Five days, four grandparents, three states (counting Cali), two travelers, and one pregnant belly (not mine!) is just one way to describe last week. 1,316 miles and 14.5 hours in the car is another way. Whichever summary is used, it all equals out the same…lots of smiles and happy times with loved ones spread out all over the place!
I am still just amazed at how well my toddler took to being on the road. There are times where we can’t make it the two miles to the grocery store without difficulties, but there was not a single moment on our trip where he let me know that he was sick of being in the car. We ate the majority of our meals in the car, napped in the car, changed diapers in the car…it was all fun and games for him! There was even one moment where I was planning on having a little picnic to give him a break, and instead he wanted to go back to the car. It was our happy little cocoon!
There are certainly a few stand out moments and big time firsts for him: seeing and petting a horse, dumping out a huge container of old school Lincoln Logs, laughing at sea lions, chasing and getting chased by Gramps, whisker tickles from Papa, and strolling along the walkways at a marina looking a boats. There are also a number of things that I learned from the trip:
- No matter how many toys you bring along; sticks, dirt, and rocks will still triumph as being the coolest.
- Road songs are still fun to sing, even when you are 30+
- Fast food tastes better in the car, especially when you are super hungry!
- Oregon drivers are very considerate, and actually follow the rules of the road
- It’s kinda nice not having to pump your own gas
- It’s hard to go 65 mph when you’ve spent hours going 80 mph
- Little ocean towns are very quaint, but only for visiting
- Cruise control is a wonderful thing
- And nothing feels as amazing as sleeping in your own bed!
It’s taken a few days, but I am finally feeling a little more rested and am looking forward to getting back to our normal routine. More than anything else though, I am looking forward to getting back in the kitchen. I think my mixer has dust on it! In the meantime, here are a few sights from our trip!
OH I LOVE SEEING THESE PICS!!!!
To see Gavin at Dad’s house in Astoria, to know he was really there for the first time, playing with sticks on forest floor and rocks in the driveway… brings a tear to my eye! Seeing the view from the Astoria column and knowing how you two must have laughed at the noisy sealions…I am so glad you were able to make that trip and that it went so well. Sounds like you two are regular road-trip buddies now, and hopefully one day the road will lead to Montana, too! Yellowstone Park, seeing bison and elk for the first time, and maybe some real (dead of course) dinosaurs too! Glad you are home safe and getting back into the routine.. and the kitchen.
XXXXXXX love always, your sister
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