Long blog pause due to proper summering.
We are Week 2 into our road trip and other than missing Brett, we are cartwheelin’ across Michigan and loving every minute of it. We started strong with a travel game plan and a promise to keep suitcases organized and the minivan clean, but let’s be real here–it ain’t happening. More Griswold than graceful, we’ve logged miles, pumped gas, pushed strollers, packed bags and good Lord, we’ve had fun.
Stop one was Nashville, specifically the 12 South area where we shopped, played at Sevier Park, enjoyed breakfast at Flipside (Tator Tot Nachos!) and discovered Las Paletas popsicles, thanks to IG recommendations (thank you!).
(our friend Kaity who’s traveling with us)
Our friends Chewy and Mandy invited us over to let the kids play and stretch their legs, and we ended up on their back porch for a barbecue dinner–the perfect break before hitting the road again.
Next stop was Carmel, Indiana where we stayed with our friend Rebecca and met new friends including Lilah who does the best He-Man impersonation I’ve ever seen.
The people of Carmel are so nice. And quiet. And solid. And shiny.
Our Aunt Rebecca spoiled us all, treating the kids with movies, garden fun and 26 rides on the escalator.
I’ve missed writing here and look forward to returning to the keyboard soon. But my how we’ve enjoyed our people, connecting dots across the country where loved ones mark special places.
Welcome to Michigan!!! Enjoy your time here 🙂
Beautiful post! So looking forward to hearing more about your trip & seeing tons of pictures. Squeeze every drop of joy out of the remainder of your vacation!!
So glad you enjoyed Nashville!!! I am obsessed with my town!
Oh my gosh!!! I live in Indy. If I had seen you riding the escalators at the mall, I probably would have acted all weird and freaked out and then chilled and introduced myself. 🙂 I’ve followed your blog for a LONG time. In fact, you inspired me to pick up photography and blogging. The blogging didn’t stick, but the photography did. Three years later and it’s my full time business. So thank you! Keep the awesome posts coming!
Don’t know why this entry brought a tear to my eye. I read you all the time! You’re doing it, Kelle! You’re living the life FANTASTIC!
this is one of my favorite posts of yours – love, love what you captured in every picture – so much LIFE. (and holy cow, when did lainey get so leggy?) your kids are darling.
Are you coming to Lansing at all?? 🙂
I have to say, I feel like you don’t post blog posts the way you used to… but I mean that as a compliment, because I can only imagine how busy your family keeps you! Especially now that you have little Dash. I think it’s amazing that you spend your time cherishing the small moments, and post little snippets for us here. 🙂
I was surprised to see a picture of my granddaughter Lilah with her mom Leslie on your blog today. Looks like you are having a good time in the heartland!!
Those shiny people in Carmel are creepy!
So glad you enjoyed Nashville! We certainly love it here and 12 South is a great area.
Beautiful photos! And can we talk about the cabinet in Chewy and Mandy’s house?? Lovely!
I just moved back to Michigan 🙂
Glad you are having fun in the mitten! Hoping the fresh air and relaxation is helping you put your trip to Rwanda and the artistic talent you met there into words!
The picture of Nella running is amazing!!!
This makes my heart happy.
I love your summer pictures! I read your book a few months ago and have kept an eye on your blog since. Your birth story sounds similar to my daughter’s. We had a normal pregnancy followed by a very stressful delivery and a baby we knew had something going on. It is so hard to describe those early days of utter love for your child mixed with fear and sadness about the future. Your book did a great job describing all this in a positive way. Happiness IS a choice! I bought your book for my sister who had a baby with down syndrome born last year. In her case, she knew during the pregnancy and it actually made me happy that i had no idea. That way i could enjoy my pregnancy and worry about the rest later when i had my daughter to snuggle and reassure me all would be well.
This might be an odd thing to post in a comment so feel free to delete this part but we are now doing an online fundraiser to get an accessible van. We currently have a car that does not fit all of zoe’s equipment and when we get her new wheelchair, it wont fit in our car at all. We have a good core group of supportive friends but not nearly as many as you! I was hoping you could help spread the word so we could get our van asap. Normally i would never post this to a stranger but desperate times… My husband has been out of work for two years due to a spinal cord tumour and bacterial meningitis so you start to lose your pride and learn to ask for help.
If nothing else, please check out our blog so you can see my beautiful daughters. We just did a road trip ourselves and had a lot of fun. There are so many small things to enjoy in this life!
Zoe’s blog: http://zoes1p36blog.blogspot.ca
Fundraising site:
http://www.gofundme.com/cia5uc
All the best,
Genevieve
Oh how fun! Someday we will road trip. Someday! Safe travels home this week Hamptons. 🙂
is that sevier park? if so….i grew up about 4 houses from there! LOVE! except back then…that park was S.H.A.D.Y. ! 😉
Can I please ask where you got the winking Bill Murray t-shirt on Dash? I love it!!