So returning East from Chicago, we first stopped at South Bend to visit cousins. The great thing about big families is that when you get just two of them together, you have an instant party!
Thursday, October 27, 2016
...and Back Again
The Great Midwestern Trek of 2016! Part Dos.
So returning East from Chicago, we first stopped at South Bend to visit cousins. The great thing about big families is that when you get just two of them together, you have an instant party!
The South Bend cousins had recently moved into a gorgeous big new house with an awesome swingset in their backyard. We couldn't stay for long, just a few hours, but it was a good visit. We always have great conversations when we hang with them, as you would expect from a lawyer, a mathematician, and two homeschooling mothers! It's also encouraging spending time with other people who are in the same stage of life and trying to do this big, Catholic family thing well. When you feel freakishly different from the rest of society, with all eyes watching and critiquing your every move, it's comforting to be with others who are struggling with similar challenges -- and appreciating the same joys.
So returning East from Chicago, we first stopped at South Bend to visit cousins. The great thing about big families is that when you get just two of them together, you have an instant party!
Sunday, October 23, 2016
There...
The Great Midwestern Trek of 2016! Part Uno.
Soooo... every summer there's a big geekfest for Statisticians in a different city. When we heard this year's conference was going to be in Chicago, we thought, "Perfect! We can use that as the springboard for another Great Western Trek!" But a bit of the wind was taken out of our sails when we realized that Mr. Pickles would have to come back home right after the conference, due to the need to prepare for another important meeting soon after. So no Great Western Trek. :( However, we could still enjoy a Great MIDwestern Trek, getting to relish our time with our Chicago peeps without having to hurry through on our way to points west or east.
And then we learned that due to a tight work schedule beforehand, Mr. Pickles was going to have to fly into Chicago.
...by himself.
And stay in a hotel near the conference.
...by himself.
Which meant that in order to make a Great Midwestern Trek at all, Mrs. Pickles was going to have to pack, close up the house, drive 700 miles, and otherwise take care of 6 minors for 5 days all on her own.
Soooo... every summer there's a big geekfest for Statisticians in a different city. When we heard this year's conference was going to be in Chicago, we thought, "Perfect! We can use that as the springboard for another Great Western Trek!" But a bit of the wind was taken out of our sails when we realized that Mr. Pickles would have to come back home right after the conference, due to the need to prepare for another important meeting soon after. So no Great Western Trek. :( However, we could still enjoy a Great MIDwestern Trek, getting to relish our time with our Chicago peeps without having to hurry through on our way to points west or east.
And then we learned that due to a tight work schedule beforehand, Mr. Pickles was going to have to fly into Chicago.
...by himself.
And stay in a hotel near the conference.
...by himself.
Which meant that in order to make a Great Midwestern Trek at all, Mrs. Pickles was going to have to pack, close up the house, drive 700 miles, and otherwise take care of 6 minors for 5 days all on her own.
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