If you remember from our last Flashback blog, we left our Band of Brothers in Ohio after our first deputation tour. From here, it was time to hit the road. We left Ohio on the 1st of October and headed west. After a quick stop in Indianapolis for a doctor's appointment for Noah, and some 'friend time' with the doctor and her family (Thank you Wood Family), we drove onto St. Louis. This was about six to seven hours of driving that day. Here, we enjoyed getting to stay with some of Daddy's friends from his days in Portugal, who are now living in St. Louis. It was a lot of fun to eat, sleep and play at their house. (Thank you Maguejas) The next morning we drove to Oklahoma City. This was an eight hour drive and perhaps was either an hour too much or we just left an hour too late. Everyone seemed to be getting a little tired of the car. We stayed for almost a week in Bethany, on the campus of Southern Nazarene University in a friend's place who wasn't home but graciously let us stay anyway. (Thank you, Becca) The boys enjoyed walking around the campus to see the different statues and water fountains, but going into the different offices to see some of Daddy's friends - not so much. We did things around the area, and it was always an extra highlight when it meant driving past the "Wiley" Post airport. As you already know, the boys love airports, but to think there is one with the same name as Wiley was pretty cool. Of course, we had to take a trip down to OKC's Bricktown and Riverwalk.
The visit would not have been complete without this and a trip to the Bass Pro shop to try out all of the four wheelers. We also took a trip out to the OKC Zoo and spent a day with the animals, courtesy of Daddy's cousins who work there and gave us the VIP treatment. (Thank you Janice and Sarah) 
Some of the cool things at the zoo were the trains that we got to ride on, not to mention the golf cart that Sarah drove us around in. Maybe the coolest though was the Grizzly Bear that happened to be named "Wiley." 
From Oklahoma City, we headed south towards Houston. We timed it perfect so that we could experience the Dallas/Fort Worth traffic.(sarcasm intended) It was maybe eight hours of driving again when we stopped to stay with friends in Waco. (Thank you Bill and Thela) It was just a couple of hours from there down to Houston the next day, where we enjoyed the weekend with the church where we were speaking.
After that, it was time to head back up north. We drove the four hours up to Dallas to stay the night.
Perhaps the biggest draw for us in Texas (besides the big 'drawl') was that it was Wiley's third birthday and we had planned to surprise him (and the other boys) with a night at the Great Wolf Lodge. If you don't know what this is, it is a hotel with an indoor water park. 
The rooms are themed and the boys had their own little room within our room that was painted to look like a cabin with bunk beds and their own television. They were pretty excited about it, although I think the room was as much of an attraction as the water park. (Apparently, we were all so excited that we forgot to take any pictures of it.) We spent most of the day in the lazy river, kids pool, and water slides (Mommy and Daddy took turns on these while the other would stay with the boys). 
Back in the room, we ordered pizza and opened gifts. To top it off, on their own little television in their "cabin," we managed to find the movie Cars playing. It just didn't get any better, as far as they were concerned. It was a memorable 3rd birthday, despite spending it "on the road."We left Texas for Oklahoma again. It was another six to seven hours of driving. This time the stop was going to be a little longer, which we were all looking forward to. We would spend the next two weeks with family, while speaking at churches in the area and visiting aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. (Thank you Uncle Elvin and Aunt Ellen) This was a special time for the boys as they got to spend time and play with their cousins who are all close in age.
There were as many as seven boys and one girl at any given time running around the house like a tornado (we were in Oklahoma after all), while we helped Daddy's brother and his family prepare for their move to Texas. There was even another birthday celebration for Wiley, this time with cousins.It wasn't long before it was time to hit the road again. It was up north we would return to, this time to Illinois for Mommy's class reunion at Olivet Nazarene University's homecoming. Since the trip was too much for one day, we drove eight hours to St. Louis where we were able to stay with the Mageujas again. After a quick night's sleep, and before we started the rest of our journey, we decided the boys had to see the Arch.
Mommy and Daddy had both done it as kids, so it was time for these kids to do it. We all crammed into one of the little elevator cars that would take us up to the top. Aden was not so sure about it, but reluctantly joined all of us. 
They all enjoyed looking out the little windows, but not surprisingly were ready to retreat to the solid ground after ten or fifteen minutes. I think they were still glad they did it. All that was left to do now was drive the four hours up to Olivet, where we would be staying with some friends who have come to PNG several times for the next few nights. (Thank you Dr. Mike and Nancy) That would in turn, take us into November.As you can see, this was a month of traveling, but also a month of feeling blessed by the many friends and family that helped us out along the way (and there were many others). We also realized how well the boys travel, as I mentioned in the September blog. Through all of the hours we spent on the road, not once have we had to entertain them with movies or even make special stops. They keep themselves entertained with just watching the big trucks on the road, the lights from the vehicles after dark, and the tall buildings that we pass. They love the big highways and often refer to them as such, compared to the smaller state highways that are referred to as a 'small highway.' Of all the highways though, their favorites were the ones that you have to pay on (toll roads), and that became the pressing question each time we got into the car - "Are we going to have to pay to get on the road?" There was much disappointment when the answer was no.
Keep watching for more flashbacks to November and December. We are determined to get this blog all caught up with all of the adventures of the Band of Brothers.
