It’s been a week since we hit the road. In 7 days we’ve traveled over 1,600 miles and made stops in Atlanta, Helen, Nashville, Noblesville and Lansing before finally landing in Northern Michigan yesterday afternoon. The sliding door of our van opened after our 2-honk “We’re here!”, and spring-loaded children shot out to hug their Poppa, claim their beds and reinstate the footprints they left last summer in this place we love so much.
Me? I took the drink my dad handed me, scanned the mess in the backseat, and took a long deep inhale of Michigan air. I smell it all–the maples, the pines, the lake, the firewood pile, the dirt, the promise of adventure and rest and memories.
As any good destination goes, you cannot just arrive…you have to get there. Through time and messes and miles and crying and figuring things out. Like how to get a little boy to stop unbuckling his car seat while we’re driving. I’ll tell you how. Thanks to my brilliant niece who thought of it, it takes a call from “Officer Roberts”–a.k.a. Uncle Bubby–who piped in on speaker phone and gave a come-to-Jesus talk about safety that only a stern cop could give. Let’s just say Officer Roberts has become a familiar reference since.
Needless to say, the trip wasn’t always easy, but I’d do it again and again for the memories.
Some snippets of adventures along the way…
One of our Spark Retreat attendees sent this Open Road candle to me for our trip. I’ve taken it into every stop along the way to add a homey touch.
Our cabin in Cleveland, Georgia–just outside of Helen where we river-tubed the Chattahoochee again but, other than that, didn’t leave our cabin because we loved it so much.
Nella and I woke up early at the mountain cabin and watched the sun rise together from a rocking chair on the back porch–one of my favorite moments from the trip. I sipped my coffee, stretching my arm around her to meet my cup to my mouth and tried to melt into the spiritual moment, but all I could think about was how I much I wished I wouldn’t have passed on our rocking chair so early because I’ve missed so much magic that comes from a kid on your lap and the hypnotizing rhythm of slowly rocking, rocking, rocking… Finished nursing and thinking of getting rid of that rocking chair in your nursery? Don’t do it. Rock ’em until their legs are dangling awkwardly over yours, and there’s no place for their head to rest, and there’s not a single corner in the house for the bulky old chair to go. Keep rocking.
Pancake breakfast…because Syrup is the foundation of vacation meals.
The first photo of our summer project…writing Dash’s picture book, a Nella & Maude adventure for him and his long-neck friend, Isaac.
Our #2 road trip rule: Stop at scenic overlooks. (#1 of course being “Buckle up because Officer Roberts said so.”)
Pappy’s Trading Post, just outside of Helen, GA. Quite possibly the weirdest road trip adventure yet and definitely not a place I’d want to be alone at night (the hearse, the hundreds of old mannequins…). There was hardly anyone there outside of the mannequins and when I finally found a real person behind the ice cream stand, I had to ask her if she was alive or if it was all, as I suspected, a ghost town. Super cool though–interesting, colorful, out-of-the box art everywhere.
Cabin Coffee Co. sandwich and coffee shop, downtown Blairsville, GA–so kid friendly. The kids loved the little tables and saddles to sit on–and cowboy hats to borrow.
Ocoee River, Cherokee National Forest–somewhere between Helen, GA and Nashville, TN
A quick stop at Dinosaur World outside of Louisville, KY. We saw a huge Tyrannosaurus and a sign for it on the side of the expressway and pulled off to visit. Nella didn’t want anything to do with going inside though, so my niece stayed with her in the car while Dash and I walked around outside to explore. Pretty cool for a right-off-the-expressway adventure.
More from Michigan soon.
Looks amazing. Oh the joys of unbuckling the carseat – grrrr. But it sounds like many fun stops were made on the journey north. We leave in 2 days for our New Jersey —> Wisconsin/Minnesota road trip and I’m excited. If only I had anything packed…… 🙂
So glad y’all stopped back by White County, Georgia! For me Helen and Cleveland were my favorite vacation spots back in my “childrearing years” and I am lucky enough to get to live here now. Truly, I can go for a week without going off of our property and never feel like I’ve missed a thing. When I do have to venture out it’s always a pleasure. It’s a good place to be. Enjoy your time in Michigan! *hugs*
My only thought was “she did that alone? WOW.”
Thank your dad twice for that drink. ????
Enjoy and I love your blog!
Ask & ye shall receive..lol. My comment on you’re next to last Instagram, asking for the travel post that I was patiently waiting for. It was worth it. Beautiful pictures. Enjoy every second of your Michigan adventure. You can breathe easy now…you made it!!!
That looks fantastic! I can just smell those trees and mountain air. Envy.
Michigan Summers fix so many things. Have a blast!
I’ve been checking in all week to see what you all were up to!!! The pic of Nella leaning into her big sis with Lainey’s arm around her shoulders is heaven…little tear.
Oh my gosh, Kelly….Dinosaur world. I know I already said this on IG but you have to check out the movie Clifford. Martin Short playing a super creepy 10 year old boy with the same Dinosaur that Dash has and his whole goal in life is to get to Dinosaur World. It’s so campy and so bad that it’s good. And just weird. Anyway, have a great trip and I promise never to bring up Clifford again. I’m done. Pinky promise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuFwIhKLsXM
I live in MI so was checking in periodically wishing you well on your travels 🙂 Glad you made it!! and I second that comment about the rocker–ours was actually a small old recliner that rocked but same thing–we kept ours and I have distinct memories of sitting with an infant on my chest and a toddler next to me…as it become a toddler on my lap and a preschooler next to me…as it became a preschooler on my lap and a squished elementary student next to me..who eventually moved to sitting on the arm but we still rocked–every night at bedtime. I remember being so crammed in that thing and wondering “is tonight the last night? when will they not want to do this anymore?” and I’m glad I can’t really remember how it happened actually, or that last night (because I’m sure there was one) but I do have many, many fond memories of snuggling in that rocker.
Cabin Coffee was started by two amazing people from my hometown. So cool to see you enjoy it just as much as we do!! The coffee is amazing!
There will come a time where the threat of “Officer Roberts” doesn’t faze Dash…at which time, try a CPST approved method of distraction 🙂 http://csftl.org/button-up-trick/ You can even use a button up shirt that you’ve cut the sleeves off of during the hot summer months.
Please, Please share the info for this cabin you stayed in! Was it an air bnb or an established place? Thank you!!
Ditto! I would love to know the cabin link!!!
What a fun trip!! Have a wonderful MI vacation!!
I just love the way you take road trips and stop to see the neat things along the way! I’m sure it is a ton of work (and takes a ton of patience), but I think the way you invest in your kids’ lives is amazing and will pay dividends of awesome memories for years and years. Can’t wait to see you all! 🙂 xo
Holy cow Kelle. I have to psych myself up for a one hour drive to Indiana alone with my one child and one dog. What an awesome adventure. Very inspiring – makes me excited to be a little braver going forward!
Beautiful memories ….
I love this: As any good destination goes, you cannot just arrive…you have to get there.
So true in both road trips and life and a good reminder for me as I think about both 🙂
I love your image of the rocking chair! My mom saved the one she rocked me in, and I’ve rocked all three of kids in it. I refuse to get rid of it. So many memories and so much joy in that wooden seat!