Monday, July 21, 2008

Around the World in 20 Days

In answer to the all consuming question – Yes, we are still here in South Dakota. I am beginning to feel like a pregnant lady in her 41st week, you who have been there understand. Our house is ready to sell, but we seem to be lacking the traffic of people ready/willing to purchase. We tried to FSBO for about 6 weeks and called it quits last week and turned it over to a Realtor. We’ll see how it goes.

Daniel started his new job in Nebraska three weeks ago, so here’s to another bout of the long-distance marriage. Hopefully this won’t be another four month adventure, like last time (author’s fear - could it be longer?!?!?!). Since he was away anyway, we girls decided to take our summer trip to catch up with our far away family. It was a great adventure.

The condensed version is 20 days, 10 states, lots of family, horse back riding, swimming, Menan fireworks, more family, Silverwood (“arms in the air,” Emily: “Mom, remember when you were way up to the sky, and I was waving at you and then I screamed like this ‘(enter loud, high pitched scream here)’. That was me screaming, did you hear me?” Umm, not over my own screams.), vomit (only one out of five – not too bad this year!), Twin Falls temple open house, and over 3,000 miles of driving (let’s not think about the $4.00+/gal gas prices). It was a good time. The kids are really amazing travelers so it was really fun. I could have taken about two more weeks to enjoy each place a bit longer, but reality, the drag that it is, is ever beckoning.



So here we are back in South Dakota, trying to keep everything clean and nice, while fantasizing about heading out on the road again. We are trying to attempt post-vacation recovery with our children, well with Emily really, who I believe was possessed by demons somewhere between Tri-Cities and South Dakota. Probably somewhere in the Wyoming desert – what else is there to do there but posses young children? We’ve been trying to put an end to the whining and screaming bouts – but she’s more stubborn than me so all I have succeeded in getting is a perpetual twitch in my right eye and a tight muscle from cringing whenever I see Emily and Taylor going at it, knowing that the ear splitting scream will shortly follow from one or both of them. Next year I am thinking mild sedation, not for the trip mind you, but for the week following. Again, don’t pass this along to social services, if you please!

5 comments:

Alissa said...

We sure miss you all. Cole's bored out of his mind this week. And the girls that come to the Relief Society park playdate don't quite handle him like his cousins do...(they look at him like he's a freak and try to get out of his grasp!)

Glad you had a good trip. Can't wait until next year!

Q and T McKnight said...

You are such a Pioneer Woman (on four wheels that is) - the Queen of mini van travelling. We sure missed you guys while you were away. So glad you and the girls had a great time with family and friends, and you enjoyed your time on the road. We know some time soon you will climb back in that Van and head down the road out of Brookings for the last time. It will be a sad day for all of us!

We sure love you guys!

Grandma T

Annie said...

Kari, you still haven't mentioned where in Omaha you will be moving to? Sounds like a fun trip. You are awesome to take your kids for cross country trip? Did you stop at Mt. Rushmore?

Amy said...

It was so fun to see you... you truly are my hero for taking 4 girls and 1 dog on a 3,000 mile trip. Are you crazy? :) But I'm glad you did it, because I got to see you!

Sister Savanah Jo Ward said...

at least you only had one puking on the trip this year. that's progress!