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.