An Adventure in Traveling With Children

First of all, I'm sorry it's been so long since I've blogged last. Remember when I said I was going to blog every single day? Hahaha. Apparently I'd momentarily forgotten that I have four children.

Anyway, let's talk about my weekend. 80)

The four kids and I went to Ohio to visit my parents and sister and brother in law for a long weekend. We left VERY early on Thursday morning (4:35 to be more precise). We drove for nearly two hours and stopped in Chesterton, Indiana at a Bob Evans.

An aside: Bob Evans is like my family's favorite restaurant to stop at while traveling. Growing up, we'd been to countless Bob Evans restaurants in who knows how many different states.

We all got pancakes. The kids also got sausage. Josie decided she needed to cut her own sausage. She worked very hard at it.

Also on our stop, Piper got nursed, the older ones took a potty break, and the little ones got their diapers changed. Before we piled into the van, the lady working the checkout complimented me on the kids' behavior. If only they acted in private the way they act in public!

The kids were really good for the rest of the drive. I did let them watch two movies, which makes things a lot easier for me. We arrived at my parents' lake house around 1:00EST, greeted excitedly by my mom. My dad got home from work about two hours later, immediately followed by my sister, Meg, and brother in law, Fernando, who live in Indiana. My sister is a teacher and was on fall break, which is why we chose this weekend for a visit.

After all the activity on Wednesday getting ready for the trip, the very early morning, and the long drive on Thursday, this was the theme of the weekend:

I also invited myself to eat as much unhealthy food as possible. For the record, I brought salad and some carrots to eat there. I didn't touch either, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Here are some more pictures from the weekend:

The kids playing with Grandpa on Grandma's iPad.

Deuce and Piper hanging out with Uncle Fernando.

Aunt Meg and Baby Piper

My view right before an afternoon snooze.

Josie and Deuce being goofballs!

On Thursday evening, my mom made chocolate cake for my birthday (a week early), and I opened my presents from her and Dad: new pajamas that I desperately needed and some really pretty jewelry.

Hmm what else did I do? Relaxed, ate, watched a few episodes of the Blacklist on my phone, did a 500 piece puzzle, played Marble Works with the kids, chatted with my parents, Meg and Fernando, made fun Fernando's Colombian accent...   

On Saturday evening, we went to Bud's in Minster, a local pizza joint that's been there for as long as I know. We grew up eating Bud's pizza. It's pretty yummy! 

Other than that, we didn't leave the house until today when we came home. We left around 11EST, and had a very similar drive, but in reverse. We ended up making only one stop again - at the same Bob Evans! I was SO happy to be home, and of course, happy to see Justin!

I think Josie and Deuce were worn out from the fun weekend and long drive too!

Two other unrelated things to note:

1. Piper is sleeping in her crib in the kids' room upstairs for the very first time. I'm really hoping I don't have to climb two flights of stairs more than once during the night!

2. We have a mouse. I watched it scurry out from under the cupboard across the floor. Thankfully Justin had a trap in the basement that he baited and put out. I really hope that little critter gets hungry and curious before Justin goes to work. Handling dead (or for that matter, live) rodents is not in my job description.

And now, I am whooped! Time to go to bed!!