On the Road to Home

Mark left Florida last week for Missouri to pick up the girls. The trip was relatively uneventful, which is good considering the truck was packed with a dog and two cats. He had the great pleasure of stopping in Nashville to have dinner with his good friend, Meghan. The friend is actually married to Matthew Perryman Jones, a great musician. Check him out on Facebook. Eventually, he made it to Missouri and got to visit with family and pick up the girls. Then, he loaded the truck up with one dog, two cats, two girls, and couple more suitcases. What could go wrong? Actually, the first eight hours went very well. There were a few lessons learned though.

1. DVD players are a wonderful blessing that make the time go much quicker. I’m certain the covered wagons would have crossed the prairie faster if their kids would have had DVDs to watch.

2. Two cats, two girls, one dog: the frequency of stops will be determined by the weakest bladder.

3. Kids have their traveling limits. Eight hours seemed to be ours.

4. A new day does not set the clock back to zero traveling hours. The previous day’s eight hours carry over. Thus, the girls’ traveling limit starts earlier the next day.

5. A good dinner with a good friend makes a long trip tolerable.

6. Cats cannot howl for a continuous eight hours. They only last about two.

7. Unlike a dog, evidently a cat will poop in its kennel. Kids think that is funny.

We did stop eventually in Shamrock, TX. This gave us time to swim, eat, and sleep. Then, the next day, we made the last few hours to New Mexico. We stopped by the realtor's office, picked up our keys, and went to see our new house.

THE GIRLS POSE IN FRONT OF THEIR NEW HOME

Once we got inside, Mark filmed the girls exploring the rooms. The cats and dog did the same. We unloaded our stuff, registered Olivia in Kindergarten, went to get dinner, and then set up camp -- a bedroom floor. One night on the floor was enough; then we checked into base lodging for a few nights.

The next morning was Olivia's first day of school! Thanks to her mother and her grandmother carefully pre-arranging all the aesthetic details (clothes, hair, etc.), how could a dad screw up? She was excited to go! So, we walked to school, backpack loaded.

OLIVIA MEETS HER TEACHER -- MS. DAVIS

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Katelee entertains herself in a big, empty house. She has a babysitter while dad works.

After school, Olivia gives Courtney an update of the activities via Skype.

Olivia has already met one friend -- a boy -- who she says she will marry. She has also already learned the value of the weekend. "Is today Friday?" she asks. Yes. "Good, tomorrow is Saturday, and we don't have school." Amen!