Lubbock Texas Visited

We were on our way to Roswell (just so we could take a picture for Margo) and the check engine light of the van turned on. We turned around and headed to the nearest dealer that services our van. This is our 3rd night in Lubbock, Texas. Now, we are not slumming here folks. DH last year with the purchase of our van got a AAA membership. When he started asking about the benefits he discovered that the membership we had would only tow the van for 5 miles in the event of a break down. Anyone ever traveled back and forth to Texas on a regular basis? There are lots of places where you are way more than 5 miles away from anything. DH upgraded to RV insurance (well, the van is big enough to count :)). That insurance also has a trip interuption policy. So, if the car breaks down, our AAA membership pays for hotel and food for 72 hours. They won't pay for groceries, only restaurants (shucks, darn). My children have never, ever eaten out this many times in a row in their lives. We have a suite at the hotel and a pool. Each room has a TV with cable. The kids think this is a little slice of heaven. They have 2 minutes of chores a day, free access to TV, gameboys, a pool and Rudy's BBQ in the frig. Today I gave my big boys a good workout in the pool showing them how mom used to play ball in the pool at her grampa's house. They didn't know I knew how to tackle. They certainly didn't know I knew how to roughhouse in a pool. (it was fun!)

The trip has been going well. The only glitch is sleeping assignments but I expected the chattering and bickering.

We stopped in Nauvoo, Illinois for a day and saw the LDS church historical sites. We stayed in a hotel there with a pool. I am a firm believer that hotel stays should involve a pool just for tiring out all these bodies that have been cooped up in the van for hours and hours.

#5 has gotten over her water phobia (remember this?) and is becoming a little fish, jumping in the pool and everything. (Phew.) #6 hears the word "pool" and immediately starts stripping and dancing around the room. She finds the wet suits, pull them down and brings them to me, naked. (I have to go hunt down the diaper.)

We also stopped at Carthage, Illinois visiting the site of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. We saw the watermelon harvest in western Texas. I had never before seen a whole warehouse of watermelons before.

Tomorrow we head to Carlsbad.