We are working our way across the Plains where you have three radio choices – country, country, and country.  This is ok with Alannah who has still not gotten her fill. 

I can't tell you how many times we have criss-crossed the midsection of the country over the years.  People make wisecracks but I honestly don't mind the great plains.  It feels very wholesome and homey. If flat.

Today the skies were brilliant blue and I managed to catch some of the countryside as we drove. It reminds me once again that everyplace is beautiful in its own way. 

Random family anecdote: some 15ish years ago when we were trekking across the plains our transmission gave up the ghost. It was the 3rd of July.  There was one auto shop open in Grand Island, NE and the owner and his wife were finishing packing their RV as the tow truck pulled us in to his place, the only shop in town that had not closed for the holiday weekend. He called all over and finally found parts an hour away.  He sent someone to fetch them and we sat in his small more or less air conditioned office with five kids for many, many hours while he got our vehicle road ready again.  If you are reading this, send up a little prayer for a very nice Nebraskan.

Maybe send another up for a less eventful road trip this time. 

Speaking of road trips, someone reported that Abbie thought we were driving back to England today.  "Noooo," she said. "I said we are driving back to England BUT stopping in Omaha first."  Well now, that is definitely more sensible, baby girl.   

Little people can travel for approximately six hours before good humor wears out.  Just so you know.  That has been the magic number on this trip.  After that they ask how far Omaha is from ColoROdo and mention how they miss their little dogs and sometimes burst into tears because their sibling is using the crayons. The CHRISTMAS stocking crayons.  (gasp) The crayons which are getting imperceptibly smaller with each page they color…  

Hypothetically. 

This actually has the unexpected perk of distracting a mom from the thought of her adult children driving in another vehicle.  I so prefer to negotiate crayons. Stay little, stay little. : ) 

Anyway, before long we found ourselves across Nebraska and in front of the world's largest Whole Foods for dinner. Awesome.  Crayon drama long forgotten, movies playing at the hotel.  We are winding down and the snow is beginning to fall. A fine day all in all. A very fine day.

Asher and Colin worked their way across the Rockies today to meets us for the first leg of our road trip.  Colin lent me these shots from the road. Most of these are from Utah. 

We woke up to the last of the recent snowfall though the weather was warming quickly. We haven't touched snow since last winter and that lasted one afternoon.  It was over a year before that when we had snow last.  It's very possible we will have had our fill of it by the time this trip is over.  Today though, some small people found it to be a real novelty yet. 

The temperatures have taken some getting used to but we have been saying this for a while.  In England it is much warmer outside but much colder INside.  As a group, the British are very thrifty with their heating oil.  It isn't cheap and is only used as necessary.  It is common to turn on the heat – turn it ON, not UP – for a few hours in the  morning and a few hours in the evening for 'washing up.'  In between you layer or you are asleep.  We keep our England house very cool by American standards and tend to complain about it to each other.  However I admit it now seems really warm in stores and homes and cars here.  I feel sort of extravagant walking around the house or store in shirtsleeves.

The wind was wild as this first Stateside day began. It didn't stop Allen and Moira from taking a morning run however. 

So then there were odds and ends to attend to.  Quick lunch with friends. Haircuts for some young men.  Tess discovered Highlights magazine while waiting.  Going to have to consider a subscription for her.  

Side note on Highlights. I can't glance at a cover without immediately thinking DENTIST OFFICE.  My Highlights memories are inextricably tied with dental appointments and just looking at one makes me twitch.  Saltwater aquariums have a similar effect.  Totally irrelevant share there.  Carry on.

The little girls were pretty excited when Dad gave them 50cents to ride the horse outside the barbershop.  

And then there was some of this…

We plan for down time on trips and have had a lot of discussions about jetlag – as in, if you suddenly feel tears welling up for no apparent reason or if your brothers/mothers/fathers/etc tone of voice very nearly sends you RIGHT over the edge then probably you are very very tired.  Very very very very tired.  And you should give yourself a little break.  

This actually applies to children too. ; ) 

So anyway, tears happen on trips.  And they are quickly forgotten with a little rest and snack and hug. 

And my crew just walked in again so will share more tomorrow. 

So that news I mentioned? Epic three week journey to the States.  I wasn't expecting to be able to post until after the fact but things fell into place and here is the first post.  This travel journal is going to be brief daily notes vs lovely image art.  Truly just a journal with whatever device I can grab.  Today that was a daughter's point and shoot. 

Will start with the real life hard stuff.  It isn't easy closing up a life for this long.  So.much.to.do before you can walk out the door.  And typically Murphy's law prevails which meant that in the days that led up to the flight a vehicle died, appliances were replaced necessitating last minute emptying/cleaning, a cabinet fell off, some people got sick.  There were various and sundry last minute fires to put out related to the big event we are leading up to.  

And I don't fly well.  That may be the understatement of the century.  Just know its not pretty.  At all.  

But there were many, many blessings along the way.  There always are.  

An older British woman in line near us in check in heard us call Abbie.  She said to me, "We have an Abbie too.  "Her Father's joy."  Why yes, indeed.  We don't pass through places like airport security without drawing attention so it is especially nice when people take a moment to compliment the children for waiting patiently and following directions.  

The children were awesome.  All through the three hours of driving and nine straight hours in air.  It is going to be fascinating seeing America through their eyes.  The three little ones have little to no recall of this place. Abbie especially was only a year old when we left. Tess was three and has no recall.  Brendan was five.  He has hazy memories.   A good case in point is a conversation between them and Kieran when we went to a British store I'd found recently.  

"So what kind of store is it?" they asked.  

I said,"It's like a Target."

"What's a Target?" one asked.  

"I know that one!" said Brendan.  "It's that thing you shoot at with arrows!"  

"No," said Kieran, "She means it's like a Walmart."  

"What's a Walmart?" all three littles asked.  

So yeah.  It's going to be an adventure.  We're always up for adventure though. : )