THE Road Trip

Last Thursday I had this great idea that Noah should go to Grandpa and Grandma Randolph's for spring break. Two days didn't leave a lot of cheap options for airline tickets - especially when it would have included a ticket for someone to fly with him. So, with our computers handy, we set off to devise a Plan B - driving. Springfield, IL proved to be about halfway for both me and my mom and avoided I-70. (A BIG bonus in my book...) First plan was that we would leave early in the morning, hand off Noah around lunch and then head back home. It's only 5.5 hours. No problem, right? Then we wised-up a little and opted to spend the night. Christopher had to work so that left me and three kids to fend for ourselves. I got everyone fed, pottied, loaded, and underway. All was good until 35 miles in to it I HAD TO GO POTTY!!! So, we made stop #1 and all unloaded. I put Abby in the baby carrier and we all went. Abby thought that was pretty fun until we had to pick Benjamin up to wash his hands - she got a little squished. Back in the car and off again. Noah and Abby rode without making a peep. Benjamin would ride quietly about 30 minutes and then scream because he needed to get out of his seat. "I won't get out of the car, I just want to get down!" Good an argument as that was, I didn't fall for it. So, we just had to listen to him cry a lot. A lunch stop and another potty break along the way and we arrived in Springfield in time for dinner. Promised the boys if they were good I would take them swimming when we got back to the room. Got our suits on and realized I didn't remember seeing a sign for the pool. Checked the hotel book and sure enough - no pool. Oops! (Note to self, ALWAYS check that BEFORE promising your children swimming...) Thankfully Phineas & Ferb was on and they were not too upset with me. A good night's sleep and some yummy breakfast under our belt and we were back in the car again. Noah was sooooo excited to be going to Grandma's ALL BY HIMSELF. I tried to talk him out of it at the last minute but he would have none of it. He was going to Michigan and nothing was going to stop him. So, Abby, Benj and I headed back home alone. Sniff. Sniff. We made just one stop for lunch and potty and trucked on through. We were home about 3:30. Abby slept the last 25 minutes and Benjamin screamed the last three hours. Raise your hand if you were happy to be home..... And now it is Wednesday already. Just 5 more days until my baby comes home.... I can make it, right?

Oh, and want to see what you're missing out on by not travelling with us? Just a watch at this little version of "Crocodile Rock". Oh, and sorry about the crooked picture but I was driving down the highway, remember?

So, tell me. What is more surprising? That daddy let Noah go away for a week OR that I drove over 12.5 hours on the highway ALL BY MYSELF???