For the third year in a row we drove the family all over the country to visit family. Although we forgot to note the odometer when we left, some simple calculations using google maps suggest we drove well over 6,000 miles. Here's how it breaks down: Houston to Phoenix to Los Angeles to Stockton (CA) (with side trips to Santa Cruz and Arnold) back to Los Angeles to Las Vegas to Moab to Omaha and back to Houston. The Husband and I also flew to Jackson, WY for a conference for a couple days, so we hit a total of 11 states, three national parks, and one wedding. Whew!
The kids did amazingly well in the car, and this year was significantly easier than last year because the baby was forward facing and not drinking out of a bottle. It's just so much easier when they can feed themselves! The kids did great, and it certainly helps to have a DVD player in the car because it allows us to turn the kids off for as long as we want. They brought toys and overall did not complain or ask 'Are we there yet' too many times. I'm really amazed, but the older two have done this three times now, so maybe they are used to it by now.
We visited Arches National park, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. We stopped at a Dinosaur trackway site in St. George, Utah, and the kids and I (including my parents, brother and nieces) visited the Santa Cruz, CA beach boardwalk and Big Trees Park near Arnold, CA. We visited the beach and the kids were able to visit both of their Great-Grandmothers (husband and I each have one Grandmother still alive - they are 96 and 97!). We also spent some time in Omaha and visited with family and friends. A good time was had by all, but we were certainly glad to be home and sleep in our own beds, even if there are record highs and the longest recorded drought in Texas history!
And now, I have a house full of suitcases and bags to unpack, laundry to do, an overgrown garden and flowerbeds to deal with and a missing cat to find. But, I wouldn't trade the family time and the adventure of driving all over for anything. We are creating memories - I just hope the kids remember them fondly! :)
The kids did amazingly well in the car, and this year was significantly easier than last year because the baby was forward facing and not drinking out of a bottle. It's just so much easier when they can feed themselves! The kids did great, and it certainly helps to have a DVD player in the car because it allows us to turn the kids off for as long as we want. They brought toys and overall did not complain or ask 'Are we there yet' too many times. I'm really amazed, but the older two have done this three times now, so maybe they are used to it by now.
We visited Arches National park, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. We stopped at a Dinosaur trackway site in St. George, Utah, and the kids and I (including my parents, brother and nieces) visited the Santa Cruz, CA beach boardwalk and Big Trees Park near Arnold, CA. We visited the beach and the kids were able to visit both of their Great-Grandmothers (husband and I each have one Grandmother still alive - they are 96 and 97!). We also spent some time in Omaha and visited with family and friends. A good time was had by all, but we were certainly glad to be home and sleep in our own beds, even if there are record highs and the longest recorded drought in Texas history!
And now, I have a house full of suitcases and bags to unpack, laundry to do, an overgrown garden and flowerbeds to deal with and a missing cat to find. But, I wouldn't trade the family time and the adventure of driving all over for anything. We are creating memories - I just hope the kids remember them fondly! :)
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