The Road Way, WAY Less Traveled

 Hanging out in the car.

Last Friday night, Jeff: Want to go to MN and visit my family?

Me: You mean fly there?

Jeff: No, I mean drive there.

Me: You want to drive to MN. With a 3 year old and a 19 month old.  In the car. For 13 hours.

Jeff: Yes.

Me: Um, no.

The next morning, Jeff: Wanna go to MN?


(Leaning toward no) Me: I am not sure about such a long trip with these guys.  They are so little.  How about flying there?


Jeff: Well, I just checked online and it would be $700 each to fly there.


(Blank look, mouth agape) Me: What?!  That's ridiculous!


(Going in for the kill) Jeff: If we want to go, we are going to have to drive.


(Faltering) Me: I don't know....


(Seeing his opportunity) Jeff: It won't be that bad.  We can leave today and drive halfway.  Spend the night somewhere and drive the rest of the way the next morning.


Me: Today?  Leave today?


Jeff: Yeah. I'll change the oil and mow the grass and we can head out.


(Finally caving) Me: *Sigh.* Okay.  This is crazy, but okay. I can do a load of laundry and throw some things together.


So...after doing several chores around the house, going to get a new tire (don't ask), and packing, we are finally headed out!  

And....we're off like a herd of turtles!!


And the trip wasn't so bad except for:


*Kids crying if we dared to turn off Mickey on the iPad. (If I NEVER hear another Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, it will be too soon.)



*Baby L sucking on a rock outside of Culver's that was covered in God-knows-what and eating Cheerios off the floor in the hotel room. (Just threw up a little in my mouth thinking about it.)


*Kids not eating anything the entire trip except mayo and chocolate chip cookies. (Insert Mom-Of-The-Year-Award here.)

*Baby L waking up at 4am in hotel room scared because he didn't know where he was and not going back to sleep. (No sleep for anyone.)


*Getting lost in Chicago at 11pm at night.  Stupid, stupid Chicago.  (Chicago Department of Transportation, if you are reading this, your road signs stink!! And so does your toll booths every 500 yards!!!)

We arrived in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon around lunch time. We are having a great time visiting with all of the family, especially all of the cousins.  (There are nine kids all together.) Tons of fun!

So far, we have been to the park, the zoo, and the Mall of America. It is great watching all of the kids interact, especially the older ones with the younger ones.


My in-laws handed Jeff and I a drink when I walked in the door.  (I love these people!)  This trip certainly warranted one, or four.  Kidding, kidding!  Mostly.