A Corn-venient Place To Stay

Lori Here - we have been riding and riding and riding and seen thousands of dead deer - surely there are absolutely NONE of Bambi's descendants remaining - they have all committed suicide in Illinois or Iowa. We did see the arch yesterday (St Louis) - Tina & I stayed on the ground and people watched. We are currently in Mitchell, South Dakots after visiting Sioux Falls Park for a while today. Tomorrow we get to see the "Corn Palace" in Mitchell. Emianna has been pretty good but you could tell today that she needs some wide open space and movement time. Jeff took her to the pool and Tina is soaking in the hot tub. We are in a great hotel "cornveniently" located next to a Cabela's. (Thad is excited) Tomorrow we tour the corn palace, and try to hit the "Bad Lands" on our way to Rapid City. I haven't seen anything super impressive since the arch and Tina wants to know who eats all this corn growing everywhere. The view should change tomorrow. Looking forward to another day of God's goodness and protection while we tour.

And We're Off!!!!!

We (Team Nobles) and Team Jones did actually leave our homes before 3:00 on the DOT! But, after we were running around we actually got out of town around 4:00. By the time we got to Lake Park, Ga we had to stop and get gas. Emi, had already went through all her snacks, and was hungry. She is a eating machine let me tell you. We got to North Tennessee, and stopped for the night. Can't tell you what town that was but, I did see a sign that said it was the home of Jacklyn hhmm somebody, Miss USA 2007. We played fruit basket turnover swapping drivers, and riders a few times. Always good for a change of company on a trip this long. Going through Illinois we saw wheat and corn fields for MILES, and MILES. From the sky Jeff said it probably was like checker board the way it looked. We noticed a sign had deer on it. Well, let me tell you the deer in Ill. just could not seem to make it across the road. Dead deer on the road for MILES!!!! After much riding and riding some more we arrived in St. Louis MO. around 4:00 PM which is a hour ahead of LO time. The Arch was AMAZING!!!!! We saw someone some people getting wedding photos made on the steps to the arch. What amazed me was if human hands can make something so big and so high, just how amazing our God must be. Lori and I had already decided our feet would be firmly on the ground as Thad, Brandon, and Jeff would go up. Emi had decided she would go up also, which had Lori a little concerned because Emi isn't crazy about heights. For example, as we were walking to the Arch she was excited and saying she was going to the top. Brandon was carrying her and asked her if she wanted to get on his shoulders. And, she said rather quickly no, no. We have already laughed numerous times, and I am sure many more to come. How can you not when you have a cute little 5 year old who is ALWAYS in a great mood, and has a smile on her face. We made it to Kansas City, MO to stop for the night. Don't understand why "Kansas City" is in Missouri.

I will post some pictures later today. Right now I am sitting at a computer in the hotel we stayed last night. AH, Did I mention our room had NO AC!!!!!! No more "Microhotel" for us!!!

Team Jones

Lori here, (team Jones) trying to get sick people ready to leave. Let me say that I am NOT the outdoor kind of person. Give me big cities and bright lights with lots of shopping or a peaceful beach somewhere and I am happy. This will be a definite adventure for us. Will also be the longest car trip any of us have been on (including Em-bug). Feeling a little anxious about how she will do. Since I get car sick, perhaps I should be worried about how I will do. Always have fun when we get away with team Nobles - typically lots of laughing, Thad has some fortunate or unfortunate event occur and he likes to purchase coolers (only to return them after having to ride for miles with your arms in contorted positions), and did I say lots of laughing?? According to the captain of team Nobles, we will leave ON TIME. This reminds me of the Everybody Loves Raymond episode where the dad told them about AIS time. ( A_ _ in Seat) Well , we will try to abide by 3:00 AIS but making no promises. Praying for safety, good weather and a chance to enjoy what God has created. And I will not be abiding by the "1 piece of luggage "rule - I'm sure I won't be the only one :0)

St. Louis we have a problem

St. Louis is our first schedule sight, but we haven't left home and we already have problems. Brandon has strep throat, Jeff is at home in bed with fever and chills, Lori has scratchy throat, and I(Tina) have body aches with a little scratchy throat. So far Thad and Emi are good to go! Sounds like a wonderful start to a vacation huh? But, we are pushing forward with our Aleve and Tylenol, and as Thad said pulling out at 3:00 on the dot!!!! I hope the next time I get to update we are well and well on our way!!!!!!!

Gettn Ready to GO!~

I never thought I would set up a blog, but here I go with it. The sole purpose for this is, some of our great friends and us are heading out west on vacation. I thought family and friends can keep up where we are easier. Now, the title of this blog comes from Nobles (that would be us) and Jones (that would be friends). And, road show because whenever the Nobles and Jones go ANYWHERE something always, always exciting happens. Sometimes it is funny, sometimes scary, and sometimes just plan crazy. For example, like the time we were in Nashville TN, in the Grand Ole Opera museum by the Little Jimmy Dickens exhibit, and Thad almost touched a vertically challenged person because he thought it was a statue. Or the time we got stuck in Jasper, AL at a ROACH MOTEL because a Tornado was in the area, and Thad thought we could drive through it. I could go on and on....



Right now we are in the packing mode, at least Thad is. He is actually already packed as he just told me. I will pack the night before, and Brandon will be stuffing things in his suitcase as we walk out the door. AAAHH Packing that will be exciting in itself. I am instructed to only take a few things. Well, you must have shoes to match all those few things, and on and on it goes. I am not worried because I am an experienced packer, in the fact I can hide things from my wonderful husband. Jeff informed me he is making list, and as Lori and I made eye contact at the "planning meeting" we had the other night she and I are on the same page on the packing thing.

The plan as Thad says we will be pulling out at 3:00. On the dot!!!

For now that is where we are, and can't wait to update on our first stop!!!!