I did it

I started packing!  After repeatedly calling John yesterday complaining about how much I had to do, yet I had no boxes to put anything in, he came home with boxes and tape and markers.  And then my friend Brandi came over and picked up my kids so I could have time to pack.  And then later that night, my friend Robyn showed up with boxes (thank you sweet friends!). Drat!  Looks like I actually have to do this!  So I did!  And it feels good!

We have decided to make our last few days here all about our favorite things to do in this town.  Today?  Possibly a thrift store (my favorite) and then most definitely onto the ice cream factory for some fresh deliciousness (their favorite)!  We are still going to be living very close to this place, but I really wanted some fun things for us to do in the midst of all of the things we have to do.  Some time to fill love tanks while most of our time is spent side by side working away.  So this seems to fit well.

I am thankful that we had the foresight to take a little mini road trip last week!  We had so much fun just living in a pile on top of each other for the week.  Really, I treasured every minute of it!  We started at my brother and sister in law's place to finally (finally!) meet my sweet baby niece.  She is full of cuddles and smiles- I just love her!  We also got to go trick-or-treating with my nephew.  That was so much fun!

 Our destination after we left there was to a drive through safari.  We had so much fun!  The highlight of the day was when the ostrich stuck his head through our sunroof!  We were all squealing and ducking away from certain pecking.

before the pecking began- typing this my brain is screaming "run for your life!!!"

the zebras were crazy friendly!

Thinking about it makes me smile.  It was one of those perfect days when you are totally making your kid's dreams come true.

Off to pack up some books.
Who do I think I am with all of these books?!?!

meanwhile, back at the ranch

As a child we spent a week every summer in the mountains of New Mexico.  Our half-way stop for the night was Amarillo.  

Texas is endless.

Or at least it seems endless when you start in Houston and make your way all the way up to the pan-handle plains.  Technically, it's about 12 hours.

Once you hit the pan-handle, the horizon goes on forever over the flat landscape.  That's why it's called "big sky country".  Really, you've never seen a sky this big.  And the sunsets- the best I've ever seen.  Anyway, back to the endless road trips of my youth.  The most welcome sight I had ever seen was the Cadillac Ranch welcoming us into Amarillo.

Cadillac Ranch is cool.  It's one of those things you just have to see to appreciate.  Imagine, if you can, seeing nothing for miles, and then all of a dither, 10 Cadillacs buried half way in the ground.

(I love the phrase "all of a dither" and I like to throw it in any time I can)

This was our kid's first trip to Cadillac Ranch.  I was so excited to share it with them!  We didn't just drive by- oh no- we got out and did some good ol' fashioned family fun.  You know- graffiti!  

Graffiti is highly encouraged at the ranch.  People leave behind their half full cans of spray paint for the next defacer.   Anything you paint will knowingly be painted over by the next passer by.  It's part of the circle of life.  

When you're here you feel like you are a part of something bigger.  An iconic, American road side exhibit.  A piece of history.  It's really cool.

John left behind our Middleman logo!

Remember the German tourists we saw at The Big Texan?  Well, they were here too.  It's too good to pass up.  

Too tempting to leave your mark.

a little bit country

Ok. A LOT a-bit country.

Our early departure from Palo Duro led us straight into the arms of all things kitsch.

The place where men are made and boys leave in tears (and with indigestion).

The Big Texan Steak Ranch!  (that's right- I said "ranch".  Not house!)

I remember eating here as a kid/teenager on our way to New Mexico.  This restaurant/theme park is located right on route 66.  It is a mecca for international tourist wanting to live the American road trip dream.  I would cringe thinking that is what the world thinks Texas is.  People eating 72 ounce steaks on a stage in under a hour.  Music on a six song loop featuring the Oak Ridge Boys and any song mentioning Amarillo.  Which oddly, are a lot.

But there was no cringing this time.  Oh no!  I reveled in introducing my children to this one of a kind place.  

And they fell right into place with no prodding from me whatsoever!  Miss Moonpie declared that she was going to have a steak.  Umm...ok.  All food rules out the window.  We're in West Texas dangit!

We ate, and laughed, and sang along to "Elvira" (ok, maybe that was just me), and all around had a great time.  I didn't even feel the need to go tell the table of German tourists next to us that this isn't really what Texas is like.  That there are cities here.  That there is incredible culture and music and art here.  But that's not the Texas they wanted to see.  They wanted this.  The Texas that's in the movies.  Big sky.  Cowboy hats.  Meat.  

Lots and lots of meat.