Sunday, July 25, 2010

A Two Week Vacation in 14 Photos

The next time you take a long vacation in a car with kids you might conisder bringing along



















They're great!  They keep the children occupied for an eighth of a mile, and allow mom to teach the teenager his















algebra lessons on the road.  Because that's what homeschoolers do.  They're fairly good for drawing a mustache on the Major, too.

Swimming goggles and dog ears make a ride more pleasant.

I discovered Heaven on the Highway when I followed this truck for a few miles.

If I can only figure out how to tap a coffee tanker directly to my travel mug, I'd vacation behind it across the country!  Special thanks to the Boss for taking this picture while I drove.  She pointed the camera while observing, "I live to serve your blog."

We vacationed at a beautiful, peaceful lake in the middle of Wisconsin.

While touring through Madison, Wisconsin, we discovered where all of Wisconsin’s stimulus money is being spent. Every time the Garmin told us to make a turn we discovered a “Road Closed for Construction” sign. As we circled the state capital we discovered “FIB'S.”

















“FIB” is a term of endearment that Cheeseheads use toward drivers from Illinois. It roughly translates to “Fornicating Illinois driver of illegitimate birth.”  As a recovering FIB, I appreciate the sentiment.  We discovered one entrepreneur who brought the Chicago Beef Stand to Wisconsin with creativity.

Down in Chicago we went to the zoo. That’s where we discovered the giraffe that licks the giraffe cage walls. That’s all it did the entire time we were there.


I also learned the answer to the question, “If you were an animal, what animal would you be?”


And we discovered what happens when you leave the kids with grandma for a few hours.



She takes them to a bar.

We had breakfast the morning we left.  Captain Chaos packed away a half order of spicy nachos while her uncle struck a thoughful pose in the background.


We followed a carnie-gator through Illinois.

We stopped for a Sasquatch-sized footprint of breaded tenderloin at a fantastic restaurant called “Logue’s” in Hannibal, Missouri. They make a killer chicken fried steak, too.

And the Boss detailed exactly how many times one of her children called “Hey, mom?” on the return trip.

The answer?

76.

Next year we’ll be riding in a Checker Cab with the sliding safety window kept shut.

11 comments:

Becky said...

Loved your commentary! Glad that you fun along the way! :)

Marlis said...

It was fun to read about your travels. We'll be making a trip shortly. Just a one day one night trip nearby but I may invest in some of those crayolas :)

jugglingpaynes said...

Love your creative use of the window crayons! Thanks for sharing your pictures. Especially the coffee truck. I need a coffee truck. :o)

Peace and Laughter!

Jane said...

Opera is my excuse, too. In fact I can't be at my grand daughter's marriage celebration shower because it's opening night of "God spell" I'm the pianist. And I'm Brownies Mom

Some Guy said...

If those window crayons are anything like the bathtub crayons that someone bought for my kids, I don't want them anywhere near my vehicles.

How easily does that stuff come off...
upholstery?
clothes?
skin?

Brownie said...

I could have used those crayons on my last trip. I could have also used that sliding security window.

Great commentary on a car trip with kids.

And at my mom's (Jane)comment: Why didn't I get an invite to my niece's celebration shower? hmmmm?

Unknown said...

For the life of me, I did not understand the "Opera is my excuse, too." comment. I don't recall writing about opera unless it was to comment about how painful it is, and I haven't done that in a while.

Unknown said...

I LOVE THIS BLOG!!! I want window crayons too. It will give me something to do while waiting at red lights. Wellllll, maybe not. Ah, what the heck, might as well since I choose not to text.

Brownie said...

I was confused about the opera comment until I read your previous post. When your dad spoke to your mom on the phone she said that she had to attend opera rehearsal so he wouldn't be seeing her that night.

My mom gets pretty focused on her music..... and things get filtered that way :)

TobyBo said...

* thud *

you survived a 14 day road trip?

I am in utter awe.

Pippi said...

Haha that is so awesome. I should have tallied how many times I heard my nephew whine "Aunt Teffanie!" while I was in OK. Sometimes followed or preceded by Andy yelling "Mommy!"