Our Favorite Rest Stop

I think I have changed Dexy's diapers at every rest stop between Chicago and Memphis but I have to say that the last rest stop in Illinois on Southbound I57 is my favorite.  As luck would have it, Dexter announced he needed to go potty right before we hit it. Dexter is now old enough to enjoy the awesome little playground and use the potty (although he freaks out when the toilets flush..."too loud").

Ben and I like remembering the first year we stopped here. Dexter, still learning to walk and wearing his footie pajamas, started picking up speed as he toddled down a little hill. We ran after him worried that his little feet wouldn't be able to keep up but he made it to the bottom in record speed and still right-side-up.

Considering the fact that Ben had to go up into the "fort" to escort Dexter down, it's pretty clear that this is also Dexy's favorite rest stop.

The Backseaters

Settling in for the nine hour drive to visit Grandma and Gunker!  

Everyone was getting excited!

Vacation Prep

Our little grease monkey really enjoyed helping wash the car's windows at the start of our long drive to Mississippi.

Train Excitement

An hour long drive, ride on a shuttle bus from the parking lot, and waiting in long lines - apparently worth it (at least for Ian and Dexter)!

Waiting for Ian

Elissa invited Dexy to join her, Jason, and Ian at a special train show today (some women sets up the trains on her private grounds and gives the proceeds to charity).  This worked out well for me - I was able to wrap up some work before we go on vacation and rearrange Dexy's room (something that has been impossible to do when he's home). Ben dropped Dexy off on his way to work and Dexter had to wait with Elissa while Ian and Jason finished up tennis lessons.  The plan was for Dexter to help Elissa pull some weeds in the garden but that plan went out the window when Dexy saw Ian's toy trains.  Shouldn't have even let Dexter in the house...

At least he played quietly by himself so that Elissa could get some work done (the dude has had practice playing quietly while Mommy gets work done).

Eating Only the Crust

After all of the pie-making effort, Dexter only wanted to eat the crust.  

"Mommy, next time, can we make a pie without the insides? I only like the crust."

Egg Washing the Tractor Pie

Our first trip of the season to the farmer's market last weekend yielded a ton of blueberries. We figured we would make a pie with the few pints that remained uneaten. Dexy was a huge help: measuring flour and sugar and mixing the blueberries. We decided to cut the vents into the shape of a tractor.

Dexter got really into painting the top crust with the egg wash before we put it into the oven.

He slathered so much egg wash on it that it almost looked like it had scrambled eggs baked on top when I took it out of the oven :)