Highlights of Grandma and Grandpa's House

If I were to summarize what the kids did the entire time we were at M's parent's house, this would be it:

 

Lots and lots of banging on the piano by Claire and Scott.  Some of it even sounded like music!

Lots and lots of Kate pointing.  Mostly at the dog.  (In this case she combined it with her other favorite hobby of wearing shoes.  Anyone's shoes.)

We were there for a whole week and even on the last day, Kate was still pointing emphatically at the dog.  It was as if she was saying, "Guys! Guys! LOOK!!! It's a DOG!!!"  And our reply grew less and less enthusiastic as the week wore on, "Yes, Kate. We see.  It's a dog."  And she would silently use her finger to reply, "Clearly, you must not see. If you did, you would be as fascinated as I am. That stuffed animal is MOVING!!!"

How Could We Possibly Be Mad After an Answer Like That?

The other day I saw Claire using the bathroom before she got into the shower.  We had the following conversation:

G:  "Claire, didn't you JUST go to the bathroom a minute ago when we were downstairs?"
Claire:  "Yes."
G:  "Why are you going again?"
Claire:  "That's just how I roll."

Well then, carry on.

Listening to Your Bladder is Good for the Soul

If you have to drive halfway across the country, I HIGHLY recommend having your 6 year old need a potty break just as you cross the Alabama/Mississippi border.

Especially if that happens to fall right at sunset.

 The Mississippi Welcome Center on the banks of the Mississippi River made a great pit stop.

Thanks Claire - or at least Claire's bladder - for forcing us to "stop and smell the roses" a little.

We made the 24 hour drive from Texas to the Washington D.C. metro area in two days.  We certainly didn't take much time to relax in those two days, but this serendipitous stop was definitely a highlight.

 

Truly a "Gag" Gift

On our way to visit M's family over Christmas, we stopped for lunch at a Burger King.  It's been a long time since I went to one, and the last few times I've been, they certainly didn't have any of those fabulous crowns I so loved when I was growing up.  But this Burger King did!  We gave the kids all crowns and they had a blast, but M was kind enough to pick up a special one just for me:

Let me tell you, this baby looks great worn backwards as you drive across Mississippi.  You see, wearing it backwards makes it cool.  (Trust me, cuz clearly I KNOW "cool.")

M kept asking me what I was going to do if I got pulled over wearing that thing.  I told him I'd probably get pulled over BECAUSE I was wearing that thing.  But I don't know anyone in Mississippi, so it was worth the risk just to watch him squirm.

In 6 Days We Ate Meals in 10 Different States

Over Christmas vacation, we took quite the road trip.  And then M and I took a road trip within the road trip.

We visited a total of 12 states and the District of Columbia on our 14 day trip:  7 states over 2 days on the way there (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on day 1 and Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia on day 2), we added the District of Columbia the 2nd day we were there, we hit 4 more states over 2 days on the little getaway M and I took on our 3rd and 4th day (Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey on day 1 and New York on day 2), and we went through 1 more state (Arkansas) on the way back home to Texas because we took a different route.

(Note: We missed getting a photo of anything to represent our time in Alabama.  Oops.  And we ate breakfast in Texas on our way out because, honestly?  It takes a long time to get OUT of Texas.  But we didn't get a photo of anything to represent Texas, it being home and all.  Also, although we were in Georgia and the District of Columbia, we did not eat any meals there.  We can only claim eating meals in 11 different states.  Darn!  )

Stay tuned for details on our vacation.  And our meta-vacation.