on road trips

Back from a blog hiatus and back from Christmas vacation. Expect some rewind posts in the days to come (hopefully). But before I forget ---

In case anyone was wondering what it's like to go on a 13 hour road trip in the car with a 3.5 and 1.5 year old, mom, dad and puppy - here's what you need to know:

-Sometimes parents make the decision to make the last 2 hour stretch to our Wisconsin destination, instead of stopping for the night at a hotel (at the start of vacay). Sometimes, your 18 month old girl may then proceed to literally scream for an hour. You try singing any song but then land upon - Amazing Grace (one of her faves), which then wakes up your 3 year old (yes, he somehow slept through the screams), who starts serenading her as well (a precious moment). This doesn't work to quell the screams, unfortunately, so you try everything else - ignoring her, turning the radio up, but to no avail.

Until of course, you decide to turn on the Dora DVD, and instantly the hour-long scream ends. Sometimes, all you need is a little Dora, apparently.

-Sometimes the beginning of a road trip can also be hysterical. 45 minutes in to our 13 hour drive back to the Lou was the first meltdown, this time from the 3 year old. 20 minutes later, after a stop at Starbucks for mom's coffee and potty breaks for the kids, the next meltdown ensued, which may have provoked a lead foot for Pete, who then got us pulled over by a cop, who lovingly, only gave us a warning for going 60 in a 45.

Upon stopping for lunch at Subway mid-way through the drive, I hopped out with our puppy Betsy to take her to potty while Pete got the kids out of the van. Eloise proceeded to scream because she wanted to be held by mommy, and not daddy, while Ethan somehow then slammed Pete's head in the door. Somehow Pete still held on to our screaming daughter while I hurried to get Betsy to pee. I ran back to the van and grabbed my purse, which then broke as I walked toward the restaurant - all the contents and garbage that I was carrying spilling all over the slushy ground. (With Pete still fuming about his head and Eloise still screaming). I picked up the purse and all the dirty slush got all over my white shirt (but really, what could I have been thinking to wear any kind of white anything on a 13 hour trip?)

-And sometimes, it just is fitting that you get pulled over for a SECOND time only an hour from home, this time going 83 in a 65 (Pete again at the wheel), and this time, not so lovingly, getting a ticket from the Officer (while Ethan shouted out the window to the police officer - HELLO?! I'm Ethan!!!). When else can you get an opportunity to teach your 3 year old that it's not respectful or kind to shout at the policeman?

It may sound ridiculous but even though our road trips are crazy, and can often be filled with chaos and lots of emotion, I can't help but smile when the craziness ensues. It is such a picture of our life right now and how sometimes, all you can do is just put one foot in front of the other and just keep traveling down the road. These really are the days. And they are really good.

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