Epic Roadtrip 2012, Part One

There are many things really great about being married to a lawyer. Regular vacation time is not one of them. When Seth was at the big bad law firm, we went on one vacation--one. And this is a regular complaint of mine "We never go on vacation! Why don't we ever go on vacation? The kids need vacation! Memories!!" (I know, it actually is as annoying as it sounds, too.) So, when we got the invite to cousin Heidi's wedding in June, we planned a two-week roadtrip around it, stuffed the minivan full of snacks, movies, and clothes and hit the interstate. 

 This is B&H having dinner in the hotel in Pittsburgh. If you know me reasonably well, you know I love hotels. Many people want to be rock and roll stars for the fame and the chicks. Not me. I wanted to be a rock and roll star when I heard they spend an inordinate amount of time in hotels. So one of the great things about a road trip for me is spending lots of time in hotels.

This is Harry in fleece pajamas posing unwillingly in front of a well-placed prop at a roadside farmer's market in Virginia. It was at least 100 degrees outside. Brice was in a time-out at the time.

The sign in front of our digs in Virginia. Seth's Uncle Lee lives in Nellysford, Virginia, along with Heidi and her now-husband, Randy. Uncle Lee has a mini-farm with goats and chickens and a few horses. Oh, and a pond full of hungry fish. The kids loved it and got to milk a goat, chase the chickens and catch some fish--a great experience for two spoiled suburban kids.

So, this is all three boys taking an enormous bubble bath. I might have filled the bath a little too much and just might have poured in a little too much bubbles. This would not have been an issue, had the children not found the button for the jets. Oh well. Incidentally, this is also what they were doing while Heidi was getting married. I didn't mention we missed the wedding? Oh yeah. The wedding we planned the trip around--the wedding where we were the only Diehl members represented--we missed it. Got the time wrong. Showed up for the reception. Nice.

They clean up well, no?

Harry waits to make his move on the dance floor.

The wedding was outside on Heidi and Randy's farm. Martha Stewart could not have outdone her. It was gorgeous, with their horses in the background and a stream nearby where the kids could throw rocks in the river. 

Part Two is up next: from Virginia to NYC, then Boston.