Oklahoma Drive

This past week I took a couple of days off work to head down to Oklahoma to visit Bill, Lisa, my nephews and new niece. My dad took off from work and joined us on our visit. If you may recall, my Dodge POS (Piece of S***) had some issues earlier this summer. I had replaced the radiator and alternator, but we were going to wait on getting the AC fixed because it was the most expensive thing that could have broken down just before summer. Just my luck, right?

We contemplated driving one of the three vehicles my parents had in their driveway...Honda Civic - granted it was a 4-door, but let's face it was way too small. Saturn Icon...bigger, but too cramped for an 8 hour drive...Chevy Savanna, you could almost do a cartwheel in it - okay, maybe a summer-salt, but it still would have been perfect had the brakes not have been acting funny. So we opted for the Dodge POS with no air..we figured that we'd rather be hot than not be able to stop - makes sense?

So we gassed up my grocery-go-get-er Thursday morning and we were off on our journey. My dad and I didn't get to listen to our Talk radio. We decided to let the kids watched movies instead. My dad also had a hard time contemplating that little kids means little bladders..we only stopped six times...on the way down. I'm sure he contemplated putting everyone in diapers. I know Eric would have..

We weren't even 45 minutes away before Patrick was asking "Are we there yet?". We had to explain in "TV Time" "You'll have to watch about 4 Movies before we get to Uncle Billy & Aunt Lisa's house."

When we left the temperature outside was 86 degrees. We've been fortunate enough to have somewhat of a mild summer. As we got closer to Oklahoma it got hotter. We passed a lot of cattle ranches on our way down. It was hot enough that the cows were in lakes & ponds. I've never been so envious of a cow before.....Here are some pictures from our way down to Oklahoma and our way back to St. Louis.

This is Quintin at the beginning of the trip...dressed and cool.





Patrick & Wyatt at the beginning of the trip..



What is it with me and sticking my tongue out?? I'm such a Dork?!

Okay, so apparently I've influenced Wyatt...

It's Geeeetttiiiinnnggg Hotterrr!!! 96 Degrees... Yowzers!!

Here's what Quintin looked like most of the trip down...poor baby..we were all so hot!

He was in such good spirits though - what a trooper!

This was actually on the way home....

By this time we were wishing we would have rather taken the van with bad brakes....97 degress - ugh!!! On the way home I stopped taking pictures of the temperature gage because it was getting depressing....it got up to 99 degrees.

Okay, so this picture was taken at the end of the trip when we got to my parents house. One question...can you tell who drove?? Not me!!

The right half of my body was crispy burnt while my left side was nice and pale. Sexy, isn't it!?! I'm sure Eric was impressed. Just be glad you can't smell me...I'll be making a new list of "Things Never to do Again" number 1. Willingly Drive my van without A/C

More pictures to follow...the fun part of the trip...