Quick Trip to Near-ChiTown

This last week, our entire fam made a quick trip to Arlington Heights to visit my aunt, uncle, two doggies and my cousins Judy and Vicky. We left Wednesday from Rochester after Megan's appointment for her diabetes (everything is just fine, thank you. We just have to break her of her 'grazing.') and spent the night in Wisconsin Dells at the Polynesian because of their waterpark and it's half-way-ness to our final destination. We had a good time in the pool, but will probably try another resort next time.

We did drive around the Dells to see what we could see. Below is a rather interesting architectural wonder--the White House upside down. We did not do the attraction inside; six times the cost gets expensive fast. Leslie Lencioni, we took this pic just for you!

Thursday was a low-key time at my Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Brian's house. It took Megan awhile to warm up to their two tiny dogs, but by the end of the trip she was saying, "She's my friend and she's my friend" to Lucy and Jennie (I think they're Bichons...there's a pic down below).

That night, we had a regular dinner party with Vicky, her boyfriend Jean-Charles (who I accidentally called Jean-Claude--too much VeggieTales, I tell you!), and some of his relatives who were visiting from France. The girls pretty much kidnapped JC's cousin Chlamos and hid her in the "French room" at the house where they were educating her on the English names for various animals. Poor girl.

Friday was spent at the park and Chuck E. Cheese. The girls had a great time! It's still strange to see Chuck E. Cheese offer Miller, Miller Lite, Red Wine and Chablis on tap. I can only imagine how good it is.

Cousin Judy with a few of the girls

Me in "the clubhouse" which apparently is nicknamed "Tre's Hood" (as noted in etchings above the Club House)

Annika

Emily

Monkey Megan who got up there by herself

Some really pretty blossoms on Aunt Rosalie's plant

Kid quotes:

"It's the human mushrooms," says Emily, talking about garden gnomes from Gnomeo and Juliet
"My toes are hiding," says Megan as she walks around in her slippers.
"See? They're sparkles," says Megan about her many concrete-caused scabs on her knees.