Road Trip 2012 Part I...

~Road Trip USA~

The above picture if one of my favorites.  It's taken at 4:00am and shows the excitement of what's to come.  Look how happy they are!  Look at the fresh sleep still on their faces!  Look how thrilled they are to show off their VERY OWN GUM!  It's a very special memory of mine; taking this photo.

Some 80 odd hours in a minivan. I know, some of you are droning.  I did too when the thought of driving to Seattle (and back) first crossed my mind.  Jim and I have made this trip many times in the past.  But never with kids.  Those were the early marriage days when we were still in our 20's and could function well on only a few hours sleep.

{for the record this was taken on the trip; we're well into our 30's!}

This was a whole different ball game.  And friends, I would do it all again.  The driving part of the trip was so much more fun than I ever thought it could be with kids.  Once we got into the groove of spending hours on end in the car we all kind of settled into our spots. 

Jim drove

Ella Jane made her peace and gazed out the window

Sara drew and drew on her white board

Matthew read or watched a movie

They all napped...a lot

Jim and I drank coffee

I gazed out the window

 {I love the affection of Sara; she scooped Ella Jane right up}

 {She loves her white board}

We stopped at rest stops for lunch.  Lunch was always the same; peanut butter sandwiches with a fruit or vegetable and raisins.  Except here.  We had just stopped at a bakery and are enjoying a cinnamon roll.

{Ella Jane on the little slide her daddy used to use when he was in elementary school} 

{We love the country.  My three kids walking up to their auntie's house} 

Oh the things my kids got to experience! 

They loved the river whether it be walking, swimming or stacking rocks. 

They spent endless hours with cousins older and younger painting nails, riding bikes and poking the fire with sticks when we camped.

 {we called family along the way and handed the phone to the kids to help pass the time}

 {Multanomah Falls}

{Lots of hotel time}

{can you do this with your body?}

We were able to spend a lot of time with both sides of our families and introduce our kids to things we simply don't get here in the Midwest.  Like cool summer mornings and evenings, a cold river, and the ocean!

More to come with Part II.