Christmas Trip to the USA {Part 6…Polar Vortex}

A "Polar Vortex" impacted the better part of the US, and we can say we experienced it.  On Friday, we watched the Facebook posts of all our friends leaving the US to head back to Belgium. We knew snow and freezing temperatures were coming, and hoped we would be okay to leave the following day.  Chris just kept saying we should have been on the Friday flight.  By 6am Saturday morning, our 6pm flight had been cancelled.  After 3.5 hours on the phone with a terrific United employee in Salt Lake City, we had a plan.  We would catch a flight from Moline to Chicago on Sunday evening, spend the night near the airport, and leave on a 2:00pm flight to Frankfurt, Germany with a 8:30am flight to Brussels on Tuesday morning.  It wasn't ideal, but it was a flight home. 

Saying our goodbyes to Sophie and Sawyer on Friday night.
Shortly after this, Sawyer got sick again.  And, it turns out our flight delay was a blessing.  Allison had the same puking on Saturday.  Being in an airport and on an overnight flight would have been a disaster.  She woke up feeling much better the next morning.  Everything happens for a reason…..

Plans changed again….our flight to Chicago was cancelled…so we decided to drive to Chicago on Sunday.  The weather got progressively worse the closer we got to Chicago, but thankfully we made it safely.

Rainbow looming all the way!

And, the best part about this delay was the Giordano's Pizza.  It was AMAZING!!!

Giant icicles!

The hotel had a pool, so the kids were thrilled about swimming.

On Monday morning in Chicago, the temperature was -45 degrees with windchill.  It actually hurt to be outside.  Luckily, we didn't have to be outside for very long.

O'Hare was dead because….

Everything was cancelled!  Thankfully, the Frankfurt flight was still on time.  What a miracle!

One of the few planes actually moving.

Once on the plane, these were just some of the sights out the window.  I was a little stressed.  That is a fleet of snow plows.  

And, they had to de-ice the plane.

After an hour of sitting on the plane (not complaining…could be worse), we were on our way.

I felt like we were flying out of Antarctica.  Oh wait, it was actually warmer in Antarctica that day!

So long Chi-beria!

And, that concludes our Christmas trip to the US with a very memorable ending.  Thank you so much to our friends and family for making it such a terrific holiday!

Until next time,
Wendy

Christmas Trip to the USA {Part 5...Washington, IL}

On November 17, 2013, a devastating tornado ripped through our neighboring towns of Pekin, East Peoria, and Washington.  In Washington, the tornado was classified as an EF-4.  To watch the story unfold gave me a sense of helplessness I have never felt before.  Catastrophes like this don't happen to your town or the towns near you.  They are supposed to happen far away in towns you've never heard of...  While we were visiting Morton, my friend Molly (her parents lost their home in the tornado) offered to take Kathie and myself for a drive through Washington.  I thought my heart was prepared for what I was about to see….

An ariel view of Washington (courtesy of the Internet)

Molly's parent's house (taken from Molly's Instagram)

Washington today….

I was impressed with how well the area had been cleaned up.  There was once a neighborhood where there is now open landscape.

Standing on Molly's parent's driveway.  Tom's deck held up just fine!  She said her dad was proud of that.

Devastation as far as you can see…..

My heart goes out to the town of Washington.  Through it all, I am so proud of Central Illinois.  The residents responded just as I knew they would.  Because in Central Illinois, everyone is a neighbor.  Everyone is willing to help.  Everyone lends a hand.  Everyone prays for one another.  We are a community, divided by city limits, but connected by hearts.

Until next time,

Wendy

Christmas Trip to the USA {Part 4}

On Monday, we were off to Morton!  We were all so anxious to see our friends!

The Namanny family graciously offered to let us take over the basement of their beautiful home.  It was so nice to be staying in a house and not a hotel like last year.  Everything at the house was just perfect. Thank you so much to Beth, Mike, and the girls for opening their house to us. We stopped at Walmart and ran in for a few things we needed to stock up on, and of course, ran into four friends.  That is how you know you are at the Morton Walmart.  It's like Cheers.  

And, then were were off to the Phillips's house!

So happy to see Kathie!

We went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner.  Clearly, I am excited about my margarita.  Europe just has no clue how to make a good margarita…..

I think their smiles say it all.  They were thrilled to be together!

And, after Texas Roadhouse, I got to spend the evening with more Lincoln friends.  Thank you girls for meeting me out!

Tuesday morning, New Year's Eve day, it was time for some pedicures to celebrate Kathie's birthday!

And of course, there were lunches at Culvers.

And coffee,  hot chocolate, and friends at Eli's!

As it is tradition (one that started last year) we met the Wurth's at the Pub II.  It was great seeing them again and devouring cheeseballs and ranch.  Sorry Brad and Chris…no pics of you two….

After the Pub, we went to Kristie's house for our annual Danceline girls New Year's Eve party.  We had a smaller group this year, but it was still so much fun and so good to see everyone.  

Kristie was very creative and crafty for our NYE event.  It was shortly after this that my nephew vomited all over the kitchen, so the Bruns family headed home. :( (And, no he was not doing shots…just the flu…ha!)

They make me laugh until my stomach hurts.  And everyone knows that's the best kind of laugh.

Card shark

Beer Blow…also tradition.  

And, a dance party of course!

Friends since birth.

Celebrating the January birthdays….just missing Megan.

New Year's Day was spent watching football at the Phillips household.  I was disappointed with a Hawkeye loss, but the company was fantastic.  I mean I got to hang out with the "crazy dog lady" as Kathie calls herself.  Hahaha!

Awww…on the Phillips's countertop.

Attempting to enjoy my cupcake without feeling guilty…….

And then, we got to meet this little sweetie!

We always love the time we get to spend with the Kolveks and Bradfords.

Thursday night, we had dinner at Alexanders with this very special group!  It was the perfect evening…except the alarm was going off in our house in Belgium the whole time, so we did have that worry through dinner.  Tyler thought Chris was a bit of a stress case. ;)

Photobomb by Andrea

Too funny!

Thomas and his favorite girl, Isa!

Allison got to spend a lot of time with her friends as well.  Thank you Andrea for making that happen!

In Belgium, Allison is one of the tallest of her friends…not in Morton!

And, then it was time for goodbyes….

I hate that we have to say goodbye, and even more, I hate that my kids have to say goodbye to their friends.  But, these two get to see each other this summer when the Knepps visit Belgium.  We can hardly wait!!!!

And, that concludes our time in Morton.  Thank you to our friends (especially he Phillips family and Knepp family) for making it a perfect visit.  To those friends we did not get to see, we hope to see you next year, or in Belgium. ;)

Until next time,
Wendy