So we started our journey with a Arrivederci to Grandpa & Grandma, Clayton, and Snoopy. 

A solid opportunity to test Ava’s “selfs stick” before the trip.  Then one last stop at Walgreens, a fill of fuel, and we were off!  The car gps said 8:30 hrs to Ohare Chicago…but, GPS is a rule follower.  I was very reluctant in the purchase of a minivan last year, but wow 8 hours could not have been easier to drive.

Aight seeing on this trip begins with unending trees and small Ozark’s from Branson to St. Louis, then corn and more corn fun till Chicago.  It is hard to imagine the possibility of hunger when you know that for miles and miles and miles…corn, literally for hours and hours of driving in all but one (the Ozark’s to the south) direction.  

So we arrived at the airport just after 6pm, used Expedia for a great deal on a room at the Hyatt 10 min from the airport, and as a bonus I am going to take my family to an old haunt from my NTN Bearing days…Bob Chin’s Crabhouse.   http://www.singlepage.com/bob-chinns-crab-house/menu?ref=integration

What a bonus, and just 20 min away from the hotel.