15 hours and 3 small kids: So far, so good

Today we began our long journey to Florida.  We decided a roadtrip would be easier, more fun, and cheaper than flying, even though it would take longer.  Today we drove to Birmingham as a stopover point, and Sam and Michelle were nice enough to let us stay overnight tonight at their house.  We started out at 7:30 this morning with the kids all ready for a long trip.  Meghan had prepared multiple activities to keep them busy for the 12 hour drive (although with stops, it took 15).  After lunch, we stopped at Mammoth Spring State Park, just across the Missouri/Arkansas.border.  Meghan stayed with Hannah while she sat happily in front of some pretty flowers while Joshua and Clara and I explored the park.  We saw a dam/waterfall that excited Joshua and scared Clara.  Joshua saw some birds that he ran to pet, but of course they flew away.  He then saw some really large geese that he ran to pet, but they took the opposite fight-or-flight approach and hissed at him and prepared to attack.  Not wanting to go to the hospital to have our son treated for goose-caused wounds, I ran and picked him up before the geese could begin their assault.  They still hissed at him and were not happy with his boldness.  He was undeterred and still requested to me that we try to pet the multiple other geese in the area.  Several others hissed at us as well (I didn't know geese could hiss!). I guess this place doesn't qualify as a petting zoo.  He escaped with all his fingers, and we countinued our journey.  We later stopped for dinner in the disgusting state of Mississippi.  Every time we've stopped there, the service has been slow ("fast food" is just a type of restaurant, not an accurate description), the restaurants have been filthy, and the patrons have been, well, well-fed.  Fifteen hours later, we arrive at Michelle and Sam's.  The trip went really well overall.  Meghan kept Joshua and Clara happy with activities and snacks, and Hannah was a perfect baby who was more than willing to wait to eat until our planned stops.  Tomorrow: On to Florida!