Chicago reflecting......our reflection

I can't believe that a year ago to date we were in Chicago......
Seems like only yesterday (sigh)

--PERSINGERFIVE PORTRAIT--
This is from the reflection off of CLOUD GATE.......... (rare photo of Millennium Park EMPTY)
WE like to think of it as our private park.

Can't wait to make more summer memories on this years.... ROAD TRIP!!
(Click here to revisit our Chicago blog)

el rancho bound mañana........

We're very excited this Friday......

Cookie and Sweetheart are in the van ready to pick up Bam and Fifi from school.

Our plans are to see Cheii and Nana tomorrow at the Ranch.

Everyone is looking forward to getting out of town and heading West.

"Hurray, mummy, hurry, so we may get home so we can pack our bags." squeals Cookie from the backseat.

Sweetheart took this self portrait of her excitement to see her grandparents.

Think Sweetheart loves animal print or what....

So much to do, so little time........ I love our life.

To wine or not to whine

50 shades of green

When I told the children we were headed for the Finger Lakes and into Wine Country,Cookie asked why is it called that??
(www.fingerlakes.org)
I told her because of all of the vineyards and wineries; where they make and age wine. Cookie says, "Oh, I thought it's where whiney children lived."
We laughed and every time we pass a winery we would wail and whine simultaneously in unison . 

two mets in one state?? who knew.

Artists' row of Binghampton

The college town of Binghamton, NY reminds me of Farmington, NM. 
This very laid back town offers many art studios and few museums. Hmmm...(www.cityofbinghamton.com) 
Before we left we were urged by locals to try a Spiedie chicken sandwich or a Sicily. (zuzzu) 
The flavor is bold and pungent meat..... it reminded me of cured sheep or lamb meats; very familiar flavor, very far from home.

Beautiful scenery

Skaneateles Sailing

The glacier lake of Skaneateles is ABSOLUTELY crystal clear

Skinamarinka dinky dink skinamarinka doo I loooove you.........

We love the drive....we highly recommend this route!

Another beautiful sunset on another beautiful day........

waking up to a big glass of sunshine

The Sun, giver of life, warmth, growth and all that is good.

Just as each day is a new beginning, so should that beginning be honoured at the point that the sun rises in the morning starting his journey across Father Sky. It is the opportunity to give thanks for the bounty that is Mother Earth, for the health of family, friends and to pray for peaceful interaction among the world's people It is a silent time of reflection before the start of human life, to give thanks to Grandfather Sun and his healing properties  (Native American prayer) 

The sun warmed the soles of my feet and woke me this morning.
....it was time
....time to continue with our travels

Couch sleeper 'me' greeted with warm sunshine

My kiddos and I said our goodbyes to a very sleepy and tired Auntie Honey.
Bam loaded up the luggage and checking the oil and fluids in our van.

It was a good day....
very peaceful....it was time to GO.

maps and directions

We're in HOT Oklahoma City and everything is......OK!

We made a stop at the Oklahoma Federal Building Memorial. 

(www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org)

Tragic what happened.....Though this city has really pulled through.

 Downtown Oklahoma has been rebuilt and the red brick district looks great.

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Next: Tulsa, Oklahoma and lunch.
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We took a slight detour because we missed the Kilpatrick turnpike exit.

So quite on accident we will reconnect with the turnpike but not before we go through some beautiful Oklahoma countryside.

Many campers are headed towards Arcadia Lake for the holiday weekend.

What a beautiful Lake......so pristine, clean, clear........great family destination!!

(www.edmondok.com/parks/arcadialake) (www.outdoorsok.com/Oklahoma/Arcadia)

We stopped for gas and a stretch break at a super fun place called Pops. 

 The architecture of this place is amazing and the design is perfectly fun and the concept and convenience is perfect. 

The marketing idea is pop; as in soda pop. 

They carry thousands of brands of bottled soda from all around the world.

Hundreds of regular flavors as well as many uncommon and novelty flavors. 

Fifi chose a grape Uva Uva from El Salvador
Sweetheart chose a Key Lime House brand
 Cookie chose a Coconut flavor from the Caribbean
and
 Bam chose two sodas(one to drink and one for fun)
One House Root beer and a novelty soda labeled dog drool flavor.
(Eewww)

He dares not popped that one!

 I had a southern dutch Sarsaparilla soda which was more fun to say than to drink. 

(www.route66.com)