Day 2-Rocky

Ok,I know, I know, you had to wait a long time!  We camped a few nights and then had technical difficulties once we got to Ohio, but we are up and going now!!  I'm going to try to catch up as quickly as possible, but will do as I have done this whole trip and just take it one day at a time.  BTW-Pics will have to wait for now, but there are some good ones!!

We left Bozeman, MT at 7:45 AM and quickly learned the art of changing diapers while the kid is standing up.  It's a new adventure, but that's what it's all about.  Poor Wylie shouts out "Mommy, my ears aren't working!" and totally freaks out each time the elevation changes.  I gave her gum for the first time and she did well with not swallowing.  However, Cade doesn't follow rules so well and just keeps wanting more and more.  Good thing I only gave him a little pinch.  Poor kid is going to be pluged up with gum :-)  This will have to become a "when Cade goes to sleep" treat like so many others.  

We arrived Sheridan, WY at 11:45 for lunch.  It was another successful picnic.  This time at the Trail End Historic Site.  Quiet, spacious lawn, many shade trees, so perfect for our fair skinned family.  Sheridan has a lot of nice old homes that I would love to live in and a beautiful middle school that I would love to work in, just not in Wyoming.  As we entered town it looked a little like Las Animas.  The dirt was dry and hard, the weeds were spaced far apart,and many of the buildings looked ran down.  The best part though was the train tracks.  We were lucky enough to hit them just as a coal train was coming through both coming into town and when we were leaving.  

At 3:02 PM we were lucky enough to drive through Upton, WY, Population 872 and advertised as "The Best Town on Earth" on their welcome sign.  When Jon told Wylie this and encouraged her to take it all in, she said "where?"  Let's just say the Routh family doesn't agree with the sign.  The roads were all dirt and just to make it a little fancy they watered down part of it.

Around 3:30 we finally made it to our first big destination....Bedrock City!  That's right we got to see the Finstones!  It was a fun time and we wish we had scheduled in more time to play.  We did get our picture taken with Fred, so the kids were happy. After a promise of ice cream at Mt. Rushmore, they were even more happy.

Next stop-Crazy Horse Monument.  This was a big underwhelming.  We appreciate the thought behind it, but really it just looks like a big rock that has a face you can kinda see and a bunch of other white lines.  Again, appreciate the historical significance and though, but took a picture and left.

Final Destination Spot-Mt. Rushmore!!!  WOW!  This was awestriking, breath taking, question awakening.  Just thinking about all of the people who worked together, who were killed while working, who worked on it either out of patriotism or the need for a job at the time is just amazing.  Of course, Wylie's favorite part of the whole day was her strawberry shortcake ice cream and then her dad's cookies & cream ice cream!!

We arrived at the Deadwood KOA @ 7:12 PM and Wylie and Cade were jazzed about camping.  Jon set up camp while the kids and I played at the playground, then we had dinner of hot dogs on a not so hot fire (apparently the BBQ coals that we bought are non-flamable :-)  The kids used the Aerobed as a trampoline and made quick friends with the neighboors.  Those poor people heard all about our vacation plans and Wylie's sleeping bag and tried their best to decipher Cade's stories.  Cade was filthy from head to toe, but happy as a clam (maybe a Flinstone clam :-)  Bed time 9:00 and it went fairly well.

Sweet Moments-Wylie and Cade held hands while sleeping in the tent.

Funny Sights- Our first palm tree sighting was somewhere between Bozeman and Sheridan.  There were metal and painted in neon colors, but they count!

Lessons learned:  Licorice works just as well as gum when Wylie's ears wont work.
When your DVD & Garmin both stop working within a 1/2 hour of each other you must be in an electronic vortex...we got Garmin back up, but the DVD is donezo!

Day 1-Success

We left out house at 6:34 AM and arrived in Richland WA, home of the Richland Broncos and the Spudnut Shop at 9:37 AM to try some tasty potato doughnuts.  The Routh Family is a fan of the Spudnut Shop.  The doughnuts were firmer than traditional raised, but not as firm or dry as traditional cake.  All the rest is as sweet and sugary as any doughnut.  The Tri-City area was  a sweet little surprise to us.  We are wondering what exactly people do there because their are a lot of big, nice houses and American made vehicles.  Jon's vote is they are all retired :-)


We then headed on to Coeur D'Alene for a little picnic lunch.  We made it to the city park to find it bustling with people and later realized that there was a tri-athalon taking place.  All parking was taken, but the drive around the lake to find parking was beautiful.  We finally ended up on the North Idaho University campus, which was just as nice as any park.  The kids ran around on the green grass, we soaked up some much needed vitamin D and got back in the Pilot.  After driving around Coeur D'Alene, I would say it's another city to put on my list of summer vacation homes....after we win Powerball.


We arrived at our final resting place for the day at 8:23.  Bozeman, MT, so far is non-descript.  But I can't say we've given it a fair shake.  


Funny Sights:
-There was a Special K box on the back of a large commerical pick-up.  It was just sitting on the tailgate like it belonged there.  Nothing was holding it on except a little science.
-There was an "Artillery Shells $10.00" sign in the middle of a forest.  Nothing was around, no people, no shops, nothing, just trees.  I guess you need to know someone who knows someone.


Things learned:
-if you pack a cooler with regular ice, pack it so the spout is facing our so you can drain water.
-city parks, rest stops & college campuses are all good spots for picnics
-car DVDs are awesome!!!  Santa is my hero for bring us ours.
-cup of soup in a hotel room is as good as camping for my kids


Shout Outs:
-Scott for watching our house and taking care of our sick Sagwa.
-Jaimie and Jeremy for giving us Garmin.  We have had smooth sailing because of her :-)

Reaaaaaddyyyyy BREAK!
L-E-T-S G-O Lets Go!
We're outta here!
Ready, Set, Go!
Going, Going, GONE! 

For better or worse we are hitting the road, putting the pedal to the medal, busting outta this joint!  Wylie is super jazzed, Jon and I are both super tired but running on adrenalin, and Cade is still sleeping with no idea about what is about to hit him :-)

I'll post again as soon as I can :-)

Laundry-check
Shopping-check
Cleaning-mostly a check (it will still be here when we return)
Packing-check
Ironing-some things will just have to wait 6 weeks :-)
Sleeping-soon to be a check

Good News/Bad News

2 days before we leave and boy was it a roller coaster of a day!

Good News-
*Jon and I both deposited 3 months worth of checks at one time. We are RICH!!!
*The kids are still in day care, so we got a lot of preparation for the trip done!!
*I found a lot of good bargains shopping today!!!!
*We moved Cade's car seat to the middle and he can't kick us anymore!!! 
*We got a report from Cade's teacher that he is a "good boy" and the only biting incident was him trying to bite the wall :-)
*ONE MORE DAY BEFORE WE LEAVE ON THE "INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE" TRIP!!


Bad News-
*Sagwa (our dog) had to have surgery today :-( (good news-She's going to be fine!)
*I paid bills for the next three months, so we're NOT rich after all :-(
*Jon's job situation continues to be in limbo as we start our trip, and the move to high school isn't looking promising any more :-(
 *Jon's mad that Gresham Honda wouldn't change our oil because we still have 6,000 miles to go (obviously they don't understand how quickly that will go) :-(
*One more day before we leave on the "Insane in the Membrane" Trip, YIKES!

The coundown continues!!!  8 days until we hit the road!!!!!

There's still a lot of little things to take care of, but most of the leg work is done.  Wylie has a calendar in her bedroom with the 24th circled and every night she shows me how many days until she gets to see her cousins!

Focus for the next 3 days-GET DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!!