even made a point to go to Ollie's Frozen Custard stand in Sycamore, IL, just north of DeKalb.  One of Alex's friends online grew up in DeKalb and said we had to stop there.  Before we met up with Uncle Roger, Aunt Jill, and Juliana at Great Grandmuzz and Grandpa's house we stopped by our hotel to nap and freshen up.
     

Lana resting at the hotel.

   Once at Great Grandmuzz and Grandpa's house we all decided to go out for dinner at Russel's.  It looks exactly the same and everyone enjoyed their food.  The girls helped Uncle Roger carry Lana's high chair to the table and had a lot of fun using their tokens to get a prize.

Two big helpers.

Aaaahhhhh

Lana had a blast playing with her sticky hand and Juliana was glad to get a Penguin.  I think his name was Rocko.

   Leaving dinner the girls were so cute and wanted to hold hands as they walked down the sidewalk together. 

   When we got back to Great Grandmuzz and Grandpa's house the girls wanted to play upstairs before we celebrated the girl's recent birthdays together.  They had a great time opening and playing with their gifts before enjoying some ice cream cake.  I love how Lana dances when people sing the Happy Birthday song.

Playing ball with Great Grandmuzz.

Playing the organ.

Juliana and Lana play the organ together.

Laying down with PJ and a bear in the bed Mommy use to sleep in.

Time to open birthday presents!

I love how Lana is reading her card, precious!

Playing with her lion piano in the box.

Opening Dora's house.

Testing out the buttons.

Princess Juliana!  So excited.

Check out my princess purse.

Lana wearing the princess dress up shoes.  They are even small for her little chubby feet, lol!

Princess Lana!  Thanks for sharing cousin Juliana.

Mmmmm, birthday cake!

Devouring her entire piece of ice cream cake.

Before heading back to the hotel for the evening Lana got to see the coo-coo-clock in action.  This is a favorite and often missed activity for any child visiting.  We would all hear the song and come running right before the fox ran around.  So glad Lana got to hear the entire song and see all the moving parts.