We have snuck in our fall experiences here and there across the country. (we are currently in Boston). A few weeks ago, Craig was in the middle of 18 straight days on the road, and I decided we better join him for a while before my kids forgot who he was. I have done a really good job of only heading out on the campaign trail for the really fun or exciting stuff and this trip was no exception. We met craig in Chicago, then drove from there to South Bend, IN where him and Tagg did a fundraiser/tailgate party right before the big game- Notre Dame vs. BYU. (I missed most of the fundraiser because the airlines sent the suitcase the boys share to a different state then we flew to. they had on t-shirts, shorts and natives. It should be noted that their entire outfits for this day were bought from Old Navy in about 15 minutes-including shoes. AND the puff coats were on sale for $14 each!).
After everyone was dressed appropriately,we got a walking tour of the Notre Dame campus that may have been my favorite part of my day. It is a gorgeous campus and we got to see it at peak fall leaf time.
These 2 rockstars that work in the finance dept for the campaign probably never planned on their job description including "manny"=man nanny. Kids weren't allowed up in the presidents box were we spent some of the game, so our boys got so spoiled with popcorn, candy, soda, ND gear and seats on the 2nd row. The first and probably best football game they will ever go to. BYU was up for almost all of the game (until they lost), which made it fun, but Parker definitely loved the marching band the best.
can you tell miles is swinging around one of those sticky hand things?
We got to see so many friends at the game. BYU was out in full force.
parker wearing Ron's glasses.
After staying the night in Chicago, we flew to Florida were Mamie and Papa and a warm ocean were awaiting us. The boys and I and Ann swam in the ocean 5 straight days in a row. The water was SO warm we couldn't get over it.
i realize that this post has WAY too many pictures. But just know that i take a million and here in FL so were the photags. there were no less than 20 photographers from them press corps taking pictures of us walk across the street from the hotel to BurgerFi for dinner and then aimed on us while we ate. So natural. I do love when they capture great moments like the one below.....
Charlie (above) and Garrentt (below) are 2 of mitt's right hand men that miles and parker think are there as built in jungle gyms and wrestling partners. anytime the boys know we are going to see Papa they ask if garrett and charlie are going to be there.
The day of the debate in FL, Parker and I went with Ann to a fundraiser at one of the most amazing houses I've ever seen. The artwork was unbelievable. (parker made me take the picture with these statues by artist Fernando Botero- one of the worlds most popular comtempary artist.)
Parker has learned to be quite the gentleman. He was so excited to wear his blazer and secret service pin because he thought people may think he was secret service :). (though I got in trouble for not packing him his "plain" white dress shirt- he thought that was closer to the real outfit). It was a Women for Mitt event and those women couldn't get enough of Parker. He posed with them for every picture they asked for. And the smart ones had them take stuff to Ann for them to get signed.
Doesn't Ann look gorgeous?
With about 5 minutes left, he asked, "wait....how come me, the secret service and the waiters are the only boys here??"
In the western room, their collection was so large, things were on the ceiling. Parker LOVED this room and spent a long time staring at every gun and feather - highlights- One of 3 left Billy the kid Wanted posters and Sitting Bulls head piece.
Ann, Parker & I returned from the fundraiser at the same time that Mitt was leaving to do a walk through of the debate venue.
i feel like "sand" (or beach) and "cousins" are the 2 words that would best sum up the last 3 years of my kids lives.
This will be one of those moments from this campaign that I always remember. Even if you Grandpa is running for president, it's still pretty neat to get to meat the sitting President. Miles knows who he is and that he's the competition and I think from hearing his name so much and seeing him on TV so much he was SO excited for the moment. The first thing he said.... "Are you Bo Bama?" (How miles says his name.) They went on to have a little conversation that included the president asking miles how old he was and miles asking the President how old He was (51).
The day after the debate, Craig and everyone headed out to go campaign all over the country, but the boys and I stayed to do a bus tour in FL with Ann. First we flew on Ann's plane to get to the bus. I could that my kids have spent all together to much time flying (though normally not charter flights) when they didn't even look up during take off....and when someone asked miles what he wanted to drink and he immediately responded "cranberry juice". (cran-apple juice...as in, the stuff you only get on a plane). Also, we were on 3 different planes a few days ago- 2 commercial due to a connection and on mitt's plane. the next morning we woke up in NH and I told miles we were going to Boston- 60 miles away- and he said, "who's plane are we going on? Mamie's or Papa's?"
Buses on Buses- parker had to bring his 7 lb. Romney bus when he heard we were going on the real Romney bus.
party mustaches for Brittany's birthday.
Board games on the bus and peaking out at the crowd before a rally.
best campaign stop ever- a bakery
adding even more excitement to ann's hotel room- on our 7th day on the road....
The only people miles was shy in front of during the whole trip was these 4 year olds at a school stop.
We made it back to San Diego late on a thursday night just in time for parker to get to school Friday morning. and craig flew in from somewhere at the same time as us which was nice to have him carrying kids out of the car at midnight and to see him for breakfast.... he did fly out the next morning at 10am.
