Trip to Ohio!!

Over the last week we made our first major trip as a family of five. My (Shannon) family is all from Ohio and we try and make it up there once a year. Although I have lived in the south for over 20 years- in many ways I still think of Ohio as my home. The trips I have taken there over the course of my life have been some of my best memories. I feel so blessed to now take my three children there. If you have never been to Ohio or the Midwest you are really missing out. Not only do they have beautiful countryside, Lake Erie, and Cedar Point, but Ohio has the best eats around. From Jones' Potato Chips, Lake Erie Perch, Esther Price Candy, Skyline Chili, and Coney's from the Drive up A&W Root beer Stand- Ohio holds nearly all my favorites (except of course for Sweet Tea and NC BBQ- nothing can top that!!). Here are some photos from our recent trip- hope you enjoy!

Just starting out. Still on Hwy 52. Ethan and the babies did really well on the way up. We left at 6 am and stopped several times to eat, stretch and feed the babies- but we were able to make it to Rocky River, OH by 4 pm.

John - the captain of our journey. Be sure to ask him all the trivia about Lake Erie.

Passing through Virginia.

One of Ethan's favorite parts of the trip - travelling through two mountain tunnels.

This is the East River Mountain Tunnel in VA.

What you can't read here is "Welcome to West Virginia".

Travelling through West VA is one of the most interesting parts of the trip- the countryside is beautiful - but the towns mostly look destitute and depressing.

Here we are at Tamarack, WV.

If you have ever travelled on 77 N you are bound to know what I am talking about- the largest Travel Center I have ever stopped at. As always- Ethan really enjoyed himself.

The Capital Building in Charleston, WV. Check out that Gold Top.

The Ohio River. After we cross it we will be in....

Ohio- at last!!!

Some of the beautiful Ohio countryside.

Isaac and my (paternal) Grandmother.

My mom and my (paternal) grandfather.

My Aunt Vicki and my only paternal cousin Nathan.

My dad and John- with Livy fast asleep (hey - it's hard to look cute all day!).

My grandfather and Isaac.

My mom and Ethan.

Lake Erie.

If you have never seen the Great Lakes - well you really should- there is nothing else like it.

Ethan and my Granny (my maternal grandmother). We spent most of our time at her house in Rocky Rover, OH, which is a suburb of Cleveland. Her house is one of my favorite places on Earth. The whole area is like a piece of Americana- you expect to see apple pies cooling on the windowsill and a bbq in everyone's perfectly manicured backyard. I absolutely love it there.

Ethan can find a sprinkler to run through anywhere!

John admiring Lake Erie with the twins fast asleep behind him. We are at Rocky River Park.

My dad and Ethan climbing on the Break Wall (even though the sign said "Keep Off").

Jacob's Field. My dad and John went to an Indians game while we were there.

And, as a bonus it was $1 hot dog night - you have never seen such happy men!

And finally here are four generations of Tangeman women.

Livy has no idea the legacy of family she has been born into.

I hope she benefits from it as much as I have.