Day 3

It was a long, hard day of traveling. Everyone's tired and cranky, and the kids are, too ;) I don't even have any pictures...the one I did take today was from the car window as we passed this big industrial plant of some kind between Baker City and Ontario. The sign said Cement Plant Road, so I'm guessing it was a...cement plant. I also took a picture of Helen at lunch because we ate at Cracker Barrel. Those are mostly in the South so it was a treat!

My AAA TripTik app said it would be about 5 1/2 hours from Baker City to Pocatello, but we left at 10am and got here at 8pm. Even gaining an hour for changing time zones, stopping for lunch, gas, and potty breaks doesn't explain the extra time.

But we made it, and the kids got some time on the playground, and they learned to teeter-totter! Yes, this old playground has such dangerous pursuits as a teeter-totter and merry-go-round. Only the merry-go-round didn't work. I do understand, though, why such things have been removed from most playgrounds. My heart was racing the entire time the boys were teetering. Remember when we used to slam down, making our partner catch air? Geez! I'm surprised we never broke our necks!

Tomorrow: Yellowstone or bust! The tires are looking good for now, so we're pleased about that. Hopefully I can get some laundry done before check-out tomorrow and we'll be in good shape. I might have to go against everything I believe and shop at a Wal-Mart tomorrow. Don't judge me! They have big rig parking and most of the things on our list; things that will probably be over-priced in West Yellowstone.

See you next in Montana!

Day 2

We had a nice lazy morning, except for Jimmy, who rotated all the tires in hopes of postponing undue stress on any one tire. Packed a picnic lunch then went to Les Schwab to replace the worn tire then we headed for the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

The strength in this Center is personal voices - the different sections of the journey are chronicled through pioneer diaries. Which of course meant that the kids blew through the place and got impatient with me because I had to read every word. At the end though, was a great play area for the kids - a bare bones wagon with different size pillows representing all the things people needed to take on the trail (the kids have to try and pack it all), a giant magnetic word wall for creating poems, and a dress up area.

We didn't have the fortitude to take the 2-mile hike to see the wagon ruts, but there's a place along the road back to town that you can stop and walk to see them, so we did that. I wondered, as I stood in the place where those intrepid pioneers (and indigenous peoples before them) rode toward a new life, if my great-great grandfather, Henry Clay Huston, had walked over that very spot on his way to the Willamette Valley. I'd like to think so!

We returned to camp and indulged in a swim until the wind started blowing and we got chilly.

Tomorrow we stop over in Pocatello, Idaho on our way to Yellowstone.

We would appreciate your positive thoughts and prayers that our trailer axles function appropriately so we can continue our journey!

Day 1

Nothing much to see here; move along...

Drove to Baker City and the kids blew off some steam at the RV park playground while Jimmy connected hoses and such.

Before we left we got new tires and axles because they were bent, but it's looking like one of our tires is wearing on the inside again. *huff* We'll visit Les Schwab before hitting the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center tomorrow, get a new tire, and shift some weight before leaving Sunday for Idaho. If it looks like the problems persist this might be one short vacation.

Testing, testing; 1, 2, 3...

Well, I'm dusting off the 'ol blog so we can keep track of our adventures on the Cross Country Sabbatical Tour 2011. We're scheduled for take-off on Friday, July 8th, and will return home around August 28th.

We'll be heading to Florida via the northern route, and returning home through the South. What an adventure!

More and more snow

It didn't stop. Briefly, here, and there, but we got hit again this weekend. Poor James...both his birthday parties were postponed. But we got his cake anyway and invited the neighbors over to help us eat it!

Here is the progression of snow...

Don't ask us if we're enjoying it. We did, for about 15 minutes last Monday. Then they sanded our sledding hill and put and end to that fun. Then the next snow that came was powder, and we couldn't sled on that either. It's too powdery also to make a snowman. It is fun, however, to walk knee deep in the stuff. That's an unusual. And we have to keep clearing a path through the deck, down the stairs, and in the yard for Kelsey to "do her business." I don't think she's pooped since the snow started.

And it's beautiful outside. Everything is peaceful and white. Merry Christmas everyone!

Snow Day!

What was going to be a busy Sunday has turned into a Snow Day. We have provisions and after spending a few minutes outside early in the snowstorm, are now snuggled by the fire enjoying our individual pursuits.

Trimming the tree

Got this business taken care of early - with a December birthday in the family now it tends to sneak up on us rather quickly, so we got out our lights, decorations, and ornaments and put up 'ol Tannenbaum.








I'm not sure what we'll do for a card this year - it's nearly impossible to get all 3 children plus the dog in a photo with everyone looking halfway happy. And don't even get me started on trying to see Santa. Every time we leave the house someone is having an attitude problem or a meltdown or they fall asleep. Bah humbug!