Our trip to Rockford

We have been trying to plan to trip to the midwest all summer, but with putting our house on the market and selling it so quickly and moving...our summer quickly turned to fall.  We were lucky enough to have enough miles for a free trip so we finally were able to make it to Rockford!  We have lots of family up there that Ashlyn had never met.  So we got up bright and early on Thursday and headed to the airport.  We dropped the dogs off at Camp Bow Wow for their vacation and were on our way!  This was Ashlyn's first flight so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I loaded up on snacks and quiet airplane friendly toys.  We were very lucky on our way up there and had 3 seats!  This gave Ashlyn a little more room to stretch out.  She did awesome!  Here are a couple of pictures from our first leg of the trip.

Waiting to board the plane.  We let her run around the terminal hoping to get rid of some energy while we waited.  She loved climbing up and down from these big seats.

Waiting to take off! 

Getting a little stir crazy!

I brought a few Dum Dums for desparate times!

Of course she fell asleep as we taxied to the terminal.  She took a cat nap as we made our way to get our luggage.

We rented a car (and a carseat...lesson learned there) and headed to the burbs.  Ashlyn was showered with gifts from her great grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins the minute we walked in the door!

Ashlyn and Joey opening gifts!

Ashlyn with her great grands!

Ashlyn took another power nap in the car on the way to dinner.  Mimi climbed into the backseat of the car and slid over to the middle so she could ride next to Ashlyn!  When Ashlyn fell asleep on the way, Mimi requested that we bring her dinner out to the car so we didn't have to wake Ashlyn!

The next morning we got up and headed over to Aunt Sue's school.  She is a reading coach at the elementary school where all of the Doyle kids went!

Sitting at Aunt Sue's desk

We had to take this picture and send it to Gpa!  This was his elementary school.

After our trip to the school we headed over to Buff's house for lunch and to meet Sweetie Pie and say hi to our old buddy Sonny!

Sonny and Sweetie Pie

We spent a little time playing pinball.  I grew up playing pinball at Mimi and Papa's house!  They have added to the collection since I was little! 

We packed up and headed to Schaumburg to spent the evening at Laura and Reggie's house!  Ashlyn got a little cold on the plane and it hit her Friday night.  She was running a low grade fever and wasn't really herself that evening.  We had an awesome dinner and got to hang out with my cousins! 

Taking a cat nap on our way to Schaumburg

Saturday morning we got up and headed back to Rockford in time for Drew's basketball game.  He scored the first basket of the game!  Ashlyn had fun watching the kids play and wanted to join in!  We had lunch with Buff, Joey, Ben and Monica and caught some college football games.  After that we headed home for nap time! 

Drew taking a break after he jammed his thumb!

Saturday evening we headed over to The Nickel's house for a birthday party for Mimi, Papa and Charlie (Chance...the cake said "Happy Birthday Mimi, Papa and Charlie"...too funny!).  Everyone was there and we had a feast!  (Yes, there is a lot of pacibear in these pictures...but if you can't tell from her eyes...she wasn't feeling that great and she was such a trooper!  We drug that chick all over the place during our quick trip!)

Another cat nap on our way to the party. 

Ashlyn curled up in Lucille's bed

Sunday morning we packed up and headed back to the airport!  We didn't get quite as lucky on our return flight because it was full!  And we sat on the runway for an hour waiting on a maintenance fix!  That turned our 2 hour trip into a 3 hour trip.  Ashlyn did very well (our 3rd seatmate might have a different opinion, but I think all things considered she did awesome!)

Saying goodbye to Joey