Over the river and through the woods

We didn't go to grandma's house, just Indiana, but was the first time Marina crossed the mighty Ohio, a major thoroughfare through history. Our goals weren't so grand. We were just trying to beat the rush to see Frozen and were fairly successful. In a mostly empty stadium theater with 300 seats we did manage to get the family with the chair-kicking whiny child that wanted more popcorn and the parents that think that behavior is cute and part of the movie going experience.
The movie was cute, but based on the restlessness of the young critics behind us, not sure how well it'll do. Not a lot of sheer glee like Gru gets. Enough movie review.
From there we drove to Santa Claus, IN to leave our Christmas cards in the capable care of the USPS.

Then on to Lincoln's Boyhood Home NM, which tracks the five significant stages in his life. An impressive monument depicts them beautifully.
Birth (KY), boyhood (IN), adulthood, career in law and political beginnings (IL), president (DC),and historical influence on the country after his death.
A replica of the cabin his father built stands on their original homestead, complete with fields, barns, and forest where young Abe would have learned to work, plus all the other values which made him such a great leader.

Can easily imagine the Thanksgiving the family might have shared on the wooded farm, enjoying a simple meal gathered from the land. Doubt any of our future leaders will develop the same values and character as Abe because we don't raise our children that way any more. Not talking about log cabins either.
Our meal was not simple. We ate Crazy Chinese Buffet(their name, not ours) because the wait at Golden Corral and Cracker Barrel was over an hour. Granted, we're traveling and don't have another option, but we couldn't grasp how SO MANY people were having one of the most significant meals of the year at a restaurant. Nowhere to go? Mama can't cook? Dunno. Couldn't figure it out. Kinda like Tech's defense vs the Horns running attack.....