Well, day 2 is under our belt. Some of the euphoria has definitely faded (read: bickering and yelling have begun to creep in) but, overall, we are still riding high.  Our main goals for the day were:

1. To get from Cheyenne , WY to Rapid City, SD: smooth as silk with gorgeous vistas that we have given up on posting here because trying to conquer the technology is sucking us dry.  We played some great car games that had everyone together and laughing.  A parents' dream! The landscape was fabulous.  The kids were awed by the wide-open spaces and Theo was reduced almost to tears by the beauty though we're not even in a National Park yet. Huge ranches, with sometimes no house in sight, green rolling hills, cool rock formations, amazing long stretches of beautiful land without any people. America is truly beautiful.

2. To set up camp at our first KOA: whatever the opposite of smooth as silk is. We were basically fine but it took us an embarrassingly long time and our attitudes were less than ideal.  Still, we did it AND we did it well enough so that when a massive thunder and lightening storm blew in at 3:30am we were no worse for wear.  Yay us!  One happy surprise: a couple of the kids were wishing our campground had fewer amenities and were more natural.  Yay them!

3. To get provisions at WalMart: they had everything, but, seriously, they have EVERYTHING!  I think we were in there more than 2 hours and, at a minimum, by the time we left I had forgotten what the weather outside was. The kids held up great, the parents were wiped, and we barely made it back to camp in time to make dinner.  Let's just say I don't want to do that too many more times.

4. To cook our first campfire dinner: we kept it simple -- hot dogs and s'mores -- everyone was happy.  The kids enjoyed a pre-dinner swim in the KOA pool and the grown-ups enjoyed a pre-dinner beer by the fire.  All was well. Safely rest. God was nigh.

Day 2's unexpected surprise: our young campers have taken on jobs. Each day we will have Betty and a Crocker who will help with cooking and cleaning; a Navigator who will help us learn about our area, and a Goddess who will keep spirits high. Needless to say, jobs will rotate!

TTFN!