We got back late last night from a fabulous weekend in Chicago. Truly, fabulous. The kids had a great time playing with their cousins, I had a most relaxing weekend hanging out with my sister-in-law, brother, sister and brother in-law, and we even got to do some educational stuff. Hopefully a vacation the kids will remember for a very long time.
We left on Friday morning. Not too early, but early enough to arrive in Chicago right around lunch time. The kids were wonderful in the car. No fighting, everybody got along, and even a little sleeping. We made one stop for a snack without getting out of the car and didn't even have to stop for a potty break. We made it in record time. I was starting to think I had somebody else's kids with me.
After a little chaos and confusion we met up with my sister-in-law, Mary Ann, and my nieces and nephew, Jack, Sarah and Allie, at Shedd Aquarium. We had lunch and then walked around and checked out the aquarium. Saw the Fantasea show, hit the gift shop, had a little run-in with an employee who tried to kick us out before the museum was truly closed and then were off to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. Then back to David (my brother) and Mary Ann's house.
The next day we went to the pool and met up with my sister, Kathy, and my niece, Ella. Ella is just a few months older than Sarah and they have a wonderful time together. We hung out at the pool for several hours and then went back to the house for dinner where my brother-in-law, Ren, joined us as well.
Sunday was a lazy day where Dave hung out with all the kids and Mary Ann and I got to take a short walk. We never really left the house, except for the walk, which my brother calls an excellent day. Very lazy. Of course, Andy played about 15 hours of Wii and Playstation with David and Jack that day, with Sarah and Allie playing occasionally, so he was over the moon. You think I'm exaggerating, but they really only emerged from the basement long enough to eat each meal, and then they went back to their games. It was crazy, but he deserves to do that every once in awhile and there are no video games the rest of the this trip so it evens out. He just did two weeks worth of game playing in one day.
Yesterday we hit the Field Museum before driving home. The kids didn't want to leave and their cousins didn't want us to go either. They had so much fun together. Jack, Sarah and Allie were so sweet to Andy and Sarah. They were patient with them and so nice and Sarah was extra spoiled. Her cousins did everything she wanted to do, and then some, and even carried her around. So much that I worry she's going to have attention withdrawal. Mary Ann took great care of us too, making wonderful meals and having lots of yummy and healthy snacks around the house and even doing my laundry, yay! Boy, do we ever get spoiled when we are there.
The ride home was by far the worst part of the trip. Of course the trip home is never fun, but the kids made it extra challenging this time. I thought it would take us no more than five hours to get home, four hours of driving plus an hour for dinner, but that was wishful thinking. It ended up taking us six hours to get home. Much different from the four hours it took us to get to Chicago.
First, about an hour or so into the drive Sarah has to go to the bathroom. Never mind that we went right before we left the museum. We were on the Chicago Skyway, which has hardly any exits, and were fortunate to be about to pass one because another sign said the next exit was in 23 miles. Unfortunately, there wasn't a bathroom right at the exit. Long story, but by the time we finally found a gas station, unloaded all the kids from the car to go in to use the bathroom, because I couldn't leave them in the car and Charlie wasn't around to stay with them, and found our way back to a different highway (because we didn't need to be on a toll road anymore so why not just take the free highway), it was probably a good 30 minute stop.
We stopped for dinner about an hour later. After dinner, we all went to the bathroom again, even Amanda. Not an hour later, Sarah had to go to the bathroom again. This time she had too poop and she had to poop badly. Or so she said. So, once again, I got off at the next exit. Of course it was a tiny little town and the Waffle House right by the exit was closed. Huh? I didn't think Waffle House ever closed. So we made our way into town, found the only gas station in the one-light town, and we all unloaded once again so Sarah could go to the bathroom. The bathroom in this gas station was a tiny toilet room and all three of us were in there for at least 20 minutes. I'm sure the attendant was starting to get worried. For someone who had to poop badly, it took Sarah about 10 minutes to make the magic happen, during which she told us not to look at her or talk to her because it was distracting and she wouldn't be able to poop. Seriously, this bathroom was so small there was no way you couldn't look at her. When she finally finished Andy decided he needed to poop too, and then I figured I might as well let Amanda try and she pooped as well. Unbelievable. Luckily that was our last pit stop. All three kids were asleep by the time we got home and we arrived safely.
Always trying to better myself, here are a few things I learned from this driving trip:
1. A new video game goes a long way with Andy, and can make it through a four hour drive to Chicago. Sarah, not so much.
2. My kids go to the bathroom a lot more in the afternoon than they do in the morning.
3. Candy is a wonderful way to pass the time and decreases fighting immensely. It is a very powerful tool.
4. If you buy a toy for two of the kids you have to buy one for the third, even if they don't ask for it, because even though they say they don't want it, they will, and fights and stealing will occur.
5. We need to do this kind of stuff a lot more, because this is what they will remember when they are my age.
No comments:
Post a Comment