wrapping it all up...

while we thoroughly enjoyed our destination, a big part of our trip took place in the car.... with 5 children.... driving across the country... and then back home again..... in the car..... with 5 children.....

they really did great. sometimes we looked at each other and questioned what the heck we were doing, but for the most part we loved watching the scenery change as we crossed the lands. i have done that drive many times, but i really think this was my favorite time.

the kids were really funny. we listened to kids place live just about the whole time. it was nice because they all liked it. soon, i'm sure, there will be a great divide in what each child finds entertaining but for now they all cracked up and were just dying to get on the radio.

i think st. louis was our favorite stop. it was july 3rd and our hotel was really cool. they have a big party with a firework show and concerts several days before the 4th. the night we were there we heard the steve miller band. it was so cool. and the firework show was the best i've ever seen. we got to stand on our own personal balcony, really freaky because we were so high up, and the show was right in front of us. little S asked the whole time if it was the "finale".
after the show, we went out to dinner. our times were so off, we kept going out to dinner at almost midnight, anywho.... there were people everywhere and everyone was all charged up. we were all in a good mood and enjoyed a huge pizza and a delicious slice of st. louis cake. the kids wanted to know about the first time P and i *blush* kissed! we were laughing as we told them. p told the story... drawing it out.... we were standing at the doorway..... looking at each other....

and D interrupts with "and then daddy said giiiirl.... you look gooood!"

we died laughing. it was so shocking coming out of her little mouth.

here is a random pic of the welter family having a peaceful dining experience....
we drove thru joplin, mo and saw all of the destruction from the tornados that had hit just 4 weeks before. it was so sad. i hadn't seen anything like it. it was the deadliest storm in 50 years.
while listening to katy perry's waking up in vegas song (totally appropriate) on the radio on a random day, S turned it up and said "listen to this part. it's so funny... why would anyone ever need a fake i.d.?" shaking her head. sometimes i am thankful my kids are on the less than mature side.

we broke our trip up into 4 days on the way out. but on the way home, we stopped one time in oklahoma city and then pushed on thru to home the next day. we were pretty delirious crossing the border, but were so happy to see this....
we arrived home safely around 1am. to a very dusty house might i add. apparently we missed the big haboob while we were gone.

we had a great trip but now it's time to focus on getting these kids

back to school!