Great American Road Trip 2024: PART 4

 Our original Great American Road Trip 2024 plan was to drive back to Oregon, then hop up to Seattle.✈ We came up with an alternate plan so Chris could have the car with him in Iowa (once he was cleared to drive). Dad took us to Omaha on Monday afternoon and we flew to Seattle.  For my peace of mind, I wanted to have a buffer day before our 6 am flights back to Naples (Emma had a different ticket than Camden & me). We took the Link Light Rail into downtown Tuesday morning.  After a coffee stop and some shopping, we headed to the Seattle Center. 

First stop was the Museum of Pop Culture

The special exhibit on the films by LAIKA was a highlight of the museum.  Emma & Camden loved Boxtrolls when they were younger!

View of Elliot Bay from Pike Place Market

It's Bunny!!! 💖

Bunny & Jeremy came on over to Seattle after work and we had a delicious dinner at the Crab Pot

Strolling around Pioneer Square

The perfect ending to our trip to the USA!

Great American Road Trip 2024: PART 3

We made it to Iowa!  

Grandpa & Nana put on their OSU gear and got a picture with the infamous Orange O

Nana & Emma

Nana & Camden

Emma, Nana, Grandpa, and Camden

3 Generations 💗

Family picture

Nice slippers, Camden 😁

Mini golfing with Grandpa

We had our routine eye exams on Monday morning and found out that Chris had a detached retina in his right eye. We went immediately to Iowa Retina.  Dr. Singer scheduled surgery for the following morning. Chris and I went on a much needed evening walk to process the news and change of plans for the next few weeks...

Ready for surgery

Dr. Singer reported that everything went very well! Now home to rest and recover...

Camden and Emma were a big help!

Off to the driving range wearing Grandpa's golf shoes and using Great Grandpa's clubs

Chris got the all clear to travel to Eastern Iowa 💕

Sally was on nurse duty while the rest of us went to play pickle ball.

This is a tough looking group ready to compete!  

Lori and I got in a game, too

Cole and Camden heading out on the golf course

Bailey helped Uncle Chris with his eye drops

Emma and Bailey cuddles on the couch 

Lori & I had a fun night out!

Liz, Dee, me, and Lori

Camden and Bailey played some pingpong

Annual cousin photo shoot

Uncle Casey

Babi & Pop's turn with the Orange O 

While we were driving across the western U.S., Camden decided he wanted to tour Iowa State.  He scheduled it for our last day in central Iowa, which ended up being the day of Chris' surgery.  Grandpa took Camden to Ames and they loved the tour! The Fall 2025 application was open, so Camden came right home and applied. ISU is now a top contender with CU.

Great American Road Trip 2024: PART 2

We stopped for a night in Amarillo, before continuing onto Oklahoma City on Saturday.  We had the honor of visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

The stars aligned for us and the Hicks family moved to OKC the day before we came through town. We met up for a delicious Mexican dinner in Norman.

President George W. Bush's Presidential Library in Dallas

In case you wondered what the second college visit was...

We were in awe of the size of Kyle Field - these Aggies sure love their football! 

Before our Texas A&M tour, we visited the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library 

Camden at the entrance to the Corps of Cadets Quad

A bucket list item for Chris was to visit one of his favorite authors, Ryan Holiday's bookstore. The Painted Porch Bookshop was a delight!

Emma and Camden found a place to sit along Main Street in Bastrop

I was on a mission to eat some traditional Texas BBQ and we found a real gem in downtown Austin: Stubbs.  After dinner we took a walk towards the capitol building.

An evening stroll by Texas Memorial Stadium

Tuesday morning we toured the University of Texas campus

Lyndon B. Johnson's Presidential Library 

Another fun reunion! Coach B, Emma's favorite volleyball coach, moved to Austin a few months ago. She took us to an amazing Mexican dinner at Fresa's.

Wednesday was another long driving day north to Kansas City.  Thursday morning we visited Harry Truman's Presidential Library.