The last week of August saw us taking our first real family road trip. Not that we didn't do a lot of driving while we were in California, but this time loaded up the new RAV4 and drove to Minnesota and back.
Steven did pretty well in the car through most of the trip. We had about 4 days where we drove at least 6 hours and the pattern was usually that he would sleep through the first couple of hours, and both Mike and I could sit up front during that time. After a stop for feeding and changing and a short bit of activity (we wanted to let him have more time out of the car seat but we had places to go and people to see!) it was back in the car. During the next leg he would get bored and start fussing and so one of us would sit in back with him to entertain him for a while until he got sleepy and took a short nap. This was pretty much the pattern until we got to wherever we were stopping for the night. Fortunately the back seat of the RAV4 is pretty comfortable and we could scoot up the empty front seat to give even more comfy leg room.
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| Early in the day I'm a happy traveler... |
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| ...then I get bored and have to find ways to entertain myself. |
We made a stop on our way out in Dixon, IL, for a reunion with our
old Bible study group from Iowa. Unfortunately we were having so much
fun we forgot to take pictures! I've put out an APB to the others that
were there, so hopefully we'll get some eventually!
After leaving Dixon we headed to the Twin Cities for the night before heading up to Alexandria. It happened to be Aunt Krista's birthday and she, Uncle Nick, and new cousin Elena met us out for dinner.
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| Playing with Uncle Nick |
The next day was not only our shortest day of driving, but it was also the end of long car rides for several days! All three of us were very happy about that.
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| Smiling with Grandma |
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| Chilling with Grandpa |
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My first trip to Jan's Place... I can't wait until I'm old enough to eat blueberry pancakes!
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| Can't stop in Alexandria without visiting Big Ole! |
Having fun with Daddy...
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| Win Twins! |
During our week in Alexandria we got to see and have dinner with Mike's friend Steve (Original Recipe Steve). Ron and Linda treated us all to a nice dinner out to celebrate Unruh Week (which includes our anniversary, Ron and Linda's anniversary, and Ron and Krista's birthdays). And Ron and Linda (Grandpa and Grandma for those not in the know!) also were very nice and watched Steven for an afternoon while Mike and I had a little belated anniversary date. We had originally planned to see a movie but then decided that we didn't want to spend our time alone together in a dark room not looking at or speaking to one another, so instead we went out miniature golfing and then got some ice cream. It was fun.
After spending the week in Alexandria it was unfortunately time to pack up and begin the long drive home. We made the trek back to the Twin Cities, which took a bit longer this time because we got back right at the beginning of Friday rush hour. That evening we met Mike's friend Dan and his wife Kris and their two kids for dinner at the MOA, which we could walk to from our hotel. We got to meet new baby Thomas and see almost-3-year-old Sofia, who we hadn't seen since she was practically as little as Thomas!
The next morning we met up with Nick and Krista and Elena again at the Original Pancake House (best breakfast in the Cities!) before heading out.
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| Cousins! |
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| In the three times we saw Elena over the course of our trip, I don't think she had her eyes open for more than 30 seconds. |
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| with Auntie (AHN-tee) Krista, not to be confused with Aunt (ANT) Christa |
We spent the night in Madison before heading home. All in all a long trip but a good one. As a side note, I highly recommend suite hotels for anyone traveling with small children. Steve goes to bed about 2 hours before we do and it was wonderful to be able to put him to bed and then go into another room and be able to leave the light on, talk, watch TV, etc!
So Steven has now been in 6 states--more than one per month he has been alive! I don't think I left California until I was at least one year old, and Mike said he didn't leave Minnesota until he was 7 or 8, when he went to exotic North Dakota. We got ourselves a Travelin' Man!
2 comments:
It's understandable that he doesn't remember it, but Mike went to North Dakota the first time when he was 5 months old. We rode along with Mike's Grandpa Blackorby to attend the funeral of Grandpa's sister.
I was also informed recently by the other Grandma that I left the state at 5 months as well, to visit my Dad's grandmother in Arizona. I'm sure Steven will remember these early trips about as well as Mike and I remember ours! :)
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