5.) Share a memorable road trip story!
I took the girls on a road trip to visit friends in Idaho over Memorial Day Weekend. And yes I left Kainoa behind again. I KNOW! Look, he’s just…not…ready.
Our five hour road trip was beautiful
and just what I needed to do some introspective thinking about country music, my glorious college days, alien life, and Shrek.
That’s about all I covered in five hours.
Make that seven hours…
because after all the stops and hoo hawing we did it took us a total of seven hours to arrive at our destination.
Hoo hawing is my new word for “sight seeing”.
One of our stops was at a place called Wild Horse Monument or something along those lines. I thought it would be a great idea to pull over, stretch our legs, and maybe throw ourselves off a cliff.
What was I thinking? I have a mild fear of heights. You know when you realize you’re really high and you just want to get down on your knees and start crawling? That’s what I felt like. But because I’m the mom and I want to raise normal, confident children, I remained on my two feet and allowed my children to convince me to climb a trail to see the actual horse monument.
It makes sense for a woman who feels like crawling at 1,000 feet to go ahead and climb higher, doesn’t it?
I don’t know if we were “at 1,000” or what that even means, but it seems like a high number so we’ll go with it.
I underestimated how steep the terrain was and because my kids would not be tempted with the alternative of eating m&ms in the car with me, I agreed to start climbing.
A closer look?
You’ll notice the lack of a staircase or elevator and also the falling people gripping one another as they stumble back to lower ground. I swear it was steeper than it looks. I COULD HAVE DIED.
When we got to the top I snapped a couple pictures
and then reminded the girls about the m&ms waiting in the car and we were on our way.
Two hours later we were greeted by a pretty friend,
a hot tub,
and s’mores and that’s how I knew we were home.
I wish I could say our drive back was as enjoyable as the drive there…
Note to self, Memorial Day is NOT a good day for travel.
The Prompts:
1.) Last week you chose a 6 word memoir to share…this week elaborate. Tell us the story or thought process behind the sentence you wrote.
2.) Write a dramatic synopsis of a memorable day in your life, as if it was a movie or TV series.
3.) Describe what you think your life would be like if you had never had kids.
4.) In honor of the “white” after Memorial Day rule, name a fashion rule that you either break or enforce.
5.) Share a memorable road trip story!
6.) Vlog: Summer is here and it’s time to hit the water…will you be jumping in with the kids? How do you feel about prancing around in your swimsuit?
Frelle says
Beautiful pictures and lovely narrative :) And you are NOT kidding about the return drive part.. every.single.time it takes longer and is just brutal by comparison. I’m doing 17 hrs each way NC to IL and back over July 4th. I will try to take pictures on the way this time!
Mama Kat says
17 hours is insane!! I might advise taking pictures from the passenger side. :)
Anne Province says
Looks like ya’ll had fun hoo hawing! And that steep hill looks perfect for sliding down on your butt… you’ll get to those M&M’s a lot faster! Now I want to take a road trip! (maybe not 7 hours!!!)
Courtney @ The Mommy Mattesr says
Looks like you guys had a blast! Road trips are so fun…especially during the summer!
The Drama Mama says
I must say that while you got incredibly cute pictures, you are a brave soul to dare the highway on a holiday!!
Mama Kat says
Now you tell me!
Jessica says
Did they at least sleep some of the way home?
Mama Kat says
Of course not…what fun would that be!?!
angie says
Steep trail there to get to wild horse statues. Note to self: Never stop there. That totally sucks about traffic on the way home. Boo. :)
Angela says
Now s’mores in my belly would have soothe the way home.
Your pictures are great. Climbing up inclines in no easy task–but the views are worth it!
Kimberly says
Looks like a great weekend, but that traffic would kill me!
Elizabeth says
That hike is scary!
June Freaking Cleaver says
How many times did they ask “Are we there yet?” That is the true measure of a roadtrip that is not to be forgotten.
Mama Kat says
Shockingly not until that last hour of the drive. Approximately at the moment they ran out of movies to watch.
Carrie says
I can’t wait until my girls are a bit older. We are definitely doing a road trip!
natalie says
i grew up driving passed that horse monument twice a year. but we never stopped. always saying ‘next time we will, but this time we don’t have time.’
it’s always really pretty to look at from the road though. :)
Mama Kat says
Same here! Which is exactly why we stopped.
jackie says
That is one steep hill! I so wouldn’t have been able to climb that. Love the pictures!
Mama Kat says
It was the going down part that nearly gave me a heart attack! Yikes!!
Anne says
Oh, this made me laugh! I love that you climbed all the way to the top and documented the whole thing. Your kids will remember that!
Michelle says
Great photos! We haven’t done a road trip in forever – I think I’d be much harder to handle now than my kids. I really dislike like traveling in a car for hours, I go completely stir crazy. ;)
Erin says
Looks like you had a great time! And please tell me I am not crazy for attempting to taker will be 3 yr old and my 4.5 yr old to Hawaii on vacation??? Cuz I wonder if they are ready!!!
Mama Kat says
It’s never a bad idea to go to Hawaii! I’m sure they’ll love it, and just think of the awesome pictures you’ll get!
Simone @ Greatfun4kids says
Hehehe road trips with kids = FUN. NOT!!!
Love the pics. nothing better than a picture-story.
PS I made it. A fresh new post all linked up and ready to roll.
The Movie of My Life: “Simone Jones Diary” – Bridget’s long lost cousin does a South Pacific Spin-off. Starring Janeanne Garogolo as me and GERARD BUTLER as my hubby. *grin* (with pics)
Georgia Girls says
I like how you were smiling at the beginning AND the end of the trip — or at least on the start back. ;) Back in the olden days, my f.i.l. used to make my hub and his siblings get out and run along the side of the road to get their wiggles out — or to get his sanity back.
Simone @ Greatfun4kids says
That was meant to be Janeanee GaroFOLO.
I have no idea who Ms Garogolo is or if she even looks like me at all
x
Hanan says
I love driving across state here!
Alison@Mama Wants This says
Looks like awesome fun! I would have been too chickenshit to climb up that high.
Russell@NLQ says
I loved these pictures! And wanna know something funny? The Bridge behind you in many of those pictures? I drove over that over memorial day weekend. And that river? I camped near it!
Looks like you had a great time!
Mama Kat says
How funny is that!?! I was the crazy lady in the mini van riding your tail. ;)
Patty says
Somehow, those road trips we all take can be the vacations we remember most. Great post, wonderful photos!
Teacher Girl says
Love the photo of you and the kids waiting to leave. You can feel the excitement!
Single Mom in the South says
We drive 12 hours back up north at least twice a year and I never stop to take pictures. Perhaps I should take time to enjoy the ride more often.
For some reason, my linky is appearing twice. Not sure how that happened!
Russell@NLQ says
Hey Mama! For some reason my link also appeared twice. Thanks for the great prompts this week!
Dianna says
Beautiful pictures, and I loved the story!
(I can only hope one of your girls took the photo of the coffee cup!)
Mama Kat says
But of course! Safety first my dear!
Paula Kiger says
Great story, Kat!! Sounds like a fun trip (even with the heights!). Glad you were able to get away (and of course glad you took pictures because we out here are all about making sure you didn’t forget about US for a moment when you were on vacay).
Red Shutters says
You’re a brave woman to road trip with two kids! Thanks for sharing your tale, and glad you had a fun adventure.
Mama Kat says
Maybe next time I’ll be brave enough to bring the boy!
Morgan Smith says
I’m FROM Idaho! Where did you go?
Runnermom-jen says
Great way to get the kids back to the car…chocolate works every time! It looks like a great time, except for the traffic.
Amy says
You are a brave lady to take the girls on a drive that long! It looks like you guys had a blast!
Funkidivagirl says
My hat is off to you as I HATE road trips! And to drive alone? Brave woman. But it looks like you had a ball :-)
Jen says
Wow, what a great trip. You should have flown home in your private jet that also can carry your van.
What, you don’t have one of those?
Kisatrtle says
I am glad you decided to go
Mama Kat says
Ahhh, you’re remembering the post where I was talking about that road trip and not wanting to go because I might die! Good memory!! And yes, I’m glad I ignored that voice!
Peg says
Looks like you had a good time anyway! I remember a road trip once that involved taking my two younger girls on a 9 hour trip that involved M & M’s but unfortunately mine ended with one of them throwing up the rainbow in the back of my van. M & M’s don’t look quite as pretty coming back out as they did going in! Glad you survived it with only traffic.
Kristin @ Ellie-Town says
Did your kids go crazy for the turbines? Ours are obsessed!
Mama Kat says
Is that what those are called? I just referred to them as “giant windmills”. And no, I think I nearly killed us trying to get a good look at them…I was much more enamored by them then they were!
A Mommy in the City says
Great pictures! Looks like you girls had a great time!
Bankerchick says
When the girls were younger we use to drive on Sundays, we use to say let’s go out and get lost. Of course, we did many times have a plan. The first time DD2 cried when dad said let’s get lost. Warnings to toddlers are remembered!
Amy @ Never-True Tales says
Hey, I think I know that particular road trip quite well! The wild horse memorial and all. ;)
Mama Kat says
It’s lovely!!
Jennifer says
I have that same get on my knees and crawl feeling when I’m up high. And I’m pretty sure I would have turned around and left them when I saw how steep that hill was.
Bruna says
What a fun road-trip! You’re brave hawling your kids on such a long trip. Looks like you guys had fun though. You’re such a fun Mom!
Janelle says
I have always thought it would be fun to stop at that monument but usually we are so done with driving by that point that we don’t want to make it last any longer….so kudos to you. How fun that you were able to see beautiful and her family. I bet it was a great time for you two.
Mama Kat says
I know right!?! I have NEVER stopped there, but decided since this was their vacation and who knows when we’d ever be over there again…that we might as well swing through. It was worth it!
morgan says
We are looking ahead at a 20 hour trip to Wisconsin a two weeks …. let the shuddering begin!
Kir says
that is simply awesome, look at what a great trip you had!!!
and those kiddos of yours, Oh my are they CUTE!!!!!!!!
Cathy H. says
I am so with you on heights! The only difference is that I’m quite okay with letting my kids see that I’m freaking out with fear. Okay, maybe not the whole freaking out part, but I definitely share my fears. And I also make sure there’s another adult(my husband) present so HE can do the scary stuff with them.
Jennifer@ The Mommy Mambo says
“…maybe throw ourselves off a cliff.” HAHAHA!! I think I’ve taken this trip before. Holiday travel isn’t all its cracked up to be sometimes is it? Since ALL of our family lives elsewhere we have been forced to travel for every holiday and special occasion since my birth! With gas prices the way they are I’ve decided that most of my family aren’t worth that kind of money :)
Ann says
Awesome pics and GREAT post! I love it…
Joy says
poor guy just add it to the therapy list of things he will need to discuss later on:)
but glad you got to have some good mommy/daughter time with the girls, looks like fun
Mama Kat says
Haha! Oh my poor boy. Luckily he doesn’t have a clue yet…I missed him though.
CoffeeJitters says
I would have been happy to sit in the car and eat M&Ms with you. Great photos – looks like so much fun.
hillary says
I like how you’re wearing a layered shirt in the very first picture :) That was my fashion rule! Confirmed!
Andrea says
Ok you are making me wish I really did blog about my road trip but germs are running rampant through the digestive systems of my offspring. Can I get an extension on that assignment? :)
And of course, those pics are awesome.
I know what you mean about being afraid of heights. I have developed that fear since having kids.
Donnamay says
Looks like typical Snoqualmie Pass traffic jam! Now I remember why we take White Pass whenever possible.
Sharyl@Thelittlebrownhouse says
I think I remember seeing you at Bloggy Boot Camp in Seattle! I live in Northern Idaho so I drove that same route home last Sunday:)
Samantha says
Your road trip sounds like a lot of fun!
Diane@BeStillaMinute says
Love the photos! And I am the same way with heights. I don’t think I’m really afraid of them until I get up really high and look down and then it hits me and though I never thought of it quite that way, that is exactly how I feel….like I want to get down on my hands and knees and start crawling!
Mimzy Wimzy says
Looks like a great trip!! The girls look like they had a great time!!
I really need to get better about taking pictures. Spent a day in NYC this week & only took about 4 pictures of my Hubby getting his tattoo. Nothing else. Who does that?
Karen says
Those are great pictures and fun memories with your kids – if not all of them. :)
SaucyB says
Great photos! Looks like a really nice time with your friend and her kids too. The kind of friend that feels like family. very nice.
Mama Kat says
And that she is! We’ve been friends since high school. :)
Tonya says
I heart road trips but traffic is the worst!!
Beautiful photos.
Looks like everyone had a great time.
Mama Track says
So funny! I’m scared of heights too–love how you braved it. Way to go, Mama!
Tammy says
I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!! I don’t think I have ever been here before. I have been having so much fun! So…are you from the Seattle area? I saw your little road trip and I have so been on that road so many times on our way to Spokane. I have always looked at those horses from afar…might have to stop next time. As a kid I was always scared of rattlesnakes seeing those signs all over in Vantage.
Great meeting you this weekend…you just found a new fan! :)
Nicole @MTDLBlog says
So let me get this straight…using the words “hoo hawing” is acceptable but “whoot” is uncool…..hmmmm ;-)
Looks like a beautiful girls-only weekend! I look forward to those trips with my girls when they get older.
Melissa B. says
I don’t know…I’d choose the m & ms over the precipitous climb, any time!
Creative2xmom says
OH, that traffic looks horrible. But thanks for using Hoo Hawing… we love that one. I’m always telling my kids that, but they just look at me and laugh. Now I can tell them, “But Mama Kat says.”
Court says
My favorite road-trip was with my twin brother when we were freshmen in college heading home for the first time. We felt like adults but played like kids!
Lisa @All That and a Box of Rocks says
I love the way you let the photos tell the story with just the right amount of commentary. Really grabbed my attention! Great post~
Lisa
Michelle says
I <3 road trips.
I've taken 2 road trips now w/ all 3 kiddos sans hubby and the first went better than the last. 1st we had a laid back pace and several stops along the way. Last road trip I was rushing to meet my dad at the airport to p/u the kids so I could fly out. Then on the way home I sat in stupid DC traffic for 2 hours! Road trips are way cooler when traffic doesn't make them suck!
Jenny says
Wow, a road trip!! I have been trying to get my husband to do that for a while but he doesn’t love me enough :P I’ll eventually get him to say yes xD
Kimberlee says
I had to laugh. I have been over the pass many a time, and never stopped to realize you could walk up to the horses. dumb-butt me. maybe when the kiddos are older and we are visiting, I will make us all drive out there just for that, LOL!
~Kimberlee
http://www.TheSpunkyDiva.com