Phew. The title alone made me tired.
Yes, we are the crazies who drove 1,200 miles this past weekend (yes, 600 Saturday; 600 Sunday) to meet up with some family. Let's just say, a holiday exchange had to be made. And they had never met our two children before ... so we decided to throw sleep to the wind and just go for it!
Here's a few things I recall / learned from our trip:
- Having a smartphone sure made the miles go by... but it also distracted me from my much-loved reading-in-the-car pasttime. Next time I am turning it off.
- North Carolina / Virginia is a Starbucks desert. Also. I love the Starbucks app for the smartphone.
- No matter how many toys you pack, your child will want the one that just fell under the seat. Guaranteed.
- I-95. Not so scenic.
- Cracker Barrell is the same no matter if you place it on the moon. I love that.
- Christmas songs on the radio for 10 hours. Love THAT!
- I way overpacked on the road trip snacks!
- My son loves peeing in the car. When we got home all he wanted to do was go out to the car to sit on the travel potty in the back of our van. Go figure.
- Ten hours in a car entices you to set lofty goals for yourself ... like how we are now doing a 7 day cleanse diet the week before Christmas!
- If you give a toddler a queen sized bed in a hotel room - he WILL fall off of it backwards. Sigh.
- The way back is longer. Because it's uphill. Just kidding. Ours was because our baby pretended he wanted to be fed every two hours. But really he just wanted to lay in my arms and look up at me and grin.
- And the big highlight of the trip (well, other than seeing family) - apparently the tint on our windows is illegal in Virginia. We found this out after we were pulled over by a state trooper!! We got let off with a warning. Phew!
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I think we amazed ourselves by managing to drive halfway down the eastern seaboard and back in two days - without major incident. It's got us thinking about what other trips we might want to take in the coming year!
I hope your next big road trip will be out west. We'd happily put you up here!
I am so impressed you made such a long trip with two small kids. Sounds like good planning on your part. Thanks for sharing some of your highlights and adventures.
I hope your next big road trip will be out west. We'd happily put you up here!
I am so impressed you made such a long trip with two small kids. Sounds like good planning on your part. Thanks for sharing some of your highlights and adventures.
It is always great to see you both and to meet the boys. We had a great visit even though it was so short a period of time. Quality, not quantity, right? Our 1200 miles was not as eventful as yours except for the 24 hours of heavy rainfall going south. We detoured to the mountains, but the rain and fog made it impossible to see them. Oh, and don't try to visit any small towns in North Carolina on Sunday, everything is closed except gas stations and fast food places.
Loved seeing you. Maybe see you in the Spring!
It is always great to see you both and to meet the boys. We had a great visit even though it was so short a period of time. Quality, not quantity, right? Our 1200 miles was not as eventful as yours except for the 24 hours of heavy rainfall going south. We detoured to the mountains, but the rain and fog made it impossible to see them. Oh, and don't try to visit any small towns in North Carolina on Sunday, everything is closed except gas stations and fast food places.
Loved seeing you. Maybe see you in the Spring!
Somehow I always get lucky, and once a year get to do a long road trip by myself with my boys. This year they were 5 and 2 so it wasn't that bad, but it was a 22 hour drive one way (oh, and I was 12 weeks pregnant, blah!). My boys were actually pretty good, but I totally hear you that no matter how many toys they have they'll want the one that just fell under the seat. Also, guaranteed, 20 minutes after you make a potty stop, one of them will insist they have to pee...and there will be no bathrooms for miles. Thankfully, my husband was with me on the way back. The year before that I did a 12 hour with them on my own.
I'll just say that making those 2 road trips on my own with my kids makes me feel like I can do anything!
Somehow I always get lucky, and once a year get to do a long road trip by myself with my boys. This year they were 5 and 2 so it wasn't that bad, but it was a 22 hour drive one way (oh, and I was 12 weeks pregnant, blah!). My boys were actually pretty good, but I totally hear you that no matter how many toys they have they'll want the one that just fell under the seat. Also, guaranteed, 20 minutes after you make a potty stop, one of them will insist they have to pee...and there will be no bathrooms for miles. Thankfully, my husband was with me on the way back. The year before that I did a 12 hour with them on my own.
I'll just say that making those 2 road trips on my own with my kids makes me feel like I can do anything!
Maybe the portable potty will be the key to A's potty training. 😉 I too have had those babies who just want us to pull over so they can play. Thanks for sharing and have a Blessed Christmas.
Maybe the portable potty will be the key to A's potty training. 😉 I too have had those babies who just want us to pull over so they can play. Thanks for sharing and have a Blessed Christmas.
I do to twice a year from SC to OH. About 665 miles each way. My kids are 6 and 8. They were 1 and 3 the first time we did it. The "are we there yet" didn't get asked on the turkey day trip. Was so excited!
I do to twice a year from SC to OH. About 665 miles each way. My kids are 6 and 8. They were 1 and 3 the first time we did it. The "are we there yet" didn't get asked on the turkey day trip. Was so excited!