Halfway Point

Location: Eden Prairie, MN

Total Miles traveled: 1470.00

Tanner's Favorite Song of the Day: "Help Me Rhonda"

Most Embarrassing Artists to Admit My Husband has on His Ipod: Olivia Newton John and Christopher Cross

Most Inappropriate Song We Let Jake Rock Out To: "I Want to be Sedated" by the Ramones

Most Exciting Moment on the Road: Finding a Starbucks in Sioux Falls, SD (the first SB we have hit since Boise!)

Best Tourist Attraction of the Day: Wall Drug

It was a long day of driving through some flat and rather boring country that was littered with anti-abortion billboards, interspersed with advertisements for huge sex toy stores. Odd combination, to say the least!

The kids were TROOPERS. Well... Faith's screaming got rather old quickly and I did spend many minutes with my fingers literally in my ears as she protested loudly against the injustice of being confined to her car seat and having all her toys and snacks out of arms reach. But the boys? They were amazing. We woke up at 4: 15 and packed the car stealthily as they continued to sleep. We woke them up at 5 and they were cheerful and ready to start the day. Not the attitude we had expected at all!

Wall Drugs was a great pit stop for breakfast. Homemade pancakes, donuts, biscuits and gravy and 5 cent coffee. Mmmmm. I can feel my arteries hardening as I type this. The kids picked out the obligatory "huge lollipop" which we saved for the last hour of driving, as well as the cool sunglasses (ie: goggles) Jake is wearing in the photo.

We were greeted in Eden Prairie, MN by the four 1/2 cousins, Auntie Sue, Grandma, Eric and his girlfriend Mona, and Lisa and Clark. That is the entire Simonich Clan so we took a photo to commemorate the occasion. Jake jumped right in and got on the Wii (baseball, of course). Faith and Tanner warmed up quickly and played on the swingset all evening.

Tomorrow we head to the Mall of America. If we still have enough money for internet service after that venture, we'll post again tomorrow.