Good old Ottowa

It has been over two years since we made the trek to the Midwest to visit Chris' family on their own turf. The tallies below no doubt give you some indication for the delay, but in any case we were over-due for a visit.

It was a great couple of days! The girls fed their apparently genetic preoccupation with birds, literally, as Mom Mlinek has set up a little bird sanctuary in her backyard. And they had plenty of time to wear Uncle Andy down playing hide-and-seek and whatever other games they've invented that all seem to involve making Andy run around the house. And there were crafts, and cakes to be decorated (for Grandpa Mlinek's birthday), and videos to watch, and videogames to play (uh, for Chris and Andy, not so much for the kids), and weddings to talk about!

Ottowa is always described as a town with very little to offer, but I have to say we found nothing lacking when we came to visit! :)

Oh, and for the curious -- having your father-in-law sit at the dinner table covered in vomit because he doesn't want you to know (as though we didn't!) that he'd been hit and feel bad (as though we didn't!), before quietly sneaking upstairs to change.....priceless.