I would drive 500 miles, and I would drive 500 more...

We took off for Chicago in July to go visit some very special people we like to call Grandma and Grandpa U.

 Grandma celebrated her birthday while we were there so we took advantage of the opportunity to have some birthday cake and help her celebrate.  Grandpa couldn't find any birthday candles so we improvised. 

It was also my birthday while we were there so we celebrated by taking a trip to the beach!  We drove up to Saint Joseph, Michigan and stayed the night so we could play at the beach all day long.

 Miles really liked riding the waves.

 We turned Leah into a mermaid.

 The water was nice and warm, and pretty calm so we spent most of the day in it.

 

We found this cool train bridge that rotates so the boats can go through and the train can cross the water.

 Of course Miles found this train to check out.

 After dinner we walked down the pier to check out the lighthouse and the sunset.

Happy Birthday to me!  30 years (plus a few more) young ;-)

 

 

 Grandma and Grandpa U

 We finally made it to the end of the pier.

 My handsome Clay Jay. 

 The whole bunch.

 

 This kid is pretty handsome too!

We couldn't go in the water the next morning because the waves were too high, but it was still fun to dip our feet in and watch the waves.

 

 After spending some time with Grandma and Grandpa in Chicago, we started the long drive home.  Our first stop was Des Moines, Iowa.  Clay has a cousin there so we stopped to visit with him and his family.  They let us swim in their pool and then we went to dinner at his new restaurant.  The food was yummy!

 Clay also visited with his Aunt Bobbie who lives nearby.

 Clay and Scott

 All the kids. 

 

 We found this spider in downtown Iowa.  Miles thought it was pretty cool.

 On the road again.  The kids were surprisingly good!  Our next stop was in Denver, Colorado where we met up with another cousin of Clay's, Grant.  We met him for dinner in downtown Denver and it was fun to catch up with him for a few hours.  It just happened to be his last day in Denver before heading out to California for a new job too.  

Our last stop on the way home was to pick up the newest member of the family at Best Friends.  Meet Ivy, a very naughty 3 month old puppy!