Saturday, July 17, 2010

Day Three

We are currently in Wall, South Dakota--the entrance to the Badlands National Park. It's been a good day, despite the 536 miles that we drove. I've been reading Same Kind of Different as Me for we-the grown-ups. We have also played some eye-spy, "I-start-a-story-and-we-go-in-rounds-til-its-finished," and lots of nursery-rhyme type songs that Jeremiah still attempts to sing harmony with :) I guess I should also update you on the fact that we broke the DVD barrier last night. So they watched one movie yesterday and two today--still not bad all things considered. I stand amazed at how good the girls have been. I can only think to thank prayer. I know it's not them!

I hope this doesn't sound ugly, but if you are from Iowa or South Dakota WHAT IN THE WORLD DO YOU DO FOR FUN??!! All we saw were corn fields. I mean really, very very few small towns and corn fields. It was fun the first day, but by today I pretty much had corn fields down and was ready for a little change.

South Dakotians crack me up with their advertising schemes. If you thought Sikes and Kohns had a lot of advertising signs, you should see the ones for the "1880's town" "Ghost Town" and "WALL DRUGSTORE" in South Dakota. We got taken in at first:
DSC_0818

DSC_0815

We soon learned, however, that a whole lot more is spent on advertising than the actual attraction. This one was basically a slightly glorified gas station, with some Buffalo in a pen out back.

At this very moment I am extremely happy. The weather here is to die for. A cool breeze in a cloudless sky with a sunset that seems to never end. I don't know if it's because of how big the horizons are, or if the northern mid-west is just blessed with never-ending sunsets, but it seems to stay twilight here for around four hours.

I found some mini-log-cabins for us to stay in for a really good price. I can't begin to tell you what a $20 difference in price has made in the quality of our hotel stay. Last night was MISERABLE (and disgusting). I won't go into too much detail because Jeremiah will say I sound like a brat, but the hotel did not have air conditioning, there were un-identifiable stains on our bathroom wall, and even Jeremiah admitted that he had a hard time sleeping on his pillow with the odor it was emitting. OK?! I will note that I kept my disgust to myself since Pace and Mary Aplin were still enthralled by it all. Pace actually said, "Mommy, look at these beautiful roses on the bed spread! Aren't they just lovely?" I mean, you hate to spoil that kind of innocence. Even though she was slightly distraught when I threw the comforter off our bed using two fingers that barely touched. I told her I was just hot (which was true).

Right now the girls are playing on a log-cabinesque play fort with slides galore, while Jeremiah and I eat Ben and Jerry's straight out of the carton in this never-ending sunset and breeze. I've decided I love road trips :)

DSC_0812

DSC_0821

Tomorrow we plan to hike around the Badlands and see Mount Rushmore. We may even watch a movie in our CLEAN bed tonight.

9 comments:

Susannah said...

Abby...I am LOVING the commentary on your family fun moving/road trip!! Beautiful pictures and can't wait until you get to Seattle!!

Love Being A Nonny said...

You will be so glad one day that you documented your trip! Great pictures!

Konie said...

Memories:) and some you'll alway laugh about! I love road trips too, especially through parts of the U.S. that I've only seen from the skies. Oh sweet Pace, I'm quite sure she will always be the one looking at the picture with rose colored glasses:) How much longer?? Have you made it BACK to Dothan??hehehehe Love ya'll:_)

Gail said...

I can promise you...You will look back and laugh at all of this one day. Poor, Ashley, had to make the same drive from Seattle to KS.City, KS. in the winter months. With two sick little boys! She can now laugh!!! Glory be to God...:O)She has many, many fun stories and glad to have them behind her! LOL...Enjoy the ride...the sun is out and your heading to a great life! :O)

Gail said...

Abby, Question...Do you have your Flossy Finch stuff with you? I need to buy a baby gift soon. I thought you might be able to sew as you go? Hmmmmmm...I guess that is a crazy thought! I was just thinking...If you don't have anything with you..not to worry...as I have until Sept! Let me know when you are back into production! Thanks, G

Lauren said...

What do you think about Same Kind of Different As Me?? Its my favorite :)

andi said...

Love the pictures!!! It sounds like you all are making some great memories!!!!! :) What a great museum!

Darby said...

LOVE it all... can't believe you are in SD already and now you've been there two days! :) Can't wait to hear and see more!! We love y'all and miss you already!

Anonymous said...

corn fields that is a money crop the corn fed cattle along with a few growth hormones couldn't hurt anybody right? And let us not forget the high fructose corn syrup the building block of all those non-nutritional carbonated beverages and cookies that the expanding american waistline can't get enough of. Oh yes , popcorn with all the non dairy palm kernel oil poly saturated fats that we crave at the movie counter concession stand --incidentally the derivatives that have been getting such bad press lately that is till we have re-written the financial regs don't worry car salesmen your trade group successfully lobbied and you have a loop hole no need to comply with those fussy regs now on the books -- but the derivatives originally were created to protect a corn crop I honestly don't think it was farmer brown setting up a derivative insurance program it was the MEGAfarmers did you see the name Archer Daniel or Cargill out there by chance? You are seeing the above ground economy the mega farms that oh so appreciate the lack of copy and ink on the subject Can you say Farm Subsidy remember the GOV would pay folks not to plant something so the market prices would not dop No wonder economics was a subject soo few enrolled in --the less we know more wool to pull over our eyes--- oh yes ignorance is bliss.