Missouri or Bust!!

Well we finally made it back from a long, but fun trip back East ( or should I say Midwest.) It was definitely interesting to say the least, but quite fun over all. The beginning started out a bit rough. We left from Tj's cabin in Eagar, AZ and made it outside of Amarillo, TX when Tj's dad's motorhome blew a tire. It happened at about 5:00 but being in such a small town, everything was closed so we had to wait until the next morning to get it fixed thus deciding to pull all of the trailors behind some shady Texaco gas station to sleep for the night. Our only source of the light was the flickering " Chalet Inn" motel sign next to us! I thought we were going to die out there and I wondered what I had gotten my self into but we made it through the night safely ( to my disbelief). Unfortunatly, the tire wasn't fixed until about 11:00 the next morning so we lost a good 8 hours of driving time.


We headed out as soon as it was fixed and no more than 2 hours after we left another tire popped on the side of the road. Luckily we were right across the street from a trucking station where they had the equipment to fix it. We pulled the other trailors to a gas station and set up a movie to watch while we waited. Please keep in mind there were 9 children and 7 adults so cramming into a trailor is always fun!! The upside to that was Tj and I got to take a shower for the first time that trip! hooray!!! We continued on our way and made it to the OK/ MO border before we stopped for the night in a Walmart parking lot.( I never thought this would be me)We woke up at about 4 am and continued our way to Stockton, MO where we would finally arrive for good!! we pulled our trailors into the church parking lot, changed really quick and went to church. It was definitely interesting to say the least but good to see what it's like. After church we drove to our " trailor park" where we hooked up and camped out ( like I said before, I never thought this would be me) After church, we went and looked at tJ's dad's property and were there no longer that 10 minutes when we were swarmed by ticks!! that's right, I said Ticks!! Luckily Tj and I never got bitten but a few of the kids did throughout the trip. Needless to say, we took off running and a few girls screaming but made it back to camp OK!!


There is a huge lake in Stockton so on Monday we decided to rent a jet ski and go play for the day. It was so nice, the weather was in the 80's and the water was so warm! The lake was huge and it even had an island in the middle with massive sail boats around. it was breath taking!!! we had a great time and got a little sun burned but that's ok. For any of you that know me, I was soaking up every ray I could!!


Tuesday we headed down to Branson, MO ( another 1 1/2 hours of driving 1 way) to go to Silver Dollar City. It's an amusement park with rollar coasters and such. It was really fun but it started rainging 1/2 way through so they shut down the rides and the only thing left open was the little kiddie rides. Needless to say, we had a great time on the big swings and flying elephants!! Oh ya, and the best part was the funnel cakes!! I have been craving one for so long and it was amazing!!!I guess something good came out of the midwest!!


Wednesday we headed for Nauvoo but took a detour to St Louis to go to the Arch. That was amazing to see. Tj got a little nervous at the top (and for any of you that don't know the ferris wheel story, remind me to tell you that one) so we weren't there for very long but it was really amazing to see this structure! I highly recommend it. Of course driving with 9 children and 7 adults you don't make it very far without having to pull over for a " potty break" and it takes a good hour to get lunch and dinner so by the time we were done at the Arch we drove another hour and were done for the day. Luckily we left the trailor in Stockton so we got a hotel for the night with a real bed and shower!!! I had never been so happy!!!


Thursday we arrived at Nauvoo and that was awesome to see. We did all of the tourist stuff and saw all of the buildings and did all of the tours. We also got to go to the temple and do sealings which was incredible! That temple is gorgeous and if you ever get a chance to go to Nauvoo, you better go there. It is such an amazing place and we felt so appreciative of our ancestors and those that sacrificed so much so that we could have what we do now!! AWESOME!!! anways- We spent the night there Thursday and Friday night and headed back for home on Saturday. We made it back to Stockton Saturday evening and went to dinner at some shady bar and lounge that TJ accidentally picked out but the food was pretty good. We spent the night and headed home on Sunday for one long drive! I believe 22 hours to be exact!! Of course we made it an hour before the big sign " Firework Superstore" showed up on a billboard and guess who swerved to thr right to pull over. "Shockingly" it hadn't even opened yet but TJ made us wait so that he could go in a buy over $100 worth of fireworks ( only to add to the pile that he already has sitting downstairs) Whatever makes him happy I guess!!

It was great trip but good to be home!! I missed the comforts of city life and my own bed and shower but it was so much fun to see the country and get out of the little bubble we live in here!!