Looks Like We Made It (1/2/2019)

Kingman ended up being the coldest place we visited. When Arthur went to start loading the car in the morning, it was about 16 degrees - his teeth were chattering when he came back in! We Californians are going to need to toughen up if we want to hack it in the Midwest!

We said one last good-bye to our last cabin (it's outside decor was different than all the rest because this KOA was neslted in a mobile home park and it had the same look as the home nearby) and watched the sunrise while Arthur checked us out.  I will miss desert sunrises.

We ate our last breakfast on the road at Cracker Barrel. YUM! Then while Arthur loaded up the kids, I bought a few surprises in the gift shop. Some chocolates for Dad because he looked after our dogs and cats when we were gone and some "awards" for my valiant traveling companions.

Orange slices for Arthur for being the "World's Best Driver" (he drove single-handedly, though I offered to help. I think he was going for a personal best in long distance driving). 

Button Candy for Joseph for being "Cute as a Button" and making us laugh on this trip.

Giant Suckers for Grace for being a "Sweetheart."  Whenever we were tired and cranky she'd pipe up: "Mom? Dad? I love you.

Wax Bottles for Rosalie for being "Sweet and Self-Contained." She was the most low maintenance child on this trip, taking care of her own needs without being asked and also helping me pass out all the snacks. Plus, she rarely melted down or acted out.

Dino Egg for Jane for being "The Nurturer" and helping corral kids the whole trip.  Jane has wanted a Dino Egg that you put in water and watch it hatch ever since our trip to Kentucky four years ago when she saw it in the gift shop at the St. George Dinosaur Museum in Utah. She finally got her wish.

They all shared their goodies with each other (as directed - ha ha) and we were off. We had a few stops - the gas station where a donkey lived, for one.

Grace also noticed the lava fields and asked Arthur about them. After he explained what it was, she asked for a "free sample." So, we pulled off at the next rest stop and Arthur found them each a piece of basalt. They love feeling the air bubble holes and contemplating how old it was. Joseph was very surprised when he woke up to find a rock in his hand much later.

We made it home by early afternoon and the kids saw Bumpers taking out the trash and ran to hug him. Grandma was not far behind and we all fell into the best group hug ever.

I'm still thinking of Katie as I close out this episode in our travel blog. She was such a good friend to me and my family and I miss her terribly. We wouldn't have headed out on this journey without her love and care for us.

Arthur's favorite - orange slices

Haven't had a wax bottle in years!

Holding their basalt

Winter Wonderland (1/1/2019)

We could hear the wind blowing all night and we woke up to more snow. We were a little nervous about whether to drive in it, so consulted our Missouri and Massachusetts family, as well as the KOA front desk. We decided to go for it.  

Warm and cozy inside the cabin.

Cold and snowy outside.

 At first, it felt like we made the right decision. But as we neared the Continental Divide it got a little more treacherous. Cars and trucks had slid off on the side of the road. A couple of scary drivers (one going only 10 mph, the others diving in and out of traffic) made it even more worrisome. But, Arthur did fine.

While Arthur was concentrating on driving and I was clinging to the door handle praying, Joseph was doing this:

Luckily, it was washable marker.

The rest the drive was absolutely beautiful. Now I understand the idea of a "Winter Wonderland." Everything was bright and sparkly and clean and beautiful - the perfect "New Year's Day" vista. We made it to Kingman safe and sound.

Icicles

Joseph City

Pulled off to see "Bearizona" a drive-through wildlife park. Found out it was $120 car and pulled back on the freeway again.

They left the lights on for us - Christmas Lights!

KOA Sweet KOA

From Dairy Queen Blizzards to Real Blizzards (12/31/18)

 After a good night's sleep, we dressed and packed while Rosalie and Joseph played in their "escape pods" in outerspace. Then we we headed down to a delicious breakfast complete with brown eggs. (We had to Marco Polo our friend, Kiahna, to find out what kind of chicken lays brown eggs!) They had a New Year's Eve selfie station in the lobby, so while Jane and Arthur checked us out, the little guys mugged for the camera. Then we set out for Albuquerque.

I beat the water ring toss game! (This ended up freezing solid later that night.)

Trying to knock over the Bourbon water tower with my nose, too, but can't get the angle.

Entering New Mexico

 We stopped for dinner at a Dairy Queen and it began to snow. Rosalie refused to put her jacket on and soon learned why jackets are a good idea. They had to have a mini-snowball fight. We let them because then we changed them into their jammies in the DQ bathroom.

Look, Mom! A UFO!

We got back on the road before it started snowing too hard. Whenever Arthur put the high beams on, the driving snow made it look like we were entering hyperspace. So, the kids played a rousing game of X-Wing fighters, complete with "pew-pews" all the way to our next KOA. We all fell in bed and set our alarm for ten minutes to midnight. Only Jane was able to be roused to ring the New Year's in.