Hit the Road, Jack

By the time you read this, my family will have been on the road for many hours, yearning to arrive at our southerly destination.  The kids will have been awoken from their slumber in the wee hours of the night, nestled into their seats, and lolled back to sleep by the humdrum of highway driving.  This is the way my husband and I like to roll.  Get an early start and get a few hours in before the kids become awake and needy!

They will have rested for a bit and then become bright-eyed awake, marveling at their “new” surroundings and in disbelief that we’ve been traveling while they slept.  This newness will last a few minutes before they ask a million questions and paw for whatever book, device, game that will occupy their little minds.  Soon, everyone will wake and it will be time to switch from jammies to clothes, eat breakfast, and feel like new people even though we’re still traveling in the same car.

We’ll hit breakfast–cereal bars, bananas, dry cereal, juice, pop tarts! (they are going to flip when they see I’ve bought them this special treat–I might be just as excited!).  We’ll divvy rations and then regain our travel focus…  Onto our destination.

Florida, here we come.  Easter, we eagerly await you.  Grandparents, sun, and surf, how we’ve missed you.

Anyone else in need of a vacation?  This winter has been brutal.  March alone has brought some major virus to our family every week of the month, the last two with the flu.  Ugh!  Hopping in the car couldn’t happen fast enough.  Even our 2yo has caught the fever–“I want to the beach.  I want to the beach!”

It’s coming, baby, it’s coming.

Mama’s just gotta keep packing…  Traveling this year has taken on new form because of our new-to-us minivan.  Are you kidding me?  This thing is amazing.  It’s pretty incredible what 15 years of automobile innovation has brought to the minivan!  We are wide-eyed enjoying things like under-floor storage, above-ground hooks for bags, a built-in DVD player? (you mean you don’t have to jerry-rig daddy’s work laptop???)  Ahh.  We will travel in peace and hopefully make it in one piece.  All will be good.

To all those nodding your head as you read, I extend to you peace in your travels.  As you make your way today and over spring break, God speed (but don’t get a ticket!), God bless, and relish time with family and friends.  Thanks be to God for vacations.