Today had a couple of flops but it was still entertaining for the parts we did get to experience.
Adventure Stop #8: Visitors Center: Lupton, Arizona
I know these are probably not supposed to be considered big stops but it is what we get most excited about on the drive so I’m counting it! The bummer was that the center was actually closed so we didn’t get to grab 100 brochures we’ll never use or create a new fabulous flattened penny! Maybe it was a little gift that it was closed but the pictures are still fun.
Adventure Stop #9: Petrified Forest National Park: Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
The human bear has been complaining the last couple days of her stomach, I’m thinking it’s just a little car sickness and boredom, but when I saw it was 20 bucks just to drive into the park we turned around! Haha I know how long we both last in the heat and I just wasn’t willing to risk it today. We may hit it on the way back. We were able to see the visitor’s center and some of the sights from the road. My budget just couldn’t handle that potential disaster.
The couple that offered to take this pic told Ella that they liked her bear...she looked at them very seriously and said, "it isn't mine, it's my moms!" AWKWARD and honest (that should probably be the title of our blog)
Adventure Stop #10: Standing on a Corner: Winslow, Arizona
We made sure to blast “Take It Easy” by the Eagles MULTIPLE times along this drive but it still didn’t help the human bear from repeatedly singing, “standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona…blah blah blah” at the top of her lungs while we were actually ON THE CORNER with other people...good times.
The human bear can actually take a great picture! Look at Winslow perfectly in there. She impresses me often.
This man asked Ella nicely if she would please be the girl in the flat bed ford b/c he was just driving through and only pulled off the interstate to see this quickly but he was by himself. haha People love this child.
A PENNY FLATTENING MACHINE AGAIN! Yeah
Adventure Stop #11: Mojo Café: Winslow, Arizona
I was SO tired today after our last hotel didn’t have any double beds so I had to sleep in the same bed with the flailing human bear. All I wanted to do was get to our hotel early and relax the afternoon away. Whammy number one: our hotel doesn’t have rooms ready until two o’clock and whammy number two: I keep gaining hours in the day as we drive west that I was just not mentally prepared for (I realize that is something that should have been accounted for in the plans but someone willing to travel across the country alone with a six year old isn’t usually the most sane person).
Barack and N’SYNC were willing to help me out at this point because they could sense I was too tired to make sound decisions (thanks guys, we couldn't make it without y'all). Some postcards were written and sent…let us know if you’re dying to get a postcard from Route 66 and we will make sure to get one to you.
Adventure Stop #12: The Sipp Shoppe:Winslow, Arizona
I do realize at this point I have no clue what constitutes an adventure and this was only dinner but I'm so exhausted I really have no clue what's happening anymore. This was just dinner and it was back On The Corner so it is going down on the list! We did a cheers and that's the flat bed ford in the background...we chased it with soft serve ice cream! What an amazing day.
My brain hurts and the human bear is just starting to question why I'm asking her to go to bed at 7 when her bedtime is 8...BUT MY BODY FEELS LIKE IT'S 9 OR 10! I haven't appropiately described how much the human bear misses her daddy so of course tonight when we are all too tired she is walking around crying and singing "I Want You Back"...I just saw a tear drop on the atlas as she points to Baton Rouge. I can't make this stuff up.
Ella: My Mom & I stood on the corner & we stopped by the petrified forest & we went the pool & ate at a restaurant & what I enjoyed the most was having my mom on the trip with me.
And after all of this, her favorite part of the day...wait for it:
"Mommy, remember that time you said one time in my life I could try lunchables and then never have them again b/c they aren't that good for you? I think we should try them today!" She then clapped for herself in the car for an entire minute before eating mostly the cookies and tapping out.
Beast Mode: SERIOUSLY, just when you think it's gone too far with the pools, it's time to add an indoor pool to change it up! After we lucked out by rolling out early on two spots today, I thought we may not have to see another pool tonight, can't win them all. Even when the human bear doesn't talk to people, they come and talk to her while she's standing on a corner or in a pool.
