OK- 24 hours to go....

I am freaking out....oh yes...that is exactly what I am doing.  We brought up the suitcases....UNPACKED them all and proceeded to REPACK them....my hubby apparently thought my packing skills were lacking and he decided to "help".  Ok- so he did help but he also brought on my anxiety attack....


I get it- it's really not that big of a deal- traveling with two kids on your own is NOT the hardest thing in life- my sane brain gets that.  I'm traveling to family whom I love and cannot wait to see....my sane brain gets that.  I have traveled many many times before...my sane brain gets that too.

HOWEVER- my anxiety brain just took over and wacked my sane brain with an overstuffed suitcase. My anxiety brain is thinking of all the things that can go wrong- at the airport, ON THE FLIGHT, during the whole trip- the train rides, the other plane rides from Germany to Poland, the BOOT- damn that BOOT!!  It's screaming at me "WHY am I doing this ALONE- I can't even walk properly for pete's sake-  I mean WHY???? " 

My anxiety brain spent an HOUR and 10 minutes on HOLD with Continental airlines cause apparently my kids and I are NOT SITTING TOGETHER ON THE 8 hour flight....I'm all for that- not sure if the passengers next to them will be so thrilled.  So what answer do I get after sacrificing all that time...I am told "you will have to fix that at the airport".  OH THANK YOU! 

So today I am breathing deep, hanging out with friends, having some liquid courage, enjoying my husband since I won't be seeing him for 5 weeks, and not even THINKING about tomorrow.....

The looooong drive...

After triple checking all the bags, making sure we had our passports and tickets....we embarked on the long road trip to New Jersey.  When I say long, I mean looooooooong.  11 hours total to get to our destination.  So here is a snapshot of our trip:

Hour 1- singing to songs on the radio
Hour 2-  first bathroom break and first time the phrase "are we there yet" is used by one of the offspring
Hour 3- second bathroom break and first movie is popped into the DVD player
Hour 4- lunch, bathroom, "are we there yet?"
Hour 5- "WE ARE ALL TAKING A NAP!!" (that's me offering a "suggestion")
Hour 5.5- "Mommy- I'm done with nap- I need to potty"
Hour 6- "I'm hungry" , "Are we there yet?", "I don't want to take a nap"
Hours 7,8,9,10- a blur of whining, an endless game of I Spy, another movie, bathroom visits galore
LAST HOUR- "OH MY GOD- IF I DON'T GET OUT OF THIS CAR RIGHT NOW I AM GOING TO LOSE IT!!!!" (that's me)

SIDEBAR- Pennsylvania is soooooooo endless- I mean come on people- it takes FOREVER on Route 80 to get through this state-the view from Route 80- hills, trees, hills, trees, road, hills, trees.....It got so boring we had to let doggie drive for a while....

We came to my friend Kristen and Darren's house and were greeted with DELICIOUS (real NJ) pizza, some wine, and a nice place to stay.  Kids are too excited to play with their "cousin" Cieran to even think about going to bed.  Kristen and Darren are crazy to have us here till our departure on Sunday but we are sooo thankful! 

Random thoughts as I pack....

1. Why do I feel the need to pack every single piece of clothing my kids own? I mean- sure the weather may change but do I have to pack like we are spending all 4 seasons in Europe?

2. Why are clothes so damn heavy?

3. Why are these suitcases so small?

4. How did I go backpacking through Europe (for 3 months) on my own with one little backpack and now I can't leave the house without 4 pieces of luggage?

5. Shoes!!! Damn it I forgot to pack any shoes!!!!! Crap- I'm running out of space....

odds and ends....

Obligatory vacation haircuts underway......

TA....DA......

                     

4 loads of laundry done.....suitcases brought up from the basement....now the packing begins.........