Road Trip pics
So, we have returned from our long drive to Oklahoma and back. Along the way, J, Jillian and I went through 10 states and almost hit 3000 miles. Now we are home and knee deep in the joys that are the beginning of middle school, homework, and inappropriate web surfing when home alone in the afternoon. How does that stuff happen so fast?
Anyway, I am posting some pics to commemorate our travels. Cut for everyone's sanity!
On the initial drive to Oklahoma City, from MD to WV, KY, IN, IL, MO and then OK, we did may a brief side trip to visit Santa Claus, IN. Cute. And a good way to get out of the car!
We drove thru St. Louis (no stopping!):
And finally met up with the boys in OKC, with a short stay to get some playtime in.
And then we started the long drive back. First, onto Little Rock, Arkansas where we somehow got the kids to eat at a fish place.
We went to the headquarters of Heifer International (free!) and learned about things going on around the world to improve health and poverty.
And then we headed next door to the Clinton Presidential Library, with a stop to view the Arkansas River.
And Elliott sat in the President's Chair for what appears to be a rather raucus Cabinet meeting:
And then it was on to Memphis, where we saw the home of the King, the Mississippi River, and then headed downtown to learn some more about Music (and see where the Grizzlies play basketball).
The Rock and Soul Museum was a hit (those personal MP3 players are awesome!). Ours were the only 3 kids in the place and J and I were in the handful of folks under 45, but the music was a popular choice. Then we headed to Beale Street for lunch.
After lunch, we went to the zoo and visited some non-DC pandas. Then it was off to Nashville, where we visited Cheekwood Botanical Garden and their really interesting display of "treehouses" inspired by literature.
Inside the Walden Pond treehouse and the conch from The Lord of the Flies (!):
Then an amazing fish made of CDs for the Rainbow Fish story (and a few others), then off to downtown Nashville for lunch.
By this time, we were getting tired, but it was off to Knoxville where we had a short visit with my best friend from high school (and the Maid of Honor in our wedding) who is a religion professor at UT. It was great to see her! Then we did some souvenir shopping in a huge tourist trap area in Pigeon Forge, but the kids seemed to like it.
Then a stop at the birthplace of Davy Crockett and more driving into Virginia, and finally, the next day, a ferry across the Potomac to head home.
I was so glad to get out of the car! But we did have a pretty good time. And hopefully, the kids got some good memories.
Anyway, I am posting some pics to commemorate our travels. Cut for everyone's sanity!
On the initial drive to Oklahoma City, from MD to WV, KY, IN, IL, MO and then OK, we did may a brief side trip to visit Santa Claus, IN. Cute. And a good way to get out of the car!
We drove thru St. Louis (no stopping!):
And finally met up with the boys in OKC, with a short stay to get some playtime in.
And then we started the long drive back. First, onto Little Rock, Arkansas where we somehow got the kids to eat at a fish place.
We went to the headquarters of Heifer International (free!) and learned about things going on around the world to improve health and poverty.
And then we headed next door to the Clinton Presidential Library, with a stop to view the Arkansas River.
And Elliott sat in the President's Chair for what appears to be a rather raucus Cabinet meeting:
And then it was on to Memphis, where we saw the home of the King, the Mississippi River, and then headed downtown to learn some more about Music (and see where the Grizzlies play basketball).
The Rock and Soul Museum was a hit (those personal MP3 players are awesome!). Ours were the only 3 kids in the place and J and I were in the handful of folks under 45, but the music was a popular choice. Then we headed to Beale Street for lunch.
After lunch, we went to the zoo and visited some non-DC pandas. Then it was off to Nashville, where we visited Cheekwood Botanical Garden and their really interesting display of "treehouses" inspired by literature.
Inside the Walden Pond treehouse and the conch from The Lord of the Flies (!):
Then an amazing fish made of CDs for the Rainbow Fish story (and a few others), then off to downtown Nashville for lunch.
By this time, we were getting tired, but it was off to Knoxville where we had a short visit with my best friend from high school (and the Maid of Honor in our wedding) who is a religion professor at UT. It was great to see her! Then we did some souvenir shopping in a huge tourist trap area in Pigeon Forge, but the kids seemed to like it.
Then a stop at the birthplace of Davy Crockett and more driving into Virginia, and finally, the next day, a ferry across the Potomac to head home.
I was so glad to get out of the car! But we did have a pretty good time. And hopefully, the kids got some good memories.