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.