Road Trip Theater

The kids have been practicing this dramatic performance during our trip.

***

Act 1 Scene 1

Setting: the backseat somewhere in rural America

Annalise: Caleb hit me!

Caleb: No I didn't!

Annalise: Yes you did!

Natalie (aside): I'm gonna throw up...

Road trip: Notes to Self

* there is no number of plastic grocery bags that is too many to bring along
* ditto for clothes pins
* cups with lids are good, but test at home first to ensure that it does not require the strength of a male gorilla to attach lids
* plan all on-road meals meticulously - not just the first 4
* Clorox wipes, rubber gloves
* bring spoons and forks, not sporks
* high quality paper towels are worth the extra cost

I learned long ago that even if I have no plans to use them, it is always good to bring along scissors, tape, and a sharpie marker.  I usually do this even for day trips.

Road Trip Psychology

Two things and one more less thought out.

1. The emotional boost of leaving early:  For more than one reason, we did not leave before dawn yesterday.  When we realized getting out by 5:30 was beyond unrealistic, we also realized that we would have to delay leaving until 9 am or later.  We live at the bottom of a big city, in a densely populated county, at the bottom of three overpopulated counties.  We needed to avoid rush hour(s).  Because we left 4 (errr 5) hours later than we expected, I should have been more mentally prepared to  not quite make our planned stop and to drive later (I hate driving at night!).  There are all types I suppose, some people like to drive all night, some people start whenever, but Rob and I (and my parents did this when I was a kid) like to be a few miles ahead of the sun.  Letting it get a jump on us just makes me feel late.

2.  The emotional boost of making good time.  Rob's phone is incredibly accurate at estimating the time it will take to get somewhere.  That sounds like a good thing, but I always liked it when we made better time than we expected.  Back when we estimated our own travel time, there was a satisfaction in being half an hour earlier than we planned.

*  The world is bigger than Miami. Of course I knew it was.  But sometimes down there it feels like the whole world is flat and hot and fast.  Getting away, it is kind of startling to see that it is not!

Road Trip Notes

Now that we are finally on our trip, I have a few minutes to give to my neglected blog!  And since I stay logged in on my computer at home, I only had to guess 15 times before I remembered my password.

It has been one child and 18 months since our last road trip.  For a while, I didn't even want to think about the drive because even short outings were overwhelming.  But we made a trip to Ft Myers recently and that went ok, so I began to plan in earnest.

New to us:
*individual activity bags - I put a sticker book, a puzzle book, a license plate game, a map, and a book about the Smokey Mountains in a reusable grocery bag and hung it on the back of the seat in front of each kid (except Irene!)-they like them so far and the surprise factor was pretty powerful!  The only problem is the license plate game I printed off the internet omitted Arizona and North Dakota.  We didn't notice until we saw a u-haul.
*bucket pulley system - our design needs improvement, but the concept is great - a bucket on a looped rope that travels from my seat to the backseat.
*sick bucket - I hope that doesn't need explanation!

Before we left we happened to see the kids ministry director from our church and she reminisced about how many good memories she had from road trips in her childhood.  We took a good many road trips when I was a kid too and I guess there were pleasant memories that I associate with them - stopping at Boomland for gas and fireworks (I don't actually remember ever buying fireworks there, but great combination, don't you think?) and I learned how to solve a magic square on a road trip - a skill my kids find amazing!  I don't know - getting there may be half the fun, but it is a hard sort of fun.

The hardest part of planning for this trip is Irene's food because she wants an increasing variety of tastes and textures, but isn't at the point where there is always table food suitable for her.  Today she is ten months old.  I think our other road - babies we're either too young to eat or past this awkward stage.  Now a days, just about every baby food is available in a pouch (even puréed meats), and while they are too pricey for regular eating, we are relying on them for road food.

But the harder part of the traveling is Irene too - crawling and cruising, she does not like spending all day in her car seat!  I, on the other hand, am kind of enjoying the chance to sit for a while!!!

Big Brother, Littlest Sister

A Rainbow over my Favorite Palm Tree

I like this palm tree because when we are out in the afternoons, the sky is usually a beautiful late day sort of blue color and the sun hits the green so that it looks prettier than usual.  Also it is nicely shaped.  I've tried drawing it a couple of times.  When it is windy, it looks very beachy to me.  I guess I notice it a lot because it is easy to see from where I usually sit to watch the kids play.

Contagious

At Meredith's excellent suggestion, the kids performed the skit "Contagious" at the end of the year talent show held by their kids group at church.  I remember this skit from college.  They practiced it with Natalie alternating with Annalise for the patients, but when the time came for performing it in front of their friends, she opted out.  I had gone home with Irene, and Rob had stayed with the kids to take a video.  The kids and I had already discussed the scenario of Natalie backing out (although she was hilarious at home!) and I think Annalise did an amazing job at improvising!  She played all four patients and the nurse.  The first bit of the skit is not in the video because we forgot to tell Rob about the Plan B and he was trying to talk Natalie into going on stage when Annalise took charge and started the skit.  She didn't even have anyone backstage helping her with costume changes.  Considering all that and considering that there is a maintenance man working on the tv on the side of the stage - I think they did an amazing job!

At the same talent show, Caleb and his friend Will did a dance wearing robot costumes. Caleb made his own head (that was the extent of his costume).

Believe it or not, his friend Will came to the talent show wearing an Ohio State t-shirt!

Whodunnit?

DIY - Roofing

My husband - a man of so many talents I can't keep count!

Caleb's Dream House

Super Bowl Room, Model Train Room, Ball Room

Snow Room, Race Car Room

Dragon Training Room, Time Tunnel Room (with escaped covered wagon and dinosaur)

Helicopter Room, Video Game Room

Mountain Climbing Room

Pool Room, Tennis Room

I just hope no one visiting his house ever wants to eat or sleep or needs to go to the bathroom!

Annalise's Cookie Stand

A couple of weeks ago, Annalise asked if she could sell cookies on our front lawn. When the kids ask that they usually have some expectation that we will be out selling cookies in the next 20 minutes. I told her that we could do it, but it would have to be at least a week in the future.  So she and I did a little pintersting and she selected 3 types of cookies (she chose animal shaped cookies - cats, dogs, and butterflies) and we worked on a supply list and make dough together.  I did most of the rolling and cutting, but she did the decorating.  And yes, she is wearing a silver sequin dress.  We bought it at Goodwill.

Her best sellers - and the easiest ones to make!

Natalie also made some no bake bird nest cookies.  Yay leftover Easter Candy!

Caleb tried to sell paper planes and boats - he is an aggressive salesman, but even he couldn't get many takers!  If he does not end up in business, he will miss his calling...

I felt a little guilty afterward because we didn't really have any reason to have a cookie stand - we weren't raising money for anything and I guess that is what you are supposed to do with kids, but I thought this was a good experience - she had to think about how much it would cost both in money and effort to make it happen, then she did or helped do all the work.  And on top of all that it was about the hottest, humidest day you can fathom with this convection oven-like wind and she sat out in it wearing a polyester dress for almost 2 hours. Anyway, no one seemed to mind that she was selling the cookies to make a profit.  And she only made $7 - which was big bucks to her, but would have been an awfully small donation.

Mako Likes Babies