Day 8: Traveling Home: Des Moines

We got up at 4am and loaded the kids to begin the journey home. They slept the first 3 1/2 - 4 hours of the 10 hour trip, so it made it much easier on them...and really on us. Plus the last 2 hours were Camden's nap. Perfect planning.


We made a lunch break stop at a large Cabela's somewhere in Nebraska, then arrived in Des Moines for our night stop. We decided to go home on I-80, partly to have a different drive and see a few more states, and partly to see our friend, Lindsay (who lives in Des Moines) for the evening.


We pricelined our hotel again and scored. It was a all suite hotel with a great outdoor swimming pool and a full breakfast in the morning. All for $40. Plus, it was really close to the Iowa Machine Shed Restaurant where we had dinner with Lindsay. It has great food that was partially served family style. Plus they had all kinds of farm equipment and "animals" outside for Camden to enjoy.

They also had a free tractor ride that we took advantage of after dinner. Camden was really opposed to it at first because it was so loud. She is very sensitive to noises.

But in the end she loved the ride around the grounds and seeing the equipment up close and we LOVED our short, but very good, visit with Lindsay. She is a special woman who is hip and funny and smart and very well grounded. We miss her in Lafayette, but are happy for her and her life in Des Moines.