{repeat chorus} On the road again....

Ah! On the road again..... It has a sweet feeling to it! 💛 And so we continue to head East. Our next destination will be Frisco (Dallas), Texas. But this will be a two day trip so we'll stop somewhere in the middle to spend the night and get right back on the road in the morning.





















Let me be transparent here for a minute. There are normally 2 things I always bring way too much of, my husband would say 3 - but I am holding fast to just 2.

1) work-out clothes! I might overestimate my commitment level to rise before everyone else and squeeze in a quick work out in the mornings. lol However, this trip we will have a little reprieve from the tin can when we stay in a few hotels along the way where it's not fitting (literally) to bring the tin can {ie. NYC, Boston and others}. So I am DETERMINED to take advantage of those hotel fitness centers. But I'm also going to cut myself a little slack remembering that at times, when we are doing those touristy things, we do end up walking miles and miles some days, so that counts, right!?! But in all seriousness, I do love my workout time. It's my quiet me-time that definitely rejuvenates my being in so many ways! So when I can sneak it in, I will! ;)

2) books! I might overestimate my availability of free time to sit and indulge in a book! I mean you would think that with HOURS upon HOURS of time on the road, that I'd be able to cruise through stacks of books, right!?! Uh ya - NO! My time actually sitting in one place while we are cruising down the road, would probably average out to about 15 minutes a time. Up for this down, up for that, this person needs this help, that person needs more help, uh oh - disagreement (yes, we have those!), now everyone is hungry {again}, don't forget to feed the driver, help this person with bathroom duties {sometimes a precarious task while going down the road! :O}, reach this, pick up that, you get the point. I will say that it is much easier than it was 3 years ago when we still had TWO in diapers! lol And the older boys are a huge help too - but even at that - the so-called quiet sitting reading time I imagined, doesn't ever quite come to fruition like I dream. And so goes the same mantra as #1... when I can sneak it in, I will! ;)

In case you missed the play by play on Instagram, we did pass these signs as we meandered down the highway in between Arizona and Southern New Mexico. 

Okay, be careful, we got the message. 

Not that we knew a solution or what to do when you are practically driving a sail boat down the road, but okay - thanks for the warning {I guess?}.





















And then, this....

Huh, guess they were right! 😨 Thank you Jesus for protecting us as we measly drove along US Hwy Windstorm.

 Once we see the "WELCOME TO TEXAS" signs, we did do a little celebrating. However, if you've ever made this drive before, just because you enter Texas doesn't mean you are anywhere's near your destination. Unlike most states, entering the state means you could still have days of driving ahead of you! lol

Just a little mid-stop photo taking to celebrate little missy being able to come sit with me in the front seat.

We stopped for the night in the sprawling metropolis of Van Horn, Texas. See, right here....

Yep - I'm sure you know it! Right? 😜😜

The next morning, we rose, said goodbye and thanks to VanHorn, TX and mosied on our way through Texas some more, and some more and some more and some more.

And when in Texas, you have bug splat the size of Texas. We named them Burgs {aka. bird + bug}. Unfortunately, they met their demise on our windshield but I'm sure they lived a good life - really, they did!

I just KNEW you were dying {ha, ha, ha} to see a picture of burg splat, right!?! You're welcome!

And beyond shock of all shock, the driver decided to let me drive. Actually I started driving before the burg splat but after we washed burg away at our gas stop, I continued on in the captain's seat. I think he pretended to be asleep or something so the kids would fend for themselves but not sure how that worked out for him. Because once I'm in the driver's seat, I kind of tune out everything else {thus, the driver's motivation to do 90% of the driving! ;) }. So if I look serious here, it's because I really really am.

My focused composure might, just might have something to do with the fact that the driver let me take the helm through the Dallas/Fortworth freeway spaghetti bowl. Being the small town girl that I now claim to be, I admittedly was saying some serious prayers as I attempted to follow the phone map directions and drive us through something like THIS.... 😵😵😵

No big deal, right?

PS. The 3rd thing would be.... SHOES! But you can't fault a girl {and her daughter 😏} for that, right!?! Btw.... I'm pretty sure I've worn EVERY pair I brought.

PSS. If you read this far, you are a super hero! Let me know in the FB comments, if you did! I'd love to know!