We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto!!

We were up at 5:30 central time this morning. We all slept good except for the thunder storm that rolled through around 2:30 this morning. After Scott and I showered we headed out of St. Louis. The kids woke up earlier than I hoped they would which meant we were in for a long day. After about an hour of driving, we stopped to get gas and there happened to be a Waffle House next door so I stopped in and picked up breakfast. I think I am spoiled because I had forgotten what it was like to go into a restaurant where people are allowed to smoke. Apparently Missouri doesn't have that law and I hated the entire 10 minute wait to get our food.

We drove across Missouri, through Kansas City and then across part of Kansas until we finally turned north toward Lincoln, Nebraska. The kids played and built forts out of sleeping bags but they were also pretty bored. Lorelei took a nap while Luke played games on the iPad. When they finally came to me about being bored, I made them write in their journals for 20 minutes. Both of their entries were about how boring all of the "driving and driving and driving" was. They don't know it yet but they'll be doing more of the same tomorrow.

About an hour south of Lincoln, is the town of Beatrice which is the location of the Homestead Monument. This spot marks the first land issued under the Homestead Act of 1862 and honors both the Native Americans who were so adversely affected and the adventurous people who ventured out to settle the west. We toured the museum, walked the grounds and watched the movie while the kids did their junior ranger books. It was good to get out of the FunV but it was also getting close to dinner time so we left around 5:45 to drive to the capitol building in Lincoln.

Unfortunately, our drive took longer than we had hoped and we were too late to tour the capitol. It is the tallest building in Lincoln and quite pretty. When we take a picture with the four of us, I use my tripod and timer settings on my camera and it has become an inside joke for Scott and the kids to say "run Forrest, run" every time I rush to get into the picture. Usually we can get it done on the first try but it took 9 times today to get one where everyone looked good, had their eyes open and was smiling. At least we were getting a good laugh out of it.

The campground was 5 minutes from the capitol and we headed there next. We woofed down some homemade tacos and headed to the pool for a swim. Then we played "gurnhole", with the boys beating the girls and caught fireflies for the second night in a row. Another long driving day tomorrow to make it to Cheyenne, WY.

No pictures posted tonight, hopefully tomorrow night.