Road Trip!

There was a time, in the BC years, when I looooovvveeed to travel. I've never really gotten my fill of it, but it's just kind of not worth it these days. Earlier this year we took a trip to Gatlinburg; that was fun, but since we stayed at a hotel 10 miles from "the strip," we had to PLAN too much, especially around Little Lady's nap schedule. It just gets to be more work than fun.


I KNOW we are blessed to live near both sets of grandparents, and even one set of cousins. I wish all of my other brothers didn't live so far away. And really, you would think that with family spread out all over that we would be traveling and visiting all the time! No. It's a shame really.

But having said all that, we got to take a road trip this past weekend! We went to "Alabama!" Dub and Bo were so extremely excited when we told them we were going. We told them on Friday that we were planning to go on Saturday; the rest of the time before we went, they randomly said, "ALABAMA!!! YES!!!"


Dub finally asked why we were going to "Alabama." "There's a store there..." I began, and Dub groaned. I tried to explain the Unclaimed Baggage store to him, which he totally didn't understand, but still - we're going how far for a store???

The day of our big trip, as we were sitting in the driveway still, Dub and Bo started shouting, "Alabama, here we come!!!" Seven miles from home, we stopped at a gas station, and Bo says, "I think Alabama is starting!!!" We managed to make the 2 1/2 hour trip down in one piece, especially since we rigged a DVD player (our laptop) and took plenty of Scooby Doo and Tom & Jerry DVDs. The boys were so cute when we finally passed into Alabama: "Mama, do they talk like we talk in Alabama?" "Is Alabama in America?" "Is there a desert in Alabama?" "Are we near Hawaii?" "Will there be other people in Alabama?"

But we loved every second we could squeeze in for the Unclaimed Baggage store, as always. Dub & Bo each got to pick a toy, so that made the entire trip worthwhile, regardless of it being "just for a store." Unfortunately (?) we had to come on back home to make it to a birthday party at the pool. I mean, what better ending to a fun road trip than a birthday party with pizza, cake & ice cream PLUS a swimming pool?!? Of course, I could have stayed at the store for another week or two, just looking around at everything.

Hopefully as the kids get older we'll do more traveling again. And if Jason reads this, don't forget our 10th anniversary next year, hint, hint! As for now, if all we get to do is go to Gatlinburg and the Unclaimed Baggage store every once in a while, I'll be ok. Y'all are the reason it's fun anyway (and also lots of work...)!!!