I would drive it straight through and sleep at a rest area or something for 1/2 an hour at a time if needed. I have done this many times.

Katie, I lost my dad when I was only a year or 2 older than your son, that was almost 20 years ago. I had graduated high school and was married, but he had passed away before I graduated college and had my daughter. I have long been at peace with him not being here. There are times that I miss him and think about him, but for me it is just normal now and has been for a long time. My mom went with me and my brother to his funeral even though things weren't great between them. My brother is several years younger than me and it was what we needed and wanted. As time goes by it will get easier. I will pray for peace for you and your son and your husbands family.

I don't remember how old your kids are but the Mystery at Yellowstone National Park by Carol Marsh is a good fiction story for kids.

Yes, the first guy was just one that does a basic eye exam and prescribes glasses, the second was a retina specialist that was recommended by the first. The retina specialist says he just has a very thin retina after doing a more advanced scan.

Mil has macular degeneration and has poor eyesight and is in her mid 70's. Dh went to an eye doctor appointment on Saturday and was basically told he had the beginning stages of it and that he had a detached or torn retina (not sure which). He is 50 and we have been pretty concerned since he is still planning to work for the next at least 15 years. He saw a specialist today that did a digital scan of some sort and said there is nothing wrong and not to worry about it again for at least 10 years, but to get a good eye exam once a year from here on out. The first guy just made the last several days very worrisome for really no reason. Needless to say I need an exam and will not be going to him.

Red Rock Amphitheater is a really neat place to go and walk around. They have lots of big name concerts there but you can also go there when there isn't a concert and walk the amphitheater and their visitors center. There are also hiking trails in that area. Also Mt Evans is a really pretty drive and may have snow on top. When we were there several years ago there were some sort of sheep or goats at the top. I don't remember what they were because it has been awhile.

http://www.lostworldcaverns.com We happened by here at a time they weren't giving tours but they turned all the lights on and let us walk through years ago. Nice folks and a neat cavern.

A friend had a miscarriage in the last week and ended up needing a blood transfusion. Please pray for her and her family. I will pray for all you you ladies.

Typically the city, state, nation has sets of codes and the engineers design based on those codes. When a hurricane hits and devastates an area like Florida the codes get more strict. When the Bolivar Peninsula of Texas was wiped out all of the houses are now built on stilts which I assume the floor has to be a certain height above sea level. Of course then you have cities that decide to develop around a volcano or in an area that tends to flood or have sink holes or whatever. In the 10 years that I practiced I saw a model of 1 thing but I figure it was really more for show than anything else. I am not saying it doesn't happen but it hasn't been the norm in my experience. My dh who is an electrical engineer has occasionally built a model of something but that was years ago and in more of a research job.

Another thing, had thought about going to the Grand Canyon, but will be doing Yellowstone in the fall. Any gifts that might be useful for that would be helpful too. Dd already has a little point and shoot camera and we will be flying.

We are spending some time in a campground while dh is working and there are several kids around. Dd has a birthday coming up in June and she will be 8. We have a soccer ball, football, pool ball, frisbee, and dive rings. There are kids ranging from about 4 to about 12 that play together a fair amount more on the little playground than in the pool, but both are gathering places. Any great suggestions, that don't take up tons of room?

I think I found that hoopla only works on 2014 models and newer and mine is a 2013 model. Boo! If anyone knows anymore I would still appreciate it.

I am taking a shot in the dark that someone might know what is going on here. I have an older kindle fire hd7 and am trying to download the hoopla app and use the local library access to check out books. Actually I have already checked out a couple of books using my computer, but I wanted them downloaded on the kindle. If I search for the app all that comes up is Overdrive which is a different system. Does Hoopla not work with the hd7s?

Dd is doing a dance on Mother's Day with another little girl from our church. The other mom is a dancer as well and has been the one teaching them the routine. It was a pretty short notice thing and she has put a lot of time into working with both girls and even though I intended to pay for the costume she has bought them and won't even let me know what they cost to pay for them. I did not know the family until they started practicing and mostly I know they like to dance. The mom and dad do competition ballroom dancing and the dd does ballet. I would really like to pick up something and it would probably have to be local. The dd is 7 and they also have a younger daughter.

I have been to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Bryce before. I am going with my mom, brother and daughter and it will be my mom's and brother's first time. We are yet set on where exactly, they are coming in 2 weeks so we will probably talk more then.

We are talking about a trip to do the Grand Canyon and some of Utah in the fall. Is September reasonable for crowds or should be wait until October?

Dh is working in Sulphur and we are going to follow in a few weeks...what is there to do in the area? Looking for info on bike trails, parks, activities like skating or a rock gym, maybe a tumbling class or a swim team. I know spar water park is there but what else is there? Are there homeschool social groups in the area?

I am sorry.

Maybe I am crazy here, but a jacket doesn't have much impact on asthma problems. I have problems with asthma and being around a campfire causes a lot more issues than not having a jacket on when it is cool.

AH, I do need to mention I bought men's oboz not women's.

I have a really wide toe box that Merrill and Salomon didn't work for...Oboz is what I ended up going with.

I have less of a problem with the funding issue, hey homeschoolers pay tax dollars for the school as well. I would concern me that it would be much more of a fight with your dd to homeschool next year and you may have attitudes develop that you don't like. I wouldn't do it.

Final update post 1

Prayers for the family

I fold some of them to put in a ziplock bag for having in the car while traveling with the dog. Other than that they are balled.