Road Trip, Day 16 Driving home

WE ARE HOME!! We had a delightful drive today and now I am finally in my own bed. Jesse and I made a list of the best and worst things. It is kind of the Academy Awards (heehee) of the road trip.
1. Cheapest gas - Arkansas @ 2.34 a gallon
2. Most Construction - We had Oklahoma however, We now have a tie between Oklahoma and Wyoming
3. Best Meal - Mariscos La Playa in Albuquerque
4. Best Road - Oklahoma, toll express way through Indian country
5. Prettiest Person - The gal at the entrance to the Grand Canyon. She was like part native american, part greek, part goddess... Even Adrienne in the back of the car kept saying, "She's pretty"
6. Most Nauseating Road - Arkansas, the "roller coaster" road... oi
7. Coolest Animal Encounter - The lion cubs at the Safari in Arkansas
8. Funniest Billboard (parental advisory) - "Big Jims Booby Bigelow" exotic dancers at the border of Tennessee
9. Nicest People - Alabama (cant beat that southern hospitality)
10. Funniest town Names - Cliff Dwellers, Arizona , Nowhere, Tennessee , and Effingham, Illinois
11. Best Audio book - "Stop the Train" It is a riot! (Thanks Tracy for suggesting it!)
12. Most Family Friendly Restaurant - O' Charleys , the have FREE kids meals
13. Best Rest Area - That great place that had a big play area for the kids, Rend Lake, Illinois

Day 15, Driving to Denver

We drove through Kansas... that took forever! Sorry Kansas, you are the most boring state ever. I dont even have any picture to upload! That is all I've got.

Road Trip, Day 14, St. Louis and Kansas City

Today was kind of a roller coaster day. The kind of day where things are crazy at first, we ran out of diapers and Liz had a blowout and stuff like that. Things were happy and sad and hot and cold.
We went and saw the Gateway Arch, which was neat. We could tell it was going to be a hot day right from the start. After Lizzie blew out of her diaper and we realized we were out of diapers, we put her in a swimmy diaper. It would have to work until we found our favorite store, walmart. So went to the Arch in St. Louis, having great discussions about Louis and Clark and Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase. It was all great educational stuff. The awesome thing about the ages of our children is that they are in the "love of learning" phase where this stuff is all really cool. And since Jesse and I are older and are in that phase again, we think it is cool too.
After a couple of hours at the Arch, we got into the car and finally started west. We drove through Missouri and we stopped at mile marker 112. Ahhh, mile marker 112. The place where Jesse's dear brother and his wonderful wife were killed in a car accident. We pulled over and I tied a piece of Jessica's fabric to the pole. (Jessica was the one who taught me how to quilt) How is it that something can reopen a wound and yet heal at the same time? I dont know.
Back in the car and off to Kansas City. After so many days of being in the car, I really thought we would be sick of it by this point but, it is quite the opposite. The car is our home and we are used to being in it. No one gives a fuss or complains, they just pile in and ask about what things were are going to do. I will say it again, I love seeing America this way.
In Kansas City, we did the thing Jesse has been aching for; we went to a ball game. We were fashionably late and got to the gate as the national anthem was being sung. The workers at the gate paused and took off their hats. I was touched by the reverence they showed to our country's anthem. They didn't let anyone in or asked anyone if they had liquids in their bag (you have to buy their water for $4), they just stood with their hands over their hearts. After the anthem was done, they let us in. We found our seats over the bull pen and had an enjoyable time watching America's pastime. There is nothing like going to a baseball game. It is so relaxed. We eat peanuts and the kids get filthy with ice cream and nachos(Paige taking the cake in that regards). We sit out in the 100 degree heat and no one cares that they are sweating so badly that it looks like they wet themselves. We are watching baseball and the home team is doing well. That is all that matters. We spend the same amount of money on hot dogs, popcorn, and soda that we could have spent on a nice steak dinner. That is not important because we are watching baseball and there was just back to back home runs. We all talk to each other and people share their opinions on politics and sports... its all the same. We stand up with our arms around each other during the 7th inning stretch and sing "take me out to the ball game". The game can last 2 hours or 6 and no one cares. We are there basking in America. It is baseball and it is great!

Road Trip, Day 13 Driving to St. Louis

Hello to all who are reading this! Today we spent a lot of time on the road. We left Birmingham early this morning and headed to St. Louis. We stopped in Nashville and ate at the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. I had the best veggie burger I have ever had (which is saying something because whenever a veggie burger is available, I get it). Our server, Nick, had a lovely mohawk. The kids thought that was great and we did too. He was the best waiter we have had on the trip so far.
We drove around Nashville for a bit before getting back on the road. Emma Lynn started an intensive knitting project while I am getting very good at hemp jewelry. Adrienne is learning to cross stitch. Adrienne is also getting very good at "almost" holding it. That kid's bladder holds about a teaspoon of urine!! However, we are enjoying ourselves so much that Jesse and I started planning our next road trip today. Hopefully Adrienne's bladder grows before then.

Day 12, Birmingham, Alabama

Today (Aug 6) is our tenth anniversary!! We celebrated by spending time with family and loving each other. Today we went to the McWane Science Center in Birmingham. The children had fun doing what they do best: being children. The ran around and explored, dug for dinosaur bones, built cars, used pulleys, and watched a movie at the IMAX. It was great! In the evening my Aunt Aletha came surprising us. We had a wonderful evening taking pictures and talking.
So, like many wonderful things, it had to come to an end. We said our sad goodbyes. The hardest of all was saying goodbye to my sister, Kayla, who has been staying the last month with us. My mother met us in Alabama and is taking her home to Connecticut. I thought it would be a fine thing to say goodbye and take my family and go on our way but, I am super sad about leaving her. I wish she could spend a year with me. It would be so good for her and I would enjoy her company so much. I will miss her greatly.

Road Trip Day 11, Birmingham, Alabama

We have made it to Alabama and are doing well. My children were FINALLY able to meet my beloved Grandmother. There are certain sounds and smells that are so nostalgic and wonderful. The sound of my Grandmother's southern accent and the smell of her perfume produces instant happiness in my heart. We spent an hour or so looking through old pictures. When I came across a picture of my mother as a baby, we all just about passed out. It looked so much like little Lizzie! This made me so happy because my mother is probably the prettiest woman I have ever seen.

We headed to wal mart to fix a tire. It was constantly low, so we decided that it was "better safe than sorry" time. Good thing, the tire had two nails in it. So we replaced the tire and all is well.
We spent the rest of the afternoon with my Aunt Suzie. She is a lovely woman who just oozes kindness. This trip has been wonderful. It has been great to see states to which I have never been. The best thing of all though, is to visit family.

Road Trip Day 9 and 10

On day nine, we visited a Safari Zoo in Arkansas with Jesse's brother and family. The children had lots of fun! We were able to pet kangaroos (with joeys in their pouches), baby monkeys, baby lions, and (my favorite) goats. Then we drove through the very large park seeing all kinds of animals. It was awesome.
On day ten, we drove... and drove... and drove... to Birmingham. It was a 10 hour drive. It took us about 13 hours. We stopped in Memphis to see the civil rights museum which was randomly closed on Tuesdays. What rotten luck!! The drive went very well. The ticket is to split it up with activities. We had "quiet time" with movies and "activity time" where the children could open up some new workbook or game. We listened to "Tuck Everlasting", which was great. I love audio books! When we drive again, we will watch the movie.

Day 6, 7, 8 Bentonville, Arkansas

After a full day of driving through the pan handle of Texas and all of Oklahoma, we arrived late Friday night at Todd and Laura's beautiful home in Arkansas. Todd is Jesse's littlest brother (and I mean little, his top weight being 115). When we got out of the car in Arkansas, there was an electric sound that was almost deafening. Come to find out, it is the insects that live in the woods! With driving through Oklahoma, we left desert and entered lush forests. We left dry lands with rattlesnakes to lands rich with trees, underbrush, and a whole lot of crazy insects.
Saturday morning, Todd and Laura blessed their new little one, Oliver Seth. He is a sweet baby with light strawberry hair. The children have been good and they have welcomed this much needed break from the open road. We will stay here through Monday and then Tuesday it is off to Alabama to see my family. Meanwhile, we are touring Walmart home office and talking small hikes around lakes. It should be very enjoyable and restful... as restful as it can be with four children desperate to catch turtles in chigger infested forests. Ahhh, childhood.