the big texan.

Last stop in Amarillo - the Big Texan

Free gigantic steak if you can eat it all, and a baked potato, and a shrimp coctail and salad and roll. 

$72 bucks if you can't finish it

oh and you have to sit at a big table in front of everyone and be on webcam.

we didn't try - though I teased Kyle incessantly to...

That's all folks - we made this trip to Amarillo instead of doing the State fair like we did last year.

not to knock the State fair because it was its own special breed of awesomeness, but we did this little road trip for only a little more dough and had a blast!!

(and I can't help but wonder if my mom of oz tag has been painted over yet...)

My tips for road tripping with a large family:

1. I know lots of people like the lots of "stuff" method but I start to lose my mind with lots of stuff and electronics and snacks. I like a book on CD that will entertain most. Three snacks that will occupy most and  juice boxes - the box from those becomes the trashcan.

2. Van is somewhat reorganized at every stop.

3. You HAVE to have one of these little potty's  Your kids might need it way past its age appropriateness.

4. Sometimes mom has to sit in the back with the kids. The lack of adult conversation will be offset with the lack of fighting.

5. The alphabet game never gets old and my husband is uber competitive. And talking can be better than the radio and sometimes we do the NO TALKING, LOOK OUT THE WINDOW or we are leaving you behind at the next stop. Don't double dog dare us to.

6. Stopping to get bread and a little jar of mayo and lunch meat (get a lone knife at the salad bar) is way cheaper for a family of seven though we didn't do that this trip. And we reserve doing some more expensive things on trips like vending machines that I usually say NO WAY to, can be there own little adventure.

7. an actual paper map with a marker to check off distance traveled slows the "are we there yets?"

8. Find out a little bit of the history of where you are going because your kids will be a little disappointed that when were are actually  "there" Amarillo just looks like Plano. America's kind of turned into one vast wasteland of all the same billboards and restaurants off the interstate.

9. A hotel with an indoor pool and a hot breakfast bar is worth it. Need a good deal on travel go here: Abundant Travel.

10. Oh yeah - your jacket is your pillow and your blanket. 

the end.