Our Great Adventure: Part One

Last summer, one of my very dearest and long-time friends was getting married back in my home state of Oregon.  She asked me to be a bridesmaid so I had to go.  And somewhere along the way, my husband and I got the brilliant idea to make a family road trip.

We live in Texas.

That's roughly 2200 miles one way, if we take the direct route.

This is with four children in our 12 year old minivan.

I know, you're thinking that this had the makings of a dream vacation, right? Honestly, we rarely go anywhere.  Vacations are expensive and difficult with four children, especially when two have autism.  But we were determined to make this happen.  We wanted it to be one of those trips the kids looked back at when they grew up and remembered with fondness.  To this end, we added extra stops.  It was on our list to see the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, and the Redwoods, to name a few.

This trip would be our Great Adventure.

The Trip to End All Trips.

And it was! But, as is usually the case with our family, most things didn't go as planned.

I present to you: our summer vacation.  This story is told mostly in Facebook status updates and pictures and sarcasm and laughter.

Day 1: August 1st 

8:30 a.m.

Oregon or bust. (But bust isn't really an option).

10:38 am. 

Two hours on the road and a stop for a bathroom break.

Ben: This is boring.

Noon

Stopped at a McDonald's for lunch in San Antonio.

Daniel: Is this Oregon?

1:59 pm 

UPDATE

Ben has threatened to run away.

In related news, I have a headache.

3:42 pm

Middle. Of. Nowhere. Texas.

Some pretty decent places to hide a body. If you're into that sort of thing.

5:47 pm

I was wrong. I am NOW in the Middle of Nowhere, Texas.

An unfortunate turn of events when you've has to pee for the last 75 miles.

And no, Daniel, still not in Oregon yet.

6:23 pm

Stopped at Pizza Hut for dinner in Iraan, Texas.  A town, in the middle of nowhere in the middle of nowhere Texas.  But they had gas stations and bathrooms so it was all good. 

9:23 pm

New Mexico! Which looks a lot like Texas.

9:18 pm (local time)

Arrived at the Motel 6 in Carlsbad.* Should be fun squishing everyone in tonight. Adults exhausted. Little people are ready to party. Where did I put that Benadryl? Hmmmm . . . .

*In order to save money, we did, in fact, all share one Motel 6 room.  A couple of kids slept on blanket pallets we made on the floor (we brought blankets and pillows) and seemed to think it was "fun."  That's how you do it when you're on a budget. 

Day Two: August 2nd

7:52 am (local time)

Daniel helped me load up the van because "he's a servant of all" (his words).

Grand Canyon here we come (after a whole lot of New Mexico).

10:21 am local time
Roswell, New Mexico

I call this picture, "Family Reunion."  

1:12 pm local time

Rest stop on I-40, Somewhere, New Mexico

Daniel: Is this the end of New Mexico?

4:28 pm local time.

ARIZONA! (Nope, Daniel, still not Oregon).

7:46 pm local time

Flagstaff, Arizona

Family vacations are so much fun! Can't wait to do it again next summer. Except maybe leave off the family part . . . .

Day 3: August 3rd

4:41 am Local time

Some of us have not quite adjusted to the time zone change. Gonna be a LOOOOONG day.

9:32 am Local Time

Williams, Arizona

Gateway to the Grand Canyon!

1:37 pm Local Time

Mission accomplished!

And all the children survived . . . But the Grand Canyon will forever be changed. 

:)

4:59 pm Local Time

California, baby! I'm just one state away from Oregon!

6:15 pm Local Time

Mohave Desert, California

Dear Mohave Desert,

If you grew some trees or an amusement park, more people would like you.

Sincerely,
Me

8:45 pm Local time

Barstow, California.

Del Taco. Motel 6. Tired. Sleep.

This ends our third day (and also the first installment of our Great Adventure story).  Seems like a pretty simple story.  Everything seems to be going as planned.  But day four will bring an accident in a hotel room, puke and more puke (because these are my children) and an emergency room visit.  

And that's all just day four!  Keep you eye out for Part Two coming very soon!

_________

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