odysseywiththreekids

Today my family lives for our first extended road trip.  You know, the kind of road trip where you cram everything you own into a minivan and 21-cubic foot cargo box, then pray that you haven't forgotten the one magical thing that will keep your kids entertained for the 19-hour drive to Florida.

The longest our family of five has ever been trapped together in the car is about seven hours on a drive to my parents home.  Those quarterly trips are often punctuated with a text message to my father about thirty minutes outside of town, asking him to have a whiskey sour waiting for me upon arrival, no questions asked.  Papa and Nena peel the sticky, cranky, mangled children out of their seats and carry them into the house where they run around like freed inmates for the next 3-hours before collapsing in their beds, only to turn around and make the trip home a few days later.  That's what happens on a seven hour trip.  

I remember the exact day when I decided this road trip would be a good idea.  I was sitting in our minivan waiting to pick up two-thirds of my kids from school.  Gas prices had hit a low that made filling up my 20 gallon tank cheap.  Area schools were canceling classes because it was too cold.  (Yes, that actually happens.)   A quick expedia search resulted in airline tickets just high enough to ensure my husband would nix my idea.  I started Googling and found quaint blogs with headlines like, "Family Vacation Tips: How To Create Memories and Enrich the Lives of Your Children" and see pictures of super happy families like this:

      http://anationofmoms.com/2012/01/road-trip-gadgets-for-restless-kids.html  

My eyes purposely pass over the pictures that look like this.  

http://meetings-santafe.com/top-5-tips-for-road-trips-with-kids/

Pinterest didn't help squash my idea either. Pins like, "25 Best Road Trip Games Made with Egg Noodles and Bobby Pins" and "Toddker Traveling Made Easy" sucked me in. New pin board made.  Boom.  I was sucked in.

I brought the idea up to my darling husband at dinner that night. 

     Me: "I think we deserve to go somewhere warm for spring break."

     Darling Husband: "Whatever you want, dear."

Yes.  Score. Done.  Best husband ever.  

Fast forward to today. I've spent a small fortune buying "Impulse Toys" at Target.  I have everything packed up in nice little, organized containers.  I've borrowed movies from friends.  (Hi Anne!)  We bought a 21 cubic foot roof carrier for the van.  There are snacks galore for the kids. Hotel rooms en route are booked.  Electronic devices charged.  I feel strangely prepared for this, but my kids would laugh if they heard that.

So I sit and wonder, what have I gotten myself into?