Modern day car games...goal: to catch a passing car in the driver's window

I'd say I'm pretty good at it...

It's harder than it looks...

Our side trip to Grandpa's farm

The farmhouse in the background finally was boarded up recently

Self-portrait from the hood of the car

Off the beaten path in Nebraska

I love this state.

Sun rays in SD

Leaving Colorado

Husker country

Ahh, you know it's summer when there's road work...

This has always been one of my favorite scenes

Today we are leaving for South Dakota for the month. Last year at this time the four of us hopped in the car and caravanned with some friends up through the Black Hills and then east to the town where Jason's mom lives. We try to go every 4th of July because it's a gorgeous time of year to enjoy the sunsets over the lake, but also because we love our family and friends there.

Jason works from home, so last year as we drove back from our week there, we both said, "Let's take the kids to South Dakota for a month next summer..."

The other day I woke up with memories of last year's drive flashing through my mind...driving through Wyoming and the Black Hills with Noah and Emily in tow, stopping every 3 hours to feed Noah and change his buns, let Em stretch, 'water' our friend's puppies that were all nestled in the back of their car...

This year, we're headed east through Omaha to see friends and then north to SD...the memories were too fresh in my heart and mind, for some reason, to drive the other way...I've been working through a lot of anger in missing Noah, so seeing familiar land marks that remind me of him throughout our drive will only cause me to drive too fast or have road rage...

Anyway, we're looking forward to making new memories, while at the same time remembering...