Yup ... we traveled a whole 2 hours to West Des Moines for a baseball tournament. Yesterday, I planned. I devised. I prepared. I packed. Contrary to popular belief, putting everything together for a family of six for even a 2 day trip only 2 hours away can be quite the challenge.
1. A suitcase with clothes for six with clothes suitable for both cool and warm weather. (That's what happens when our mornings are in the 50's and afternoons in the 70's ... and we will be at the ball park all day long)
2. A food bag. (We can't go anywhere for more than 8 hours without being armed with a loaf of bread, jar of peanut butter, chips, pop tarts, cheese/crackers/pepperoni, grapes, graham crackers and donuts.)
3. A toy bag. (Yes, filled with Mr. Potato Head, Barbie's, Snap on Dolls, Coloring Books and Crayons and My Little Ponies. There is no way I would expect the girls to sit all day, for 2 days ... without something to do. That would be just down right rude. And even I'm not THAT bad)
4. A swimming bag. (Once the children found out that the hotel had a pool, they miraculously forgot that we were doing all this for baseball ... and assumed the whole trip revolved around swimming. We could have done that at home ... in our Margarita Pool)
5. A snack bag. (This is the bag that holds the apple jacks, animal crackers, blow pops, and crackers ... that is for the game at the ball park. Completely separate from the "food bag")
6. A medicine tub. (A container where you will find everything from Children's Tylenol to Tums ... just in case. Does any family go anywhere for more than a day without this?)
7. The computer bag. (Hello? Would you expect me to leave home without it?)
8. The Port-A-Crib. (I have a 2 year old. Who twists and turns in the night. Enough said.)
9. A cooler. (The MOST IMPORTANT item packed. You know, Gatorade, milk, Pepsi, diet coke ... BEER. Lots and lots of beer. The only thing that gets two parents through the next two days full of baseball and four kids).
So ... yeah ... I pack it all. Load it into the back of the Suburban ... and start driving. Before we are even out of town there is a need for the wind shield wipers. As we go west, it gets heavier and heavier.
We keep driving.
We call the weather line made a available to us in the event of rain. Morning games canceled.
That's okay ... we'll be ready for the afternoon games.
We arrive at our destination. Ask the hotel for an "early" check in ... and .... SWIM.
All day. Kids are in heaven.
Games canceled.
We'll start over tomorrow. Today's games will be played tomorrow. Tomorrow's games ... on Monday.
Hubby and Jake are at the Iowa Cubs game as I write this.
I am in a hotel room with a 6, 3, and 2 year old.
I love baseball ... especially these travelin' teams.
Thank God for Internet and Wi-Fi. And for Coors Light.
Right?
