ROAD TRIP - Part One!!!

We just got back from a road trip to Pittsburgh and Illinois and man did we have some FUN!!!! So much fun that we are going to break this into two parts.
Part One: Pittsburgh

We left DFW Tuesday night after Scott got off work and we drove until somewhere near Little Rock, Arkansas. Then we woke up the next day and drove and drove until we were just outside of Columbus, OH. Finally on Thursday morning, we made it to Pittsburgh!!!!

Allison was really good on the trip as long as we made a stop every couple hours to let her stretch her legs, get changed and eat (we learned this from the first day, she had a mini meltdown)!

We made it to Pittsburgh just in time to go to Mass with Great Grandma Clougherty and all her lady friends in her building! Allison loved being with Grandma - she went straight to her and immediately tried to take her glasses off! After mass we got to see Grandma's apartment and hang out with Aunt Doll and Uncle Ron - you can tell they have a few grand kids cause they sure know how to make a kiddo smile!

Then, it was off to Aunt Di's house to settle in for the weekend! Cousin Nicci let Scott, Me and Allison take over her room (Thank you Nicci!) and Grammy was on the couch (her choice). We had so much fun hanging out with Aunt Di, Uncle Tony, Great Grandma C, Nicci and Tucker, just talking and eating Desalla's pizza!! Allison didn't have pizza but she had carrots and couldn't get enough of then - she was licking them off her tray!!

Then on Friday we went down to the Duquesne Incline and rode that and took pictures from Mt. Washington! Pittsburgh is such a pretty city!!!! We had lunch at Primanti Bros.- the best sandwich EVER!!!! Of course, Grammy had to stimulate the Pittsburgh economy by buying every t-shirt they had! Friday night we went to Uncle Henry and Aunt Kim's house for some dinner and time with Family! We had subs from the Triangle (another awesome sandwich!!) and hung out and talked all night!!! Allison enjoyed meeting everyone and hanging with her cousins, especially little Isabella. She is a little older then Alli so she was teaching Alli how to get around!!!

Then on Saturday we went over to Aunt Donna and Uncle Jack's house for some brunch and to hang out with all of Alli's cousins! Alli loved to meet all her Cousins and they seemed to really enjoy her! At one point Danielle said as she was giving Alli a big hug - maybe a little to big of a hug - "But I love her". Arden was so cute with her too she kept tickling her and saying HI! Cousin Rachel was showing Alli how she crawls and walks! - she was just adorable! After hanging with the Tomley family us girls went over to a Tea for Preggo-Meggo (Megan) and we got to see Chris and Megan's house and the baby's room!! So Cute!! Then Saturday night, Grandma Clougherty made us dinner and we were able to hang out with Grandma!!! Later that night, Aunt Debbie, Uncle Dennis and cousin Britney came over to visit and play with Allison!

Then on Sunday Grammy and I went to Church with Great Grandma Clougherty and Aunt Doll and Uncle Ron at the Church my mom grew up going to and was married in. It was the Church we always went to when we stayed with Grandma. I love it!! It is what a true Catholic church looks like in my head... Stained glass, old wood pews and a big altar! After mass we went to Eat'n Park for breakfast which is also a Pittsburgh must!! We were home before Allison and Dad even woke up!!! Then it was off to Aunt Doll and Uncle Ron's house for a ham dinner with the Family!! Then after dinner we went over to Aunt Donna's to spend some time with Cousin Ann Marie, Ryan, and Maggie! They were so sweet to Alli! Ryan kept giving Alli books to read and Maggie shared some of her toys with Allison! Uncle Jack even got down on the floor to play with the kids!!!

Monday morning we woke up and packed up the car and we were off to Illinois!! It is always so much fun to be in Pittsburgh and we were so sad to leave it! Thank you to all our Pittsburgh family for making it such a fun trip!!!  We love yinz guys!!!

The van loaded up! (yes, we are the Griswold family!)

Grammy and Daddy smiling- they don't realize they are going to be in the car for 3 days together! :-)

Allison is ready to go!

Day two in the car!

There was a lot of this going on!

Even Grammy took a nap! (I think this was Scott's favorite part of the drive!)

Day three in the car

This is what Alli did when I sang "were in Pittsburgh yay!"

Finally, we are out of the car and in Pittsburgh!!!

Alli was so happy to see Great Grandma Clougherty!

Alli having fun with Aunt Doll and Uncle Ron!

Here is one of our signs from Grandma's!

Here's one of our signs from Aunt Di's! I didn't get a picture of the front of the house where she had balloons and a sign on the front door!

Hanging with Uncle Tony!

Hanging with cousin Nicci!

Licking Carrots off her tray!

Us at the top of the Incline

Just one of the awesome views of Pittsburgh!

Heinz Field and one of the barges on the river!

Me, Grammy and Aunt Di waiting on our Primanti sandwiches! (can you tell we are related?)

Daddy and Alli waiting on their sandwiches!

Daddy's sandwich... awesomeness!!!

Alli and Isabella getting to know each other!

Alli hanging with cousin Kelsey!

Isabella and cousin Russell - she is so cute!!

Allison and Great Grandma Clougherty!

Allison with cousin Britney!

Alli and Dad with Rachel, cousin Daniel, Aunt Donna, & Uncle Jack

Alli with Cousin Arden, Cousin Danielle, and Rachel!  Can you tell how happy Arden was to hold her?

Arden made sure Alli had enough toys to play with and she enjoyed taking Alli's picture with her big bird camera!

Danielle giving Alli a big hug!

Cousin Chris, Prego Mego and Arden saying goodbye as we leave their house!

Alli playing with Grandma Clougherty

Four generations of Cloughertys

Allison playing with her cousins Ryan and Maggie- Ryan is so sweet he is giving Alli some toys to play with. 

Uncle Jack playing with the kiddos!

On the road again...