After eating some wood-fired pizza; which was absolutely yummy, we got back on the open road. I had ordered a fresh, but satisfying Mediterranean pizza complete with meats, mushrooms and Kalamata olives. As usual, I told them to hold the onions. My children think I am crazy because I enjoy the flavoring that onions bring to a dish, but not the onions themselves.

While driving, we spotted license plates from different states. On our trip, we would identify all fifty; which is not at all uncommon, as we would drive nearly three-thousand miles to our destination. They had fun with it, and when we got to hard ones, I offered each of them a chance at a two-dollar bill if they could spell the state also. Think Massachusetts, not Utah. Maine and even Maryland were excluded, as they are just too easy for two teenagers with I.Q.'s above 160. They were definitely blessed with Brady's beautiful mind, and Liam additionally got the math portion.

It would still be nearly fifteen hours until the base of the Grand Canyon, so my plan was to layover in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They were comfortable traveling that far, and we had gotten a later start from Bricktown anyway. The history lesson pertaining to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 went over well, as I could see the sadness in my kid's eyes at the memorial.

At any rate, we stopped about every two hours to get a lite snack and lose some liquid that had been retained in our bladders. Liam was fond of candy and Isabella preferred healthier alternatives; which I was proud of. She in no way needed to lose weight, as she was a solid size six, and I hoped that she would be able to maintain her beautiful figure at least until children came along. Despite having a sweet tooth, Liam was careful with his dental hygiene practices, and had never had a cavity. Lucky chimp!

As we traveled across I-40W, both the children seemed to be dreaming; literally at times, of the summer that awaited them in "Sunny" California.

I had purposefully planned for our second stop to be in Colorado. Brady had wanted to take me out West to see things like the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead and the smaller towns that the West was truly built on. This was absolutely something that I desired and deeply wanted to share with the children.

It would take us a total of three days and we would stop in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Albuquerque, New Mexico and finally arrive in Grand Canyon National Park.

Oklahoma City was a stop I had planned as sort of a history lesson. My children were young enough that they did not know much about the Oklahoma City bombing.

Today there is a memorial which commemorates not only the sadness of the event, but also is a dedication to those who "met their Lord" that day. I sometimes wonder if memorials are such a good idea. "Have we idolized the bomber and not the people who have lost their lives?", I thought. I shared that sentiment with the kids, and they pondered on that notion as well. Since cost was not going to be an issue this summer, we stayed at the Skirvin Hilton in Downtown Oklahoma City that evening.

We slept in that morning and checked out at 11:00 AM on the button. Despite it being too early for lunch, Isabella and Liam wanted pizza of all things. I had scanned the phone book the nite before and I had remembered one in Bricktown. Wedge Pizzeria was certainly an establishment that had been "on the map" in the Oklahoma City scene for quite some time. They offered many styles that came out of flaming wood-fired ovens. I immediately knew upon arrival that the kids would be pleased; and therefore, it was another "win" for Mom on our excursion toward our final destination for the summer.