The Rest
The rest of our Road Trip has been on my agenda to share with you for a while. It’s been over three weeks, but I needed to get to a place where I could find the whole thing humorous, rather than frustrating or exhausting. Traveling in the car with three boys is not for the faint of heart.
So, I’m going to share the rest of the trip with you, the good, the not so good, and the very bad. Even with everything that happened, I’m still happy we took the trip. I’m hoping it will be something the boys remember, and I know it is something I will always remember.
The Good
- We traveled through 6 different states (Wisconsin to Illinois to Kentucky to Alabama to Tennessee to Indiana and back.)
- We found a Railroad Museum on our way to Alabama.
- We got to walk with our sweet friends, make a few new friends, and honor those lost to Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome at the Walker and Willis Birthday Walk to Fight TTTS.
- There were cupcakes at the Walk.
- We got to have dinner with the organizers of the walk, who are also dear friends that we don’t get to see much, since they live in Alabama.
- We got to go swimming at 2 different hotel pools.
- Free continental breakfast at all hotels except the last one
- We listened to music, found a candy store, walked over the pedestrian bridge, ate lunch at Jimmy Buffets’, and saw Elvis in Nashville.
- We got to explore Mammoth Caves (and ride in a green school bus to get to the cave!) in Kentucky, on the way to Indiana.
- We walked and ate dinner in downtown Indianapolis
- The three boys slept in the same bed in the hotels that had 2 queen beds, so Mommy and Daddy got a bed!
- Mom and Dad got to binge watch a lot of reality TV once the boys went to sleep. We took full advantage, since we don’t have cable at home.
- Mom and Dad also had a few drinks after the boys went to bed.
- We survived many, many hours in the car together, and no one got hurt.
The Not So Good
- Being asked many, many times if we were there yet
- The rental car not having a built-in DVD player
- Packing way to much stuff, and then having to lug it into each hotel room, yet still having no clean clothes for the last day of the trip
- The whining and crying until we got the cupcakes at the Walk
- The crying when Big C fell down at the Walk
- The crying when Little C couldn’t hold the sign at the Walk
- The whining and crying by Little P about going to see the trains until we found the Railroad museum
- The whining and crying by Big C at the Railroad museum when I wouldn’t buy him a new train set
- Not getting to go swimming in the first 2 hotels because Mommy didn’t realize they had outdoor pools
- Only Mommy and Daddy eating the free continental breakfast, while the kids ran around and bothered other diners
- So, really no one got to eat the free continental breakfast
- Since the three boys slept together, when one got up at 6 am, they all got up at 6 am, which meant we all were up at 6 am. Every. Day.
- Mr. B complained about all the walking in Nashville. Mr. C whined until we found a candy store, and then everyone whined when I only would let them eat one candy before lunch.
- Mommy had more wine than usual because of all the whining
- No naps at the same time until the last hour in the car.
- Mommy having to do daredevil type moves every time someone dropped something in the car, needed a diaper change, or needed a snack, or just needed her to sit by them.
- That was the only exercise she got, even though each hotel had a gym.
The Bad
- Spending the night in Urgent Care in a strange town
- Little P being diagnosed with an ear infection and Pink Eye
- Big C getting Pink Eye the next day
- Eye Drops. Enough Said.
- Mommy catching the cold that the boys had the week before, and losing her voice (although Dad might have put that in the good list)
- No one getting enough sleep
- Even though our hotel in Nashville had a pool, it also had lady bugs crawling on the wall, a pair of wadded up panties behind the toilet, and a pink balloon in the closet. Yuck.
So, there you have it. The rest of the Road trip. Overall, there were many more good things than bad. I’m not sure we’ll drive anywhere that far again for a long time. At least, not until next year, when all we can remember are the good parts.
Where have you road tripped it lately? Do you have good/bad memories from it?
The boys are so adorable they seem to have had a good time.
You, my friend, are a brave, brave soul. We had a road trip last summer and wow…they are insane. It’s sounds like you guys had some pretty great times mixed in though!
Oof, it’s unfortunate all the illness you encountered on your trip. I’m glad you’re still able to see a lot of the good from it, and I’m sure it’s something the boys will remember!
🙂 Thanks Becky!
Woah woah woah… you CANNOT gloss over this incredibly big detail in your “VERY BAD” list (though I guess I can understand why you’d want to): “a pair of wadded up panties behind the toilet” LOLOL EWWWWW!!!
Glad you mostly had a great time together; you created some beautiful memories, I guess it only goes without saying that you’ll have to deal with a few hiccups (and meltdowns and pink eyes, GAH!!!). So cute though, your boys 🙂 XOXO
Ha ha! It was so gross, I just can’t think about it anymore than that 😉
This sounds about right. My kids have a three-hour car limit and both sides of my husband’s family is four hours away. Go figure. Oh, and those stegasaurus hoodies are awesome. My toddler would love one!
Too funny. And the hoodies Gymboree clearance…even though it’s almost impossible to find three of the same, I have to wait for the big sales there 🙂
I can’t help to laugh. I am sorry, but I have an understanding of all of this. You are not the only one to have trips go like this and I promise you wont be the last (nor will this be your last trip, lol). My SIL has 3 boys and I seriously can’t wait to hear stories like this from her. But the good thing is that your boys will grow up, they will have only the good memories from the trip (hopefully Big C won’t have any scars from his fall) and that you will be remembered as the good mommy who took them everywhere to have fun!!
Hee hee…I certainly hope so. Thanks Christine!
Memories!!! The struggles are always the best – 3 or 4 years later! Thanks for the chuckle and I hope you’re forgetting the hard parts already.
Thanks Tara..for sure 🙂
Ahhh, sounds like you’ve had quite a time.
I remember those childhood road trips. We didn’t have DVD players in the car. My brother and I got on each others nerves. I KNOW my folks just loved all of it…lol
I’m glad you had some fun with this though. You’ll all cherish the memories.
I remember that from childhood too. Especially the getting on each other’s nerves part with my brother 🙂
Sounds like you made some incredible memories for the boys. You covered a lot of territory on that trip. The hoodies rock! So cute.
Thank you Julie 🙂
So sorry for the urgent care visit! All in all I hope the good outweighed the bad!
It did. Thanks Cyn!
Oh Shann! You have the patience of a saint!!! I always over pack too. It’s the worst habit!!! I love your little family trip, so many memories to cherish later on!
Oh, if only I had that much patience. That’s what the wine is for 😉
Quite an adventure! One day, you’ll look back and only remember the good. 🙂 I think our longest road trip was probably 9 hours long with lots of stops in between.
Awww… this sounds exactly like a family road trip. The good, the not so good, and the down right bad. Lady bugs and wadded up panties that is just… no… I don’t even want to think about that… lol Sounds like a great trip all in all. Thanks for sharing <3
Hee hee. Thanks for stopping by, and reading, Kimberly.
Wow, seems like that was one heck of a trip, driving through 6 states with three little boys, you are a super mom! Glad to know that the trip was good for the most part, sorry about the urgent care visit, must have been so hard especially on a road trip. Hope the bad pasts fade away real quick.
xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com
Yes, thank you. It is 🙂
Oh man! You had a very eventful road trip. I can completely understand that extra wine. I don’t have kids but wine is always a good thing. Lol. It’s awesome though that you were able to travel through several different states and visit with your friends that you don’t see too often. So despite the bad there were lots of good things from the trip. Though I doubt that’s how it felt at the time. Thanks for sharing and making me laugh!
🙂 Thanks Mistle.
sounds like a great road trip with family. Reminds me of all the memories of going on the road with my parents.
Hey Shann,
I just think mums are so brave and have so much strength not leaving the troops behind and speeding off in the car at times. What adventures. I loved their crocodile outfits. I have to say though Shann I too am with the boys, I would have whined only been given one sweet before lunch. And I loved how you thought Dad may have thought losing your voice would have been on the good list. Big smiles.
Rachel.
Hee hee. Thank you Rachel.
Hi, Shann
Taking the kids to road trip is much easier than the time with our kids (they are now in their 20’s) because there are more stuffs to entertain them. Of course, they are many stops along the way for nature calls and
meals.
Road trips are one of the most memorable experience for them. The events can be last for life time. I also believe it is better learning opportunities than in class rooms.
Stella Chiu
Awe. Thank you!