Sound the alarm. Blow the trumpet. Bang pots and pans. (No, we haven’t found jobs yet…) What you are so excited about is the fact that we are finally getting around to finishing our blog. You’ll have new posts for the next few days until we get sick of writing and procrastinate some more.
We made the decision not to blog every day while we were in Philly, Cleveland, and Spokane, and we’re totally glad we spent the time actually hanging out with family. Rather than give you details of every single day, we’ll give you some highlights.
We headed to Philly first to visit Mike’s sister Jodi and brother-in-law Chris. (You may remember these silly characters from their participation in some senior pics.) The two people we were most excited to see (sorry, Jod and Chris) were our nieces. Though we Skyped with them many times during our trip, we haven’t seen them in person for about a year. We spent our first full day in Philly babysitting them, and Hanna was already down for a nap by 10am. Don’t worry; Mike is a responsible babysitter:
Our Favorite Nieces. (Yes, Those Are Mike’s Glasses.)
The next day was spent making the eight-hour drive to Mike’s parents’ house in Cleveland. Obviously Mike drove:
Hey, Kids Are Tiring.
We had a great time reuniting with Mike’s family and rehashing our Tuscan bocce tournaments. The majority of Mike’s extended family on both sides gathered for a party one day, and it was a comforting feeling being in the same place at the same time with loved ones.
Another day was spent at the zoo. Hanna debated going because we found out that there is no longer a reptile house. She hemmed and hawed but ultimately decided not to go because some crazy employee might be walking around with a snake. Mike adamantly denied this, but what did we see upon arrival? A crazy employee showcasing a huge snake. Another massive python was cased in the new elephant exhibit without warning, so these two double whammies made Hanna feel jubilant that she didn’t go.
Hanna Has Taught Both These Girls What Sound an Elephant Makes.
We were sad to leave Mike’s family (especially our nieces and their love for the “Hot Dog” song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) behind, but Spokane beckoned.
Upon arrival in Spokane, we were fed good barbeque, cake, and cookies. Our days were split between going to Hanna’s grandparents’ lake cabin, playing “Just Dance 2” on the Wii with Hanna’s mom and sister Greta, and hitting up Walmart and Dollar Tree for items we needed back in New York.
Family.
At the lake cabin, we engaged in a tension-filled game of Risk with Hanna’s dad, aunt, and Greta. Mike has never played this game before but somehow found himself in the final two with Hanna’s dad. Quickly conquering Australia was the key, but unfortunately Mike lost. He’s not bitter…at all.
We watched the fireworks boom at the lake cabin on the Fourth of July, and we had Bali flashbacks. A local town puts on a surprisingly good display, but neighbors all around the lake also let theirs rip as well. It’s quite a harrowing scene as drunk non-professionals make massive boxes of fireworks explode before your eyes.
No, Not a Picture of Fireworks. Gives You an Idea of the Beauty of the Lake Though.
Our week in Spokane passed way too quickly, but we had to get back to New York at some point. It’s now been about five days, but we miss our families (and the unending food) terribly.
A massive thank you to both of our families for everything! When you guys come to New York, you’ll be specially treated to a ridiculously hot apartment and empty refrigerator.
Around the World in Eighty Liters 