Insanity in Three Easy Steps

[ETA: here's the photos.]

Well, we did it.

We travelled across the country, from Washington D.C. to Hurricane, Utah in just three days.

The first day we drove for 26 hours straight and made it all the way to Kansas City.

Mikayla asked, "Dad, do we have to sleep in the van again tonight?"

Luckily, we were able to visit with Mike and Amanda, and their cute kids George, Henry, and Clifton. It was so fun, and such a great break in the craziness of the drive. They even invited us to spend the night. We were loathe to inflict ourselves on them in this manner, but they insisted, and we got to go swimming, had some fabulous Kansas City BBQ, and a really lovely visit. Hopefully, next time, we can stay more than 12 hours!!!!

The next day we left Kansas City at 3:30 a.m. and made it to Moab at 7:30 p.m., where we got to visit with Eva, Angie, and Jason. That too was so great. We even took some time this morning to visit Arches National Park. It was wonderfully beautiful.









And finally, today here we are at Grandma and Grandpa Beatty's.

We made it, and I can hardly believe it.

So, three easy steps to insanity?

1. Well, visit a foreign country with your spouse immediately before a cross-country road trip and farm your kids out all over town. (BTW, a HUGE thank you to our wonderful friends for the help!)

2. Pack like mad and leave to drive cross country less than 24 hours after your return.

3. And, then drive like crazy people and make the entire drive in just three days to attend a family reunion on Saturday. (I might add here, that because we drove so quickly, we passed up opportunities to see many of our nation's wonderful treasures, including the world's largest ground hog.)

Well, I am sure that it comes as no surprise to anyone else that we are insane. You probably knew that before.

And, driving cross-country with six kids and your spouse is like sitting in 6 x 8 box crammed so full of crap that the only movements you can make are just slight turns to the left and right to check the mirrors.

And can I just tell you, you never realize how LOUD your children are until you are trapped in a car with them for three days and not more than six feet away from any of them the entire time!

At least when you are at home and the kids ask for stuff, they do it one at a time and from a distance. But in the car, when one kid wants something, you can bet that they all want it. And heaven forbid someone should have to go to the bathroom, because suddenly, everyone has the same urgent bladder need at the EXACT same moment.

It was an experience. The kids were real troopers, and we're proud of them.

Becky kept saying, "Dad, I want to go home." And, "Mom, when are we going on our trip?"

Oh, little one, this is the trip, and I am sorry for it.

And, just think, we get to do it again in just a few short weeks.

Um...maybe we'll just have someone send the rest of our stuff out West...I mean, after everything we brought with us, there can't be all that much left at home!