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Published: August 15th 2012
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Where are You From? Me: "Originally?" I find this question very hard to answer since I have technically lived in Illinois (22 yrs), Las Vegas, Nevada (5 months), Orlando, Florida (3 months), San Diego, California (6 yrs), Shenzhen & Hangzhou, China (combined 2.5 yrs) and Portland, Oregon (combined 9.5 months). I am the newer generation that doesn't stay put for very long, unlike the majority of the rest of my family who have been in Illinois the majority, if not all of their life.
While on the farm, my parent's home and where I spent my childhood, we enjoyed the peace and quite, long walks seeing lots of corn and soybean fields, many miles in the car (not so fun) and most of all being with family and seeing friends. I think we spent more time in the car in the 11 days at my families houses than we had in the past 10 months in China, major reason why public transportation is at the top of our list for MUST haves to live somewhere. $85 monthly CTA pass in Chicago versus $40 plus every couple days to fill up the tank...I will take the
Carroll Open 2012
Grandpa Jim Carroll's grandchildren and significant others CTA pass anyday.
So what did we do...
• Pete got to enjoy his first Draft Horse show that my brother, Aaron, has been participating in for the last 8+ years...maybe more don't quote me since I moved away from Iliinois 9 years ago.
• Seeing the horse show meant that we both experienced our first Mississippi Valley Fair and got to see REO Speedwagon, who Pete sadly didn't know any of their songs. Really? must be a Midwest thing.
• Spent time at Lake Carroll with the Carroll side of the family on the boat where Pete wake boarded and I went tubing.
• Met Beckett Carroll, 5.5 months old, for the first time
• Enjoyed the Carroll Open, extended family reunion that has been held every Summer since 1976. In the morning the golfers do their thing and then we have a big potluck lunch. I hadn't been to one in 5 years so it was wonderful to see everyone and introduce Pete to the extended family. We do have a Carroll Cousins Facebook page so it seems like we never miss a beat but in reality we hadn't seen each other in years.
• Ate sweet corn, it
is a must do for a Midwestern Summer on the Farm.
• Played countless hours with my nephews who are getting bigger and bigger and I can't believe Hunter will turn 9 in less than 2 weeks.
• Even though we didn't have an extended Mosher family get together I got to see all my Dad's siblings along with a few cousins.
• Met Bentlee who is 10 months old
• High School Girlfriends Reunion (minus Maggie's family) and we got to meet 2 new beautiful girls Isabella and Adi who were born in Sept and Dec last year while we were in China.
• Saw Carrie and met her boyfriend Rich who is now her fiance as they got engaged a week after we left.
• Visited with Cara and met her 2 daughters while they are visiting family in IL
Thanks Everyone for an amazing time and to the Newman Family and Mom & Dad for boarding us for 11 days. Enjoy the pictures and hope to see everyone again at Kalah's wedding and/or Christmas if we are blessed by staying in the Portland area.
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Amber
non-member comment
Looks like u have an amazing family! And so big!