Travels of Mark and Pat

Sunday - October 11

Awesome fall day.....breakfast and then Mass with Father Richard Fitzgerald at Holy Cross in Boston. And then something we've been wanting to do since we returned to KK, lunch or supper at Green Gables. So, today, made that happen picking up our cheeseburgers, corn nuggets and cheese balls and then had a little picnic at Lake Bloomington. We sat near the water and the trees were spectacular.

Thee best lunch

Just one of many stunning trees

Off to Lexington for 3 ball games.....Liam won 7-6, Connor lost 7-6 and then the big showdown when they played each other with Game 7 (Liam) beating the Raptors (Connor) 8-1. But really fun watching the brothers both play 2nd base and Connor also played left field and pitched.

Batter up - Connor

Liam, his teammates and Gibson cheer him on

Connor pitching to Liam who hit a fly ball but runner tagged 3rd and scored, so

Liam got an RBI

The Campbell Kids

Connor caught a fly ball in left field and threw to 1st base for double play as runner was trying to steal

The brothers and their BFF

Liam's season is over; Connor has 4 more games next weekend.

Congratulations to our niece, Lisa and John who got engaged last night! So happy for them and look forward to hearing all their wedding plans.

Zoom with the siblings - missing Sue, Sharon and Tom. Lots of lively discussion as always!

Enjoy the week ahead - rain coming our way tomorrow!

Saturday - October 10

We got Blair's things all packed up (she had LOTS) and after breakfast, we drove to Busy Corner to pick up some pie slices and then to Anne's. Brooke and Blair left for NC around 11ish (forgot picture). Philip then arrived after taking Annette and kiddos to Peoria airport to fly back to NC. He will be driving my car for the next few weeks and then get it to Fort Myers.

We all went to Connor's ballgames in Lexington - won both 7-6 and 5-4. Philip left before the 2nd game and we all enjoyed sitting outdoors on yet another glorious fall day. The trees are just gorgeous.

Anne, Mark, Philip at the ole ballgame in Lexington

Back to Flo----- very quiet tonight after our little guest has left. We will miss her - 6 more weeks till we're in NC. We are just chillin' tonight!

Luke and Maeve on the plane ready to fly off to Charlotte.

Friday - October 9

Today started out really hazy with lots of smoke smell in the air......Anne found article that this was from the wildfires and central IL could be affected for the next few days.

But the day turned out to be spectacular - breezy, sunny and low 80's. We 3 left around 9:30 and went to Anne's for short visit with she and Brooke. Then to the Sugar Creek Nature Center - what a fun place and the trees were gorgeous.

Grandpa and Blair in the tree house

Makeshift teepee

Blair is showing Grandpa some fancy dance moves on the stage

Grandma and sweetie pie

Climbing the big tree

Poor Mr. Bear...

Fun day with Grandma and Grandpa

This picture was taken November 24, 2009

and here, 11 years later, is Blair in the same window of corn crib - now with flower boxes

Miss Blair

We had lunch at McDonalds in McLean and then drove around Funk's Grove, the cemetery, etc. Soooo pretty outdoors today.

Back to Anne's and Philip and Annette were there. Those 2 + Brooke are helping Anne with all possibilities for remodeling her kitchen....lots of decisions to be made. We pondered all the pros and cons of this and that while Grandpa picked up Liam and Connor from school.

Annette and Philip are going back to her parents in Princeton tonight.

Grandpa, Blair and I drove to Flo. KK is a happening place tonight with 14 new campers coming.

We walked around the campground, played on the swings, checked out the license plates and posed for some pics.

What a busy 4 days we've had.....Blair's last night at KK. Tomorrow, she and Mommy are heading home to North Carolina. We will miss "Chatty Cathy" big time - she keeps us on our toes with a vivid imagination, all her dance moves, inquisitive nature and is such a girlie girl!

Have a fun, safe weekend - it's going to be a beauty weather wise!

Hello Kitty is following the mask mandate

Thursday - October 8

Boy, I could get "high" on this perfect weather day after day......just a delightful autumn!

After our big day yesterday, we all slept in and then up and off for more fun. We went to the Rader Pumpkin Farm, This is such a fun place and grows more each year. Unfortunately, the corn bins were closed cause of Covid.

Blair enjoyed all the activities.......

Line waiting to get in....they really encouraged masks and most people kept them on.

Taking a little break

Playing Roller Boller

Fun in the corn maze

Petting the baby goats

Doing her art work on the old black truck

We went into town for lunch (McDonalds for Blair) and Arby's for Grandpa and me

Ropp Dairy Farm - checking out the baby calves, also watched them making cheese curds and then bought some cheese spread

LOVE the burning bush along 150.

We all rested this afternoon and then drove to Eureka for some yummy ice cream at Uncle Bob's.

Mint chocolate chip and cookie dough hit the spot this warm October afternoon

Blair and Grandpa walked around the campground checking out all the license plates - busy here tonight.

Wednesday - October 7

It was a very fun, big day! Mark, Blair and I left KK at 8:50 and 1st stop was Busy Corner to pick up pie for everyone and off to Princeton to visit Annette's parents, Judy and Dave, Annette, Luke and Maeve. Brooke met us there. It was such a gorgeous day.....we enjoyed the farm, taking a golf cart ride all around and watching the cousins play hard!

Jimmy Johns, chips and iced tea outside was a great lunch and then pie (each person's favorite slice). We sat on the porch afterwards and then we all piled into 2 cars and went to Boggio's Orchard for a great few hours of letting the kids run everywhere, the corn maze, jumping pillow, tube slide, tunnel, and so much more!

We enjoyed delicious apple cider donuts and then back playing. What a big day! Got back to KK at 6 - tired but what fun! Brought back more donuts, cider and gourds.