For vacation this year, we took a road trip back to Illinois, stopping along the way there and back to see some things. In years past when we’ve driven to Illinois, we tried to knock out the 14 hours as quickly as possible. This time, we took our time to make it feel more like a vacation. We packed a lot in, so I’ve got a vacation round-up in three parts for you. Part One: On the way to Illinois; Part Two: In and Around Illinois; Part Three: On the way back to PA. If you’re on Instagram, I posted a daily photo round-up of our trip. Some of the visuals in these posts will be the same, but some will be different.
Here we go!
Our first morning in Illinois, Phil and I slept in till almost 7. My mom made French toast, sausage and bacon for breakfast (at our son’s request). Phil and I took a short walk on my parents’ property while our son helped my dad collect firewood.
Our daughter went shopping with my mom for a new swim top. Later in the morning, Phil and I drove across town to pick up my grandma from her assisted living home to bring her back to my parents’ house to hang out with the family. By the time we got back, the shoppers were back and my cousin, his wife and their daughter were there, too. (They were visiting from Colorado.) The 3-year-old had been hanging with my parents for days ahead of our arrival, so she was giving my kids a tour of the place. Activities included: playing with all the toys in the house, blowing bubbles, drawing with chalk and playing basketball. Some of us sat around on the porch just enjoying each other’s company.
Our son and my cousin rode ATVs. Grandma said she thought maybe she should ask for a ride. None of us on the porch at the time (the grandchildren generation) were going to tell an 86-year-old woman she couldn’t do something, but fortunately my mom stepped in and gave her a ride in the Ranger instead.
(Note: If you are in your 80s, every day is a “yes” day, if you ask me. I hope this is how I will live my life.)
For lunch we had brats and hot dogs on the grill, accompanied by homemade salsa and a smattering of other snacks. Then we hung out some more until my brother arrived from Chicago.
There had been talk of swimming in the afternoon and we thought our only option was to crash the hotel pool where my cousin and his family were staying. But my parents’ neighbors offered the pond on their property, so we hauled our party down the hill and had THE BEST TIME EVER.
I started off by watching from land, reading a book and talking to my brother. Then the heat got to me and I decided to get in. (Although I did not jump off the wobbly board. Balance is not a thing my body always knows how to do.) Phil and my dad and the kids did jump off, and I was super proud of them.
I decided to get in and bring back adult beverages after I changed. I ended up in the pond floating on a raft, drinking a Straw-ber-ita and living my best life. I peaked, Midwest-style.
Grandma and Mom watched from the Ranger, mostly, and before we were finished, my brother took our orders from Arthur’s Garden Deli, our one place that we must eat at every time we’re back in town. Mom brought back a feast of sandwiches and baked potatoes. Then there was more outdoor chilling. I took a ride in the Ranger, then we gathered for s’mores around the fire. The three-year-old had her first s’mores from a campfire and clearly enjoyed herself.
We sat around the fire till well after the sun set. A perfect Midwest evening.
Wednesday morning, Phil and I got up and ran through the park near our high school to see the pelicans gathering on the river.
It was 98 percent humidity. (Illinois, this is why people leave you.)
When we got back, there was a mutilated rabbit in the front yard. (It’s like Wild Kingdom, except in real life!) My cousin and his wife dropped off their daughter–we were keeping her for a few days while they took an anniversary trip to Chicago–and the kids played together. Although some tiredness and squabbling brought on some tears from most of us.
Burgers on the grill and various garden veggies for lunch. Then I started laundry and took a nap because I hadn’t slept well for a couple of nights in the hotels. My mom took the kids to a couple of parks. I read on the porch while waiting for their return. They came home with Buster Bars and blizzards from Dairy Queen. The buster bar was another first for the 3-year-old.
The kids decided to have a water balloon/water gun fight, which led to some actual fighting and a few tears, but in the end they had fun.
We had more chill time in the afternoon, then mac and cheese and chicken fingers for dinner. While I was helping make dinner, Phil offered the 3-year-old an “elephant ride” complete with authentic noises.
At one point, the 3-year-old declared out of the blue, “I’m not a walrus; I’m just a people.” We all cracked up.
After dinner we took a drive to see if we could find the bison. The herd was hanging out in a field on a dead end road so we pulled over and tromped through the weeds to get a closer look.
Then we drove to the river and watched the pelicans again.
Early to bed for everyone.
The four of us had a family visit with Phil’s family on Thursday morning. Phil and I made lunch–chicken and vegetable kebabs and a cauliflower pilaf. The kids played checkers and chinese checkers with their grandparents. My parents had been out running errands. I asked them to look for canning lids because they are in short supply in Pennsylvania. On our way back to their house, my dad called and said the local hardware store had lids and bands, so we detoured there. I entered the hardware store like a madwoman. A kind employee helped me locate what I was looking for, then my dad showed up and we asked another employee to get another size down from upper shelves. I ended up with four boxes of bands and lids and felt like I’d hit the jackpot.
Back at my parents’ house, our daughter decided she wanted ice cream. There were only two Buster Bars left, which my son and the three-year-old ate, so my dad drove our daughter to the Dairy Delite. I asked her to bring me back a hand-dipped flavor. She got me lemon drop ice cream, which is not a flavor I would have chosen for myself. It tasted like summer, though.
Phil and I decided to go out for dinner. Usually when we’re home during the holidays, our favorite Mexican restaurant is closed, so he took me there. We get the same thing, pretty much, every time because it’s so good: enchiladas verdes for me, and tres compadres for him. (He had a tamale, a tostada and a burrito.) We each had a margarita.
After dinner we walked around downtown a little before heading back. There were ATV and Ranger rides happening, along with a game my dad was playing with the 3-year-old. She would say, “Can you be a scary dragon?” And my dad would roar and pretend to chase her and she’d turn around and say, “Let’s be friends, dragon.” It was adorable.
More s’mores and fire sitting to end the evening.
Friday was another run day for Phil and me, this time at a different part of the river.
I made it 2 miles, which has been a struggle for me, of late. We saw more pelicans. We had breakfast sandwiches when we got back then readied ourselves to head to the Chicago suburbs to visit my aunt and uncle. We had lunch at their house–burgers and brats on the grill, salsa and chips, potato chips, fruit. It was quite the spread and we had a really nice visit. The goal of our trip was to spend as much time with family as possible, and I think we succeeded.
On the way back, we stopped in Rochelle, Illinois, at the train park. We saw three trains come through while we were there and bought some merch.
Fair warning, if you go, be prepared to be approached by strangers who want to talk while you’re waiting for trains to come through. My dad had taken us to see the Ashton Rock Park on our way in, but I was trapped in the back of the vehicle and couldn’t get out to take a picture, so I asked him to stop again on the way home.
The man who lives here, on the site of a former quarry, has spent 20 years building this rock garden. It’s 40-feet deep and magnificent.
We had spaghetti pizza and mac and cheese pizza from Angelo’s for dinner. (If you didn’t know by now, we do some EATING when we’re home.)
The day was tinged with sadness because the Cubs, our favorite baseball team, traded a bunch of the team’s core players. Ugh.
Saturday morning, Phil asked if I would get up and go birding with him. We were going to go the Nachusa Grasslands and stop briefly at a wetlands on the way, but we ended up spending our whole time at the wetlands tromping through weeds and wildflowers for an hour. Phil saw many, many birds. I did not have the best time because my expectations for the morning were different. But I survived.
Blueberry pancakes and sausage for breakfast. More laundry. Then Phil and I went to visit my Grandma at her facility. We had a nice chat there and met some of the people who help take care of her. We stopped at the riverfront on the way back to check out some more birds Phil wanted to take a closer look at, then we hit Wal-Mart for a few road trip supplies and gas.
It was leftovers for lunch. My mom likes to get us to eat all the food that has accumulated during the week so that she and I my dad aren’t stuck with it after we leave. More laundry and chilling. My brother and his wife arrived for more hanging out. We watched a heron walk across my parents’ driveway where it crosses the creek. Phil spent a good chunk of the afternoon stalking the heron. My cousin and his wife came back from Chicago and reunited with their daughter. Phil and I did some planning for the road trip home.
Our dinner plans were a riverboat cruise, so we dressed and left. We boarded the boat a little before 7 and got settled at our table with waters and salads. A waitress took our drink orders while we were unmooring from the dock. Dinner was served shortly after that: salmon or streak, twice baked potato, green beans.
It was better than I expected. Dessert was a vanilla cake with a dollop of buttercream frosting and some kind of flavored caramel sauce.
As soon as we were finished eating, we headed for the top deck. It was a beautiful night for a cruise. We saw herons, an eagle, and pelicans. Lots of party boaters waved at us as they passed. So lovely.
My cousin and his wife packed up when we got back. They were heading back to Colorado early the next morning. Our time together was quickly coming to an end.
On Sunday morning, we got our family up early to drive to Kenosha, Wisconsin to see our niece participate in an adapted triathlon for kids with developmental disabilities. But that doesn’t even begin to describe what this event is like. I was in awe of these warrior-athletes and their grit and determination. I was crying about 3 minutes after we got there and we hadn’t even seen our niece yet. We found the pool and watched our niece’s swimming portion, then headed outside for the biking portion when she was changed. We all got to walk along the path with her as she pedaled along. One of her therapists took her on a lap around the course then transferred her to an assistive device so she could walk the last little bit of the course. Every single person within hearing distance that day was encouraging our niece. They call each child by name as they approach the finish line and treat them like the amazing humans they are.
When it was over, we all chilled a bit and then got a group picture.
We went for lunch with Phil’s brother, his wife and our niece. First we tried a Thai place but they were only doing takeout so we went across the street for Mexican food. It was tasty and filling. Then we went to Petrifying Springs Park for a hike/walk.
We ended up doing two trails for a total fo 3.5 miles. It was such a nice visit, the kind that always makes me sad that we live so far away.
On the way home, we stopped at the Lake Forest Oasis, just off the interstate, for pizza and ice cream for dinner.
It was our last night in Illinois. We opted for sleep and to do most of our packing in the morning.
