Hello from my comfortable chair in Ca!
We had a great time in Illinois! Saw all the family and friends....enjoyed a Cubs game at Wrigley Field with 10 friends..Kimraye and her ds Matt enjoyed the evening with us.. even got to meet another dis'er.. RobinB!!
Saw the sites of downtown Chicago.... ate some FABULOUS GREEK FOOD at Papagus!
We went back to Joliet to finish up our visit...ate at CRACKER BARREL so often that I can recite the menu! LOL
Sent the kids to Great America with Kimrayes ds and friend.. THEY HAD A BALL! I have to say Matt ..Kim's son is a great kid!
DISMEET #1 at Gurnee Cracker Barrel..... My very first official DISMEET!! I met the infamous DAN MURPHY and LADY M.... they are such a cute couple... and Dopeygirl made the journey toGurnee too! We had a lovely dinner and chatted the night away! We were very cozy at the overcrowded Cracker Barrel.. we were fortunate to have a sweet waiter "Will"!
DISMEET#2 at Gino's in Rolling Meadows... FABULOUS! The pizza was superb and the crowd of dis'ers presented a total gabfest. They all went out of their way to make me and my kids feel truly welcome! THANKS TO ALL OF THEM! WE HAD SUCH A FUN TIME WITH YOU ALL!!!!!
after Gino's many of them waited while I transported my kids to the hotel..... when I drove back to Gino's to meet up with Kim I was surprized to see everyone still standing at the front entrance ...... with their thumbs out trying to hitch a ride to WDW!!! LOL
I told them I was headed WEST so DL/DCA would have to suffice! 
Then a caravan of vans took off for Woodfield Mall.... HOLY COW! THAT PLACE IS HUGE and a MAZE of ramps, stores and CINNABONS!! The smaller group of Dis'ers were really great at managing to make my trip to the mall a truly accessible experience! I am sure all of them will be looking for ramps and handicap accessible features when they are out and about now!
I hated to leave them all, but needed to get back to the kids and start packing up for the return trip to CA.
In the morning we drove to Joliet to have a birthday breakfast with my friend of 40 years.... Happy B-day Nae!
Then it was on route 80 WEST we drove 14 hours to Cheyenne, Wyoming, spent the night then took off the next morning at 7 am after a quick stop at our very last SONIC! LOL
We drove straight to CA.... Lord have mercy! we got home at 1:30am!
Weary but happy......to be home again.
All and all it was a great trip! The kids got to see lots of people during our travels. We only had a few meltdowns.. actually I think we got along better than we do at home!!!
I think NEBRASKA and NEVADA have to be the weariest states to drive through.....The kids and I were able to find beauty and interesting sites in EVERY STATE! My favorite spots were found in Eastern Utah. GORGEOUS! and we talked to people every stop we made...... lots of friendly folks in the US!
So for those of you who are thinking about attempting a road trip.... with teens .... I say GO FOR IT!
Both of my kids say that this trip is something they will remember for the rest of their lives.
THANK YOU for your kind words, thoughts and prayers as we made this journey.
Joan
Life isn't always easy... but it sure is a grand adventure!
We had a great time in Illinois! Saw all the family and friends....enjoyed a Cubs game at Wrigley Field with 10 friends..Kimraye and her ds Matt enjoyed the evening with us.. even got to meet another dis'er.. RobinB!!
Saw the sites of downtown Chicago.... ate some FABULOUS GREEK FOOD at Papagus!
We went back to Joliet to finish up our visit...ate at CRACKER BARREL so often that I can recite the menu! LOL
Sent the kids to Great America with Kimrayes ds and friend.. THEY HAD A BALL! I have to say Matt ..Kim's son is a great kid!
DISMEET #1 at Gurnee Cracker Barrel..... My very first official DISMEET!! I met the infamous DAN MURPHY and LADY M.... they are such a cute couple... and Dopeygirl made the journey toGurnee too! We had a lovely dinner and chatted the night away! We were very cozy at the overcrowded Cracker Barrel.. we were fortunate to have a sweet waiter "Will"!
DISMEET#2 at Gino's in Rolling Meadows... FABULOUS! The pizza was superb and the crowd of dis'ers presented a total gabfest. They all went out of their way to make me and my kids feel truly welcome! THANKS TO ALL OF THEM! WE HAD SUCH A FUN TIME WITH YOU ALL!!!!!
after Gino's many of them waited while I transported my kids to the hotel..... when I drove back to Gino's to meet up with Kim I was surprized to see everyone still standing at the front entrance ...... with their thumbs out trying to hitch a ride to WDW!!! LOL
I told them I was headed WEST so DL/DCA would have to suffice! Then a caravan of vans took off for Woodfield Mall.... HOLY COW! THAT PLACE IS HUGE and a MAZE of ramps, stores and CINNABONS!! The smaller group of Dis'ers were really great at managing to make my trip to the mall a truly accessible experience! I am sure all of them will be looking for ramps and handicap accessible features when they are out and about now!
I hated to leave them all, but needed to get back to the kids and start packing up for the return trip to CA.
In the morning we drove to Joliet to have a birthday breakfast with my friend of 40 years.... Happy B-day Nae!
Then it was on route 80 WEST we drove 14 hours to Cheyenne, Wyoming, spent the night then took off the next morning at 7 am after a quick stop at our very last SONIC! LOL
We drove straight to CA.... Lord have mercy! we got home at 1:30am!
Weary but happy......to be home again.
All and all it was a great trip! The kids got to see lots of people during our travels. We only had a few meltdowns.. actually I think we got along better than we do at home!!!
I think NEBRASKA and NEVADA have to be the weariest states to drive through.....The kids and I were able to find beauty and interesting sites in EVERY STATE! My favorite spots were found in Eastern Utah. GORGEOUS! and we talked to people every stop we made...... lots of friendly folks in the US!
So for those of you who are thinking about attempting a road trip.... with teens .... I say GO FOR IT!
Both of my kids say that this trip is something they will remember for the rest of their lives.
THANK YOU for your kind words, thoughts and prayers as we made this journey.
Joan
Life isn't always easy... but it sure is a grand adventure!
and, I'm sorry I missed your call yesterday (school registration).
