Road Trip!

Yesterday, I completed a 13 hour and 31 minute drive to Michigan, with 5 children under 10. We left at 7:40 in the morning, and got back at 9:14 at night. Being the only "adult" not driving, I had many roles to fulfill.

8 AM: DJ. Once the kids discovered I had an iPod, and that I had Owl City on said iPod, the first thing they wanted to do was listen to it. So after setting up some precariously perched speakers, I played Fireflies, the most requested, and Hello Seattle, #2 on the billboard. I had a feeling that by the end of the day, I would never want to listen to those songs again. I was right.

8:30 AM: Pocketing the iPod, I moved back to squeeze myself into a spot to play dolls with Carina, the six year old, while entertaining Contessa, the 2 year old. (I should say 2 and a half, because she would be very upset to just be called two.)

9:30 AM: Keeper of the peace. After an hour of dolls, I move the very back of the van to distract Kyler, who is tormenting his sister in some shape or form. We play several games of hangman, dots, and tic tac toe. I can proudly say I am smarter than a fourth grader.

10 AM: Snacktime! I move up to sit with Coralie, who is giggly and goofy. I give her the tickle test. and when she returns the favor, I'm surprised to find that she actually tickled me! (I'm not easily tickled by a five year old.

11 AM: I'm not sure what happened here. (Things start to blur after a while).

12:30 PM Lunchtime! I am now waitress/cook, preparing ham and cheese sandwhiches for all!

1:00 PM: On the road again, I'm so glad to be on the road again...

3:00 PM: After two hours of children, I plug in my iPod, which has magical powers to make all other noise disappear, and after ignoring tugs and pulls at my hair, am left alone.

4:00 PM: Welcome to Canada! We made it across the border (legally), and after passing the falls, get to see the not so scenic view of the Queen Elizabeth Freeway.

7:40 PM: We got back to the US, which takes twice as long (thank you US border control).

9:00 PM: Ten minutes from home, the meltdown begins. So close, yet so far away.

9:14 PM: Home sweet home.