our Minnesota trip

Well we arrived home on Monday from out trip out west. We took yesterday to relax all day. Kayden took a four and a half hour nap! I had to wake him up. Who knows how long he would've slept?!?! I think he was recovering from all the hours sitting in the car!
We left at 6:15am on Thursday with hopes of making it to Davenport, Iowa. Supposed to be a 9 1/2 hour trip. We got there and the Motel that we reserved was gross. It smelled and had no air conditioning. So they refunded our money and we continued another hour and a half to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We arrived there at 9:50 est. It was 8:50 there just because it was central time. So that was a VERY long day from 6:15am! We made a few stops but what held us up was 1 1/2 hours just sitting in construction! We were not happy!
So Friday we only had about 4 hours or so to Minnesota. That wasn't too terrible considering how long the previous day was. Kayden was almost perfect the first two days of travelling. (the ride home however was very different)
The wedding was on Saturday. Kayden was the ring bearer. At the rehearsal he walked down perfect the first time with the flower girls. The second run through he wouldn't budge. I had to walk down with him. So the day of the wedding, I again ended up walking down with him. The bride told me I could. I felt alittle dumb but everyone said he was cute. He didn't however stay quiet and we were in the front seat. So I took him to the back and he was still noisy. He probably wasn't as noisy as I thought but I didn't want to annoy anyone so I left. I missed the entire wedding!!!! I drove all that way to see my brother get married and I missed it!!!! I was little annoyed at my son to say the least. He was a little terror that day, even at the reception. He was just wild! I think after being couped up in the car for so long two days before, he just wanted to run around and play and he couldn't. So for being 2, I suppose he wasn't that bad. It was just frustrating to me because I didn't get to enjoy anything.
So we left to come home Sunday. Made it to Indiana for the night. Trip went smoothly this time around. I drove in 5 lanes of traffic! I did a great job! Probably helped alittle that it was Sunday and not rush hour on a weekday. We tried to miss Chicago traffic but hit it alittle in the 5 lanes! Then Monday we drove home from Elkhart, Indiana. It was just alittle over 5 hours.
Kayden was so excited to be home. He ran across the porch yelling, "Daddy! Daddy!" He was so excited to see Jon! Then he just kinda ran around the house. He almost looked amazed that he was actually here!
So overall it was a good trip. The driving didn't seem as bad as I would have expected. I got to add two more states to my total. :-) i've been to 21 states! Kayden has already been in 12 and he's 2! Crazy huh? The kid gets around! Not that he'll remember any of them though.
The reception was beautifully decorated. The prettiest I've ever seen. They also had a swing dancing group that Kate used to be a part of perform at the reception. It was really fun to watch. Kayden laughed at them dancing. He ever tried alittle himself. He was dancing like a crazy maniac! probably just happy to be not sitting anymore. Everyone said they couldn't believe how much energy he had! He was fun.
So here are some pictures!