34 of 52: Miles and Miles

Here we are all lined up in the van. Girls on one side and boys on the other. No, we didn't plan that. The kids just sit at random in the back usually.
I like this picture below because it says a lot. You can see the wide open empty road behind us. We travel miles and miles of empty roads and scarcely populated land when we make this trip. You can also see the buildup of stuff the kids create after being in the car for hours and hours. You can also see my son. He definitely takes after his father. Oh, and my daughters are not wearing their seat belts correctly. We'll have to have a little chat about that...
I took these pictures on our recent road trip across the top of our big state. We call it the High Line. We make this trip often enough that it does seem like we are more used to it now. It's still a long trip at just under 500 miles. We have to plan for a day going and a day coming.

We like our van. It's seen us safely over miles and miles. It's been as far east as Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As far South as Jackson, Wyoming on numerous occasions. As far west as Newport, Oregon a couple times, and North up into Canada. It also faithfully takes me back and forth to the school daily and into town a few times a week. We bought it new between our 2nd and 3rd child and we celebrated the day we payed it off. It's been "lived in" for over 5 years and I would be lying if I told you it didn't have it's share of dings, scrapes and stains decorating it. I just blame it all on the kids! Even when I scraped a mail box when I was driving down our street I said it was because I had to talk to one of the kids and wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Bad excuse I know, but it was true. But who knows, I might even have to let my kids drive it someday. They better not scrape any mailboxes though! ;)

I've gotten pulled over for speeding only twice in my life and both times in this van. The first time was about 5 years ago in North Dakota. They can be sticklers in North Dakota! I got a 70 dollar ticket I think. Then I got pulled over this last Tuesday for speeding in town here. I'm not kidding! Luckily I only got a warning. Maybe he took pity on me because I was so nervous my hands were shaking when I handed over my license, insurance and registration. I guess we all need a little reminder once and a while. :)

Well, this post has gotten lengthy, just like our trip. So I'll stop now. I'm curios though. What do you think of minivans? Please take a second and fill out the survey on my sidebar. Thanks!

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52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!