Road trip, part 3

While at my folks' house, the kids ate more than they have since...well, since ever. It may have been because after eating a well balanced dinner, they were treated to yummy desserts like cupcakes or ice cream.


(Anyone else think that picture of Linus bears an uncanny resemblance to Zoolander?)

Regardless of the reasons, it was great to have two totally cooperative kids at dinner - yes, it was nice while it lasted.

Anyways, I digress...

Besides seeing my parents, we were also able to spend a lot of time with my brothers which was fun. One day we traveled to Villanova to see Aaron and his new house, and to tour around campus which I had never been to before.

It is absolutely beautiful up there. Aaron lives in a really cute town close to campus full of hills and trees. And he's only about 3 hours from my parents - a drive that consisted of the Cars movie both on the way there and back. (Can you tell I'm a little tired of that movie?)

Ryan also invited us over one night for a BBQ so we could see his place.

While there we played Rock Band. But, I think the kids liked Ryan's real drums better.


But even better than drums, the kids really liked all of my dad's "toys".

Like this one:

And this one:

And, much to my mom's dismay, this one:

And this one that my dad and Ryan worked on together:

Oh, and in case you're wondering how in the heck he fits all of these toys into the garage:

(And that's another car on the right that's on scaffolding.)

I think that Linus may take after my dad's love of cars. Actually he and Sadie were fascinated by the engines and learning how cars work in a tiny bit more detail. Linus was all smiles in every car that he went in, especially the Mustang. But, the car he really wanted to ride in was the black car on the right that's still in pieces. He asked my dad every day when it was going to be finished because he wanted to take a ride.

Hurry up, dad. We'll be coming back again next year.

Sadie was more reserved and had to work up the nerve to be driven around. But before too long she turned into a typical girl:

After she rode in a couple of cars, we asked her if she wanted to ride in the Mustang too. But, she quickly informed us that she "only rides in convertibles". I think Brian and I need to start saving for the Cabriolet now. (Do they even still make those?)

We are in so much trouble.

Road trip, part 2

After leaving the water park, it was another 8 hours to get to my folk's house in VA. It wasn't a bad drive except for listening to the kids ask "When are we going to the water park again? Are we going today?" over and over again. After assuring them that we would indeed visit again some day when daddy could join us, they went back to watching the Cars movie for the 5 millionth time.

How did my parents travel with kids before the invention of the DVD player?

...oh, that's right, we weren't buckled in and had free reign of our shag carpeted van including the sink, mini fridge, port-a-potty and fold-out couch in the back...

Anyways, I forgot how much I miss the east coast, especially the fact that there wasn't any snow on the ground or threat of snow in the forecast while we were there. It's amazing how it only takes 8 hours to leave winter and enter spring.



My mom had some fun activity planned for the kids pretty much every day we were there. On the first day, we took the kids to visit a farm to see all of the baby animals that had been born within the last few months.

The highlight for Sadie was of course visiting the duckies...

But we also saw baby goats, pigs, horses, sheep and cows.

Another day we visited the new Air and Space museum at Dulles Airport.

I don't think they were nearly as interested in it as I was. I half-joked to my mom that we should ditch the kids so we can look around, especially the space exhibit. I don't think she thought it was funny. Oh well, maybe next time.

Another day we went to the Reston Zoo. Let me just say that after spending many, many days at the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park I didn't have high expectations for a local zoo. It was about as low budget as you can get, but talk about being up close and personal with the animals. They might as well throw a "Reston Zoo Employee" t-shirt on us and hand us a shovel to clean up the stalls. It was an entirely new zoo experience.

We thought they would love to feed the animals so we bought a bucket of animal food for Sadie and Linus. They took turns feeding the goats and sheep...


until one of them nipped Sadie's hand and then my mom and I were left with a huge bucket of food and one crying child.

We managed to save the trip by going on a "caravan ride" which turned out to be this bizarre ride around a field where a random assortment of animals who would never encounter each other in the wild came up to us to eat whatever food they could find.

Before I knew it, this camel had his face in my backpack while I was trying to take a picture. Those guys are feisty.


Even though we kept busy seeing some of the sights, the kids were the most happy when they could park all of my brothers' old cars on the stairs.
They did this for hours and hours just like at home. Whoever invented Hot Wheels is a genius.

Road trip, part 1

We're back!

I have no idea how many miles we traveled, but we had a fantastic three weeks on the road. Who knew the kids would do so well away from home? Actually, who knew they would turn into the best kids ever...kids who took naps, went right to sleep at night and ate with more enthusiasm than they ever have when I cook?

Since things have officially reverted back to normal now that we're home, we're busy planning our next trip...but until then, here's Part 1 of our vacation:

At the end of March, my incredibly thoughtful mom flew out to Chicago to ride with us on the way to Virginia.

(I initially thought I could handle the kids by myself in a car for 13 hours, but I think I would have been in over my head. I mean, if they slept the whole time, then sure. But Sadie and Linus need something All. Of. The. Time. My poor mother was on call 24/7 and ended up sitting in the back with them so she wouldn't contort her back. Are anyone else's kids this high maintenance on the road?)

We decided to break up the 13 hour ride by stopping in Sandusky, Ohio at the Kalahari water park.

The kids thought this was about the coolest thing ever.

The minute we checked into the room, the kids chanted that they wanted to swim. Now. So, we got dressed in bathing suits as fast as possible and hit the pool. I don't think we could have picked anything better for the kids to do. They had a blast, and loved every minute of it.

And the place was huge. Tons of slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and a ton more that we didn't even see.

I was a little nervous because neither Sadie nor Linus have any idea how to swim. And they have no fear of water. So I was picturing my mom and I rescuing kids the entire time, but there were two great kids areas with only a foot or two of water and plenty for them to do.

(I'm happy to say there were no rescues necessary).

They spent most of their time on the water slides...

and inner tubes...

and, of course, near the Mimi...

Unfortunately, we were only there for the night before we had to hit the road again early the next morning, but the kids still ask when we're going back to the water park again.

With happy faces like these, we might just have to make another trip.


And this was just in the first 12 hours...stay tuned...