Day 4: Pawhuska, OK to Kansas City, MO

This morning was all about me.  Ever since I heard that the Pioneer Woman was opening a store I just knew I had to get there.  I planned the beginning of this trip all around that.  I just love her, and her recipes are soooo good!!  Since her place is so popular, we decided to get there for breakfast so that we wouldn't have to wait in line so long.  Even though we were there shortly after 8am, there was still a short line.

Everything is just perfect... even waiting in line is covered and divided by these gold and red ropes..  It makes you feel like you are somebody!!

Then we finally made it to the front door!!

The menu had so many options it was hard to decide what to get.

Here's what we settled on...

You can tell by the look on his face that it was delicious...

Haylee and I shared this..  that butter was infused with some deliciousness.. and you can't forget about the 4 kinds of syrup that is served with them.   

Going from left to right-- just plain maple, salted caramel, orange-clove, and vanilla-cinnamon--

OH MY!!!  They were all yummy!!  Sorry no pictures of David's food.  His order was messed up and we were too hungry to wait, but he had a delicious breakfast sandwich.  

Then we did a little shopping, and headed up stairs to the bakery...  OH MY WORD!!  So good...  We just took some goodies with us so we could get on the road... next stop Kansas

While trying to find things to do along on our road trip, I came across this.  The site is where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived during her life.  She is the author of The Little House on the Prairie books.  Although the buildings are replicas there are still some real things that belong to the family.  

Inside the cabin

Behind Haylee is the prairie that she would look at from her front porch, while she wrote.

Sunnyside school

US Post Office

We left there and went to the Brown vs Board of Education National Historic Site.

Carson digging in the teacher's desk.

Then we went to see the capital building.

We finally found a sign to prove we were in Kansas.

We took a quick look around

Since we were close to the University of Kansas, we drove around the campus.

Since the weather was perfect, we decided to camp.  We quickly got the tent set up so the kids could swim before the pool closed.

After a quick swim, it was dinner time. I found this place called Fritz's,  You call in your order from the table, and then it's delivered by  a train.

This was so fun!!

Day 3: Broken Bow to Stillwater, OK

Today we said good-bye to family after a weekend reunion. It's always hard to say good-bye,

especially for the little ones.

Once we were all loaded, we hit the road to Stillwater, OK.  Some of our cousins live in Oklahoma, and told us about some huge Transformers at a local car body-shop. We decided to check those out on our way through town.

Boy was he right.. those things were HUGE!!

Then it was lunch time.  Growing up, I spent some time in Oklahoma with my cousins during the summer.  I always saw these shirts for Eskimo Joe's but I wasn't quite sure what it was.   Well today I found it.  It's a restaurant with a bar and it has amazing food!!!  It will definitely be a place we visit again!

We also passed this little yellow house with a sign that said Garth Brooks lived here from 87-88, so I had to take a quick picture.  Not sure if it's true or not... but just in case.

We also went through Stillwater to visit OSU.  There was lots of construction going on so we really couldn't get out and walk around. 

From the few things we did see, we may need to come back sometime in the future.

Day 2: Beaver's Bend

Saturday is our only full day in Broken Bow.  It is usually spent out on the lake at Beaver's Bend.  This year was no exception.

First they did a little swimming.

Then came the boat.  

We went out for a boat ride.  The kids had some fun on the lily-pad while some of the adults just enjoyed the water.  I don't really care to get in the water, so I was just along for the ride.

There were lots of little fish around the swimming area but this was the only thing they could catch.

We decided to try something new this year that wasn't water related.  The kids decided they wanted to try mini-golf.  Thankfully it was in the shade, but it was still HOT!!

This was our 5th family reunion.  It is a time to reconnect with family far and near.  It's also a time of reflection over the previous year.  The word this year was thankful.  We will continue to remember what we are thankful for in the next year, and those that follow.

Day 1: Road Trip 2017

Finding time this summer to take a long road trip has been hard due to all the camps and dance competition that the kids needed to go to.  So, we were able to finally find time right after our annual Harlin family reunion in Broken Bow. 

We stopped for lunch in Paris, TX at Burgerland.  I lived in Paris for 2 years for college and never went to this place.  Glad we have discovered it.... so good!!

We finally made it to the house for the weekend.  I missed out on the fun last summer so was excited to see place.  It did not disappoint!

 Everyone has that one cousin...right..  Well here is ours...

 Love the inside of this house!!  It also has 2 rooms with bunk-beds!

Once everyone was settled on Friday night, we made flatbread pizzas. 

Then you have that uncle who brings an air soft gun for all the kids. 

 Troy is more excited than the kids!!

Redneck Targets

Jax had fun shooting at the targets.

We also had a group working hard on puzzles.

Tomorrow the plan is to head to the lake!!

Day 14 and Day 15

On the last several road trips, we have had breakfast at least once at Waffle House.  I guess better late than never.

Then it was time to hit the road!!

For lunch we found a great place  in Jackson, MS... Rooster's

From here we drove to Shreveport for the evening.  

 

David has to work in Shreveport this morning,so while he does that  we will play.

The kids have been wanting to see the Minions.... so that's what we did.

After lunch it was time to head home.  We had an amazing vacation, and saw some incredible things in this great country.  So glad we finally took this trip.