Sunday, August 11, 2013

Here we go a-travelin' ...again

I mistakenly omitted the funny part of our truck loading day--all the random things I had collected in my pockets by the time the day was over. With everything already packed and only one scant garbage bag, I instead shoved anything missed while packing into my pockets. By the end of the day, I had collected:
 
a plastic knife
an orange matchbox car
one Clartin D pill (in a packet)
a chain
a stuffed ladybug
a foam number 1
three hair elastics
a bobby pin
a plastic penny
a plastic quarter
a real quarter (Hawaii)
two chapsticks
four rocks

The rocks were the funniest. Especially the one I found in the back of the fridge.

Our three-day drive got off to a rough start on Thursday morning. Honestly, I wasn't ready at all. Sure, we've done all kinds of massive road trips this summer, but that was always the one thing happening at the time. With all the chaos of our mega trip and the hassle of move, the actual let's-drive-across-the-country part of the move had somehow slipped my mind. Huh.

In short, we had nothing ready in the van. No snacks, no water bottles, very limited organization for being the only adult, and no one had reminded Megan to go to the bathroom. Not ready. Oh, and I had no idea where we were actually driving...I knew we wanted to end up in Oklahoma, but fat chance I knew how to get there.

After some stress on my part and confusion caused by my stress on Chris's part, we finally made it out of Albuquerque. Want to know how to get to Oklahoma? Drive east. Ha.

Drive Highlights

Driving for nine hours on Thursday, seven hours on Friday, and five-ish hours on Saturday does not an exciting blog post make. There were just a few noteworthy moments.

Day 1: Chris got pulled over for speeding. The cops had set a speed trap by pulling over two unmarked cars, one with a hood up as if it was broken down with the other looking like it had stopped to help. Hiding behind the hood was a cop with a radar gun. Lame.

In Chris's defense, his car does not have cruise control and this lovely little trap was set up at the bottom of a hill. The officer said he was going seven miles an hour over the limit. He didn't end up getting a ticket, but we did find out that we both had expired insurance cards--don't worry, we've fixed that already. But, we do still have to fax proof of insurance or show up to the courthouse of Moriarty County, NM on August 27th. I think the fax seems more likely, don't you?

Day 2: Ben got nipped by a dog tied up with a cell phone cord at a gas station. Audrey's new kindergarten teacher called me, which was nice so I could actually tell Audrey her teacher's name. Audrey got lost and ended up wandering around a gas station with a stranger. We had a long talk about that one. And now that I'm typing all of this, I'm realizing that all of those happened at the same gas station.

And we crossed the Mississippi. Would've been cool to take some pictures...but we didn't.

Day 3: It rained. A lot. And then rained some more. Turns out, Chris's car is not waterproof.

And we arrived safely in Georgia. I suppose that's a highlight, though after all the stupid hours in a car, all I really cared about was getting out.

Hotel Highlights

I haven't done much on our previous trips in terms of special treats or entertainment for the kids. I think that taking trip is exciting enough on its own. This time, however, I did add in just a few extras. We were all already burned out from our huge trip before and this trip is also a move, which is a bigger deal than a couple days in Idaho.

Hotel 1--Albuquerque: New pajamas


Ben didn't want to pose for a picture. Can you tell?


Hotel 2--Oklahoma City: Swimming & Jumping (P.S. jumping on beds is allowed in hotels, per Grandma Karrie)












Hotel 3--Memphis: Movie


We went to see Planes. Not quite as impressive as I hoped, but it was cute. It was also really funny when Ben repeatedly jumped up on this chair and yelled, "PLANES!" He does that with real planes all the time (and trains, and trucks), but it was funnier in a movie theater, and especially since he seemed to be randomly calling out the title of the film.

My apologies to Christopher on the less-than-stellarness of the picture...I didn't think to take one until the lights were out and the previews had started, and I didn't dare take another one.

Hotel 4--Atlanta: Dolls & Trucks

No picture here, but I did give each of the girls a new little baby doll and Ben got three new matchbox Trucks (not cars, Trucks). It helped to have something new on that third day of driving.
 
* * * * *

So, we're in Georgia now. We have been to our new ward, and checked into our apartment this afternoon. The truck with our household goods won't arrive until Thursday, so our hotel adventures get to continue. Turns out we don't love the hotel we're in at the moment, so we're switching tomorrow. Hopefully that one works out better, and hopefully they serve something other than biscuits and gravy. They're good, but after nearly a week straight, not so much.

And now let's pause for a moment to consider that, amidst all this insanity and instability and current seeming homelessness, Audrey starts kindergarten tomorrow morning. Prayers.

At least the kids actually went to bed decently tonight, which hasn't happened for quite a while now.


4 comments:

Liz, Karl, Madison, Brooklyn, Aubrey and Zachary said...

Oh Laura. OH Laura! My head hurts for you just thinking about everything you have had to do these last few weeks. And then to have Audrey start school tomorrow while you are still homeless! I hope she just loves it thiugh

Ruby in the Rough said...

Wow!! This makes me so excited for our adventures coming up. We plan on making it to Georgia on the 28th of September, so plan on meeting for lunch as we pass through Atlanta, okay? :)

Molly said...

Audrey looks so much like a Wampler. Its like I am 5 years old with Brenda and Heather again just looking at her. Your kids are adorable.

Tannie Datwyler said...

So, I just spent the last 1/2 an hour catching up on your blog. I've been so behind... we've been on trips and then I was sick and BLAH BLAH BLAH. In any case, I wanted to comment so many times, but my kids are wanting my attention. So - just know that I laughed, smiled, and commiserated with you while I read. Thanks for sharing your life and I am SO SORRY it is incredibly crazy right now. I hope things settle down soon!