Day 3 of the Drive East: Big Daddy's and air guitar

A long day on the road finds us safely resting in our Oklahoma City hotel, weary from over 500 miles on the road, enjoying a terrific thunder and lightning storm over the city (the kids are enjoying the view out the window because the storm knocked out the hotel's satellite; call it nature's reality television).

We left Albuquerque this morning after quickly cleaning out the back of the Suburban (i.e. where the huddled masses known as our kids sit). The cleanup brought two lines of the day:

1. As one of the boys complained about having to clean up, Melissa exclaimed "Oh, My Lanta!"(Jason thought it was hilarious.)

2. As all of the boys complained about straightening up their seats, Yvonne "encouraged" them: "Clean it up now. This is not your bedroom!"

We dreaded what we thought would be a boring drive through uninspiring scenery. And we were right for the first few hours as we drove east from Albuquerque and across the New Mexico-Texas border.




We trusted Jason's iPod (which started the day on song number 180 of our shuffle mix) for entertainment, and were rewarded just after we hit Texas when Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher" got its turn. An impromptu five-kid air-guitar jam session broke out as Jason cranked the volume. Levi led the band, starting on drums and then seamlessly transitioning to lead guitar (which he shredded). For an encore, they tore through Guns N Roses' "Paradise City". Then the kids went to sleep.


Along the way we saw several signs that made us miss Nevada, including the exit sign for Las Vegas (N. Mexico), Red Rock Canyon State Park (Oklahoma), and El Reno (Spanish for "the Reno", also in Oklahoma).




The highlight of the day came in Amarillo, Texas. Just as we wanted authentic southwestern food yesterday in Albuquerque, we wanted to make sure to get authentic Texas barbecue while crossing the Texas panhandle (in case you don't know us well, barbecue rules in our house). Yvonne used her iPhone to Google "best barbecue in Amarillo," and the result was a place called Big Daddy's. The directions to get there were complicated, and as we rolled into Amarillo for a late lunch we passed several new barbecue restaurants right off the freeway. But we decided we were going to Big Daddy's, and we pushed on and carefully followed the turn-by-turn directions.

Pulling up in the parking lot, we knew this was the place. It was clean, but old, and it smelled great. We walked in the front door, and were greeted in a sharp Texas drawl by Kay, the hostess. She asked how we were doing, and Jason said, "good, but we're better now." Her response was priceless (and told us we were in the right place): "Well, it's fixin' to get a whole lot better."




We ordered the family special: two pounds of meat (we got a pound each of sliced brisket and pork shoulder), three sides (two beans and a potato salad), and cornbread. Kay told the staff to make sure we got enough. And they did. We loved the attention from their staff, who took even better care of us when they found out we were moving.

Dylan got a confused look on his face when they told us they had "marj-a-reen" for the cornbread. Yvonne quietly told him it was "margarine", and he was ok.

Kay gave us a jar of sauce to remember them by (it was good sauce; we bought an extra bottle) and loaded us up with fresh baked brownies for our drive. What hospitality! As we prepared to leave, Melissa took the bag of sauce and brownies, and Kay handed our bag of considerable leftovers to Dylan and said, "Let's let the big-un take this." Dylan was all smiles.

The trip from there was great. The scenery improved dramatically, especially as we entered Oklahoma. The rolling hills, lush and green, were beautiful. And the kids showed their appreciation for the improved scenery by watching "Ironman" on our laptop computer.


The only hiccup, which was actually funny, was a near throw-down between two people at a gas station in Sayr, Oklahoma (we weren't involved in the throwdown -- that only happens in department store dressing rooms). As we filled up, one woman said to the other, "I don't have enough money for gas." The other said, "well if you didn't spend so much on your Subway sandwich you would." Then they drove off, and we laughed.

That was the day. A long, long time in the car, but a fun, fun day.

Tomorrow, we drive to Kansas City. The thunderstorm is still rolling through, but for us, the show is over for today.

Day 2 of the Drive East: Gettin' our kicks on (and around) Route 66

Following a Monday that included an emotional (and still difficult) farewell, several hours in the Suburban, and a late night after visiting the Grand Canyon, we slept late (well, most of us slept late) before a big breakfast at the Flagstaff Embassy Suites hotel.

Breakfast was a highlight not only for the food, but for watching the hotel cook who was part Benihana's chef and part Soup Nazi. We watched with mouths agape as he whipped through pancakes and scrambled eggs and omelets made to order at breakneck speed. The best was when he gave us our omelets, one at a time, while announcing which omelet it was as he fired the plates over the counter: "Omelet one with hash browns, go! Omelet two with hash browns, go! Omelet three without hash browns, go!" We grabbed the plates and left quickly out of fear that he might declare, "No eggs for you!" Hilarious -- and tasty.

With a late breakfast out of the way, and since we are in Route 66 country, we decided to stop in Winslow, Arizona, for the express purpose of standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona. The Eagles would have been proud. Yvonne even found the right vehicle so Jason could say, "It's a girl, my lord, near a flat-bed Ford, slowin' down to take a look at me."



From there we took the Eagles' advice to "Take It Easy." Further down the road in Holbrook, Arizona, we stopped at a charming local taco shop, serving the finest in southwestern cuisine. Actually, it was a Taco Bell, and it was anything but charming or fine dining, but it was convenient and served chalupas, so it worked.

Colin was sleeping as we pulled into the Taco Bell parking lot, and he was making some funny sounds and faces just before he woke up. As he awoke, Yvonne asked him what he was dreaming about. Before he could answer, Carson said sarcastically from the back seat, "he was probably dreaming about kissing Megan Fox (the actress from the Transformers movie who Colin describes as 'hot')." Colin, whose head was obviously still cloudy from his nap, still didn't miss a beat: "Nah, that ain't a dream. I've been there, done that." Gotta love the confidence, even if it's misplaced confidence.

Much of our day was spent driving parallel to Route 66, so we enjoyed seeing some of the familiar names from the song: "Gallup, New Mexico; Flagstaff, Arizona, don't forget Winona..." We especially loved the scenery in New Mexico. It was a gorgeous day, with a pastel blue sky and cotton candy clouds feathered about the horizon above majestic mesas. We felt like we were on the movie set for Pixar's movie Cars. If one of the rock formations had been shaped like the grill and hood ornament of a 1948 Cadillac, we wouldn't have been surprised.




We stopped at the Continental Divide, where we saw some interesting local culture (check out the photo of the sign; you might be a redneck if...). Jason also explained to the kids how water that falls on one side of the Divide flows to the Pacific, while water that falls on the other flows to the Gulf of Mexico. One of the boys asked, "So, how does the water know which way to go?" Jason explained it again, and they got it.



We ended the day in Albuquerque with a real local southwestern meal at Gardunos, an Albuquerque favorite that in no way resembles Taco Bell. Blue corn enchiladas, shrimp tacos, stuffed soapapillas, and carnita tacos -- all with green chile sauce and red salsa -- did the trick. We were all stuffed, and we had an amazing waitress who treated us to extra soapapillas for our trip tomorrow. Now we're putting the blog together poolside at the Albuquerque Hampton Inn on a warm, cloudy night that is occasionally interrupted by lightning flashes in the distance.

So two days into the trip it's so far, so good. All the kids are still alive, the Suburban is climbing hills like Lance Armstrong in his prime, and Jason's iPod is holding up well.

We set the iPod to shuffle and decided not to skip any songs until we get to Maryland. We're about 140 songs into the trip, and we're enjoying listening to everything from blues to country to jazz to garage bands to hard rock -- and some other stuff we're not sure how to classify.

Jason loved that as we crossed the border into New Mexico the iPod played Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line," bringing back vivid memories of family vacations when he was young, listening to Johnny Cash on an old yellow 8-track.

Tomorrow we stay parallel to Route 66, stopping for lunch in Amarillo, then overnight in Oklahoma City (it's oh so pretty). It'll also be the longest day of our trip, nearly 550 miles. Good thing the iPod is charged.

Day 1 of the Drive East: Goodbye Las Vegas, Hello Grand Canyon

With our house sold, our possessions packed and shipped, and another season of softball over, the time has finally come to move east. We pledged to document our trip day-by-day through the blog, so if you'd like to travel with us virtually, we've got a seat for you here.


We started our last day in Las Vegas right, going to breakfast with our close friends the Piets so we could celebrate Alex's 11th birthday before we left. The Original Pancake House at Aliante Station served us well -- chocolate chip pancakes, pecan waffles, fresh squeezed orange juice, etc. We had a great and filling breakfast together, all 12 of us. After an emotional goodbye in the Aliante Station parking garage (an odd setting for a heartfelt and tearful farewell between two families that have grown so close over the years -- yet oddly appropriate for two families that have found joy together in all types of circumstances), we hit the road.



After eight years in Vegas, we had never made the drive to the Grand Canyon, so that seemed an appopriate place to start our cross country trip. We crossed Hoover Dam into Arizona at 12:52 p.m. on the dam clock, marking our official departure from Nevada and the end of a slew of dam jokes, including:

- "This is the best dam view"
- "Look at all the dam rocks"
- "Check out the dam bridge"
- "I'm getting tired of your dam sarcasm"

I'm sure you get the idea... plenty of dam jokes during a long delay across the dam.



One exciting detour was a much needed restroom stop at a roadside gas station outside Kingman, Ariz. The only problem was that we were heading southbound, and the only access was from the northbound lane. We were in the middle of nowhwere, and there was an urgent demand, so Jason did what had to be done -- he cut across the highway median. Dylan, who had dozed off earlier, woke up with a start as Jason turned our Suburban across the gravel center strip. Always calm and collected, Dylan asked coolly in a tired voice, "Dad, why are we off-roading?"

The drive the Grand Canyon was beautiful. We hiked along the rim and ventured along the many lookouts. We wanted to mark our long first day on the road with a view of the canyon at sunset...so we did. It was simply gorgeous...a great start to the long drive to Maryland.

Tomorrow, we're off to the ABQ: Albuquerque, N.M. We'll fill you in from there...

We are homeless – a farewell to a great house

It’s done…after eight years and three months, we are no longer homeowners in Las Vegas. The paperwork was finalized today and the sale closed.

We bought the house new at the end of April 2001, breathing deep from a purchase price that was nearly double the sale price of the Idaho Falls home we had just left. We grew from a small family of six (Melissa was 9, Colin 4, Carson 3, and Dylan just five months old) to a big family of seven (with kids aged 17, 12, 11, 8, and 4). It’s the only house Dylan or Levi have ever known – and the memories of others are faint for Colin and Carson.

Since our arrival we’ve poured a lot of time and energy and heart into making this house the home we wanted. It wasn’t our dream house, but it was a great house. It got its share of paint (and dents and dings), new (or new-to-us) furniture, artwork, and other elements that made it truly ours. We even designed and installed the landscaping (and then just this year converted the front yard to desert landscaping on our own, with all seven of us creating the design, stripping the sod, shaping the dirt, digging the holes, planting the plants, and placing the rocks).

We loved having friends and family over for barbecues on our patio or buffets spread on the kitchen island. The garage hosted a batting cage and an uncountable number of projects and repairs that included building pinewood derby cars, repairing bicycles, and finalizing school assignments. We played piano and guitar in the front room; in the family room we played Guitar Hero, watched movies, cranked the stereo, and hung out with each other and friends and family.

And we never got tired of the park just beyond our backyard (witness the path worn from our back door to the gate in the back fence). Melissa built up her right arm throwing and pitching across the park with Jason for hours on end; Colin, Carson, and Dylan followed suit. Yvonne chased two boys learning to walk and then run. We played baseball, wiffle ball, home run derby, Frisbee golf, lacrosse, football, tag, basketball, and many more games there.

We met our best friends in the world in that park, where a simple introduction just beyond our back fence planted the seeds of a friendship that grew into a relationship between two families that we will cherish and nourish for the rest of our lives.

There were many times, as the value of our house skyrocketed in the red-hot Las Vegas market (more than doubling over just a few years), we considered moving into another neighborhood to take advantage of our newfound “wealth” (and escape a certain set of boundaries). But the park was our set of “golden handcuffs” – no matter how nice the houses we looked at were, none could offer a backyard that compared to that @#$&%! park, so we never could pull the trigger on a deal.

In retrospect, that park finally helped make our move possible.

The “value” of our house plummeted back to earth in recent years, resting not far above where we bought it. If we’d have moved to a bigger house to capitalize on the mirage of equity gains, we doubt that we’d have been able to sell here and buy in Maryland.

We are happy that the house sold quickly, even though we didn’t make a lot of money in the current housing market.

We didn’t raise a fortune on this house, but we did raise a family. We hope the family that bought our house is as happy as we were.

In the end, we are also happy to move on to a great opportunity and another house, in Maryland, armed with lots of ideas and motivation – and experience – for making a new-to-us house into our new home.

If you are interested in a barbecue on the patio, a buffet spread out on the kitchen island, or wiffle ball in the back yard, we’ll be less than an hour north of Washington, D.C. We’ll leave the light on.

If you need a Las Vegas Realtor, we’ve got the man

Over the years we’ve had mixed success with Realtors. For the recent sale of our house in Las Vegas, we got the right guy: Robert Reisman of Re/Max. He came recommended by some people Jason works with, and those co-workers were so right.

Besides being a great Realtor, he’s a great guy. He and Levi bonded from the day we signed the initial paperwork, and Levi would often ask when Robert was coming over. We had many conversations during the two months our house was on the market, and not only was Robert always right, he was always protecting our best interest, and he was always professional and honest. We trusted him, and he rewarded that trust. It’s fair to say that we view him not just as our Realtor, but as our friend.

(As proof that not all Realtors are created equal, see a funny – or perhaps haunting – story on Jason’s blog at www.legendaryfatheroffive.blogspot.com.)

Our Tooth Fairy needs an assistant

With five kids, the tooth fairy visits our house quite often. Unfortunately, she is a little scatterbrained and doesn't alway come when beckoned.

When Melissa was about 11, she left a threatening note under her pillow to the tooth fairy telling her she knows where she lives and where she sleeps and if she doesn't come soon, Melissa will find her. This note was left after weeks of leaving a tooth under her pillow with no visit from the tooth fairy.

Colin has left the tooth fairy a nice note under his pillow asking for her to please remember to come visit. This note was left after many nights, maybe a week, of leaving his tooth under his pillow and no tooth fairy showing up.

Carson is the lucky kid who only had to wait two days for the tooth fairy. He didn't need to leave a note, she just showed up.

A few weeks ago, Dylan finally lost a tooth. He is eight and has been disappointed that all his friends and classmates are losing teeth and he has only lost two. After much wiggling, he finally had Yvonne pull the tooth. He put it under his pillow anticipating the tooth fairy and the treasure he would find the next morning, but to his dismay, the tooth was under his pillow for several nights.

He was tired of waiting, so he too left a note to the tooth fairy, but he didn't leave it under his pillow. He left his note on the white board in the kitchen so the tooth fairy, mom and dad, and anyone else who visited our house would see it.





Needless to say, the tooth fairy showed up that night and left Dylan his much anticipated treasure.

So, if nothing else, we know the tooth fairy reads our white board.

Jason's New Blog

For those of you interested in reading about Jason's travel and life adventures, check out his new blog at:

www.legendaryfatheroffive.blogspot.com

You won't be disappointed!