Road Trip...

A few weeks ago my parents decided to go visit Ana, Brandon and Oliver...and because we like to tag along I excitedly announced that my children and I would gladly go also...what I was thinking to *want* to go on a 4 hour car ride with an almost 3 year old and a 2 month old I don't know...but we tagged along...my mini van following my parents 15 passenger van...wonder what the woman at the front desk of the motel thought as we pulled up!? On our way we stopped at McDonalds for a potty break (one of many for my lovely almost 3 year old!) and decided to rent a movie from the Red Box! Maybe I don't get out much...but I have always wanted to rent a movie from one of those cool red boxes...and we finally did...Date Night...but I couldn't watch it since I had to drive...but it sounded like a good movie!
When you come from a large family it is always someones birthday...and while we were away it was Laura's birthday...17! Now we are done with the birthday season until Elsie's birthday...then it is 3 birthdays in 2 weeks! We celebrate a lot...

Every Birthday requires the traditional "family birthday picture"...however my mom is *never* in the pictures...I even bought her a tri-pod for her birthday so she could be in some pictures...but it sits un-used! As you can tell getting a good group photo is impossible...

James is missing from the family picture...because as soon as we got to Ana's house the little man (who did not sleep very much at all in the car) fell right to sleep and slept in Oliver's crib for most of the evening...I think all that fussing in the car made him sleepy...the little stinker!

He still managed to sleep all night at the motel also...all cuddled in between mommy, daddy and Elsie...if a motel has such a thing as a "super sized queen bed" I would be willing to spend lots of extra money for one...4 in a bed gets a little crowded!

The next morning we all went to the city wide garage sales...then back to the motel. Ana's house was being taken over by the guys who were painting and doing lots of little things to get it ready to sell. So we all had some quality girl time...with James and Oliver,too...

And because this was a laid back kind of trip...lunch was made by the wonderful workers at McDonalds...(and some GF sandwiches for those who cannot eat burgers!) The kids were just happy to be able to their lunches in front of the TV! After lunch it was on to the swimming pool...and we somehow managed to not take a single picture!

In one motel room: Jon, Elsie, James, Mom, Dad, Emma, Marissa and myself...count em' up...8 people in one room with 2 queen beds...we managed to smuggle 2 sleeping bags in for the kiddos though. While in a motel it seem all rules and organization is forgotten...to put it lightly we had a rather messy room!

For Elsie the highlight of the trip was the little notepad and pen...she carried it around with her and did her "homework"...she covered the notebook with stick people and little "o" shapes...her 2 favorite things to draw...

Little Oliver had quite a thing for the phone...he would dial "0" for the front desk and Ana would quickly smack the receiver down before anyone answered...that boy is just like his mama...a button pusher!

And little James slept through all the chaos...and woke up a very happy boy all full of smiles! This boy is not going to know what quite it!