Other random road trip thoughts

*Highs*

Grandma Cuca's total and absolute shock at her surprise party.

Staying up late playing Zurts, Apples to Apples, Rummy, and Cranium with my siblings.

Being reunited with Andrew after the first ten days of the trip.  His absence really did make my heart grow fonder.  I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for at least the first 24 hours.

Playing Just Dance with Destiny.  I had yet to play with someone who was actually a good, competitive match for me.  It was so fun!  If only we lived closer to each other and could play more than once a year.

Seeing tons of antelope on the drive from Utah to South Dakota.  And none of them running in front of us.

*Lows*

The portable DVD player broke on our second day of driving.  NOOOOO!

The kids were fighting over the iPod and broke the car charger in the melee.  Seriously?

Discovering that Brandon only packed two pairs of underwear.  D'oh!

Whitney left a dead crawdad in a plastic cup in the van for two days in the Texas heat.  Let's just say the air in there was polluted for several days.

Our visit to the Kirby Science Center in Sioux Falls, SD.  We only had about 45 minutes to play before they closed.  Caroline peed her pants after about 7 minutes, so she and I had to leave.  Then they closed the whole place 15 minutes early.  Ridiculous.  SO not worth the stop.

Whitney made some cute little rag dolls in Nauvoo and then lost them the next morning at breakfast.  She was devastated, which broke my heart.

If found, please contact Whitney ASAP.

*Most interesting names*

Pudding Ridge Golf Course
Mousetail Landing
Stink Creek Road
Old Woman Creek
Skunk River
Kickapoo Creek

*Lessons learned*

Did you know that feral pigs are running rampant through parts of the country?  I had never heard of such a thing before this trip.

Caroline is terrified of showers.  We definitely need to stick with baths for another year or two.

When traveling with a three-year-old, always have a pull-up handy.

*Random memories*

There was a crazy cardinal at the cabins in Texas that kept flying into windows and mirrors over and over.

It was creepy.

I had a dream that a giant talking catfish told me, "Start.  Better start, Jedi."

Visited the Browning Gun Shop in Nauvoo and learned that the original Mr. Browning engraved "Holiness to the Lord" on each gun that he sold.  Interesting.

*My favorite Grandma Cuca quotes*

A couple of years ago, she had a man investigate a problem with her roof.  He found a mama squirrel with several babies and she told him to get rid of them.  He asked her, in all seriousness, "Are you sure?  Because they'd make some good dumplings."

She has been accused by some people as being fiesty, but she told me, "I'm not fighting with people, I'm just defending myself."

*Some random pics*