Every Mile a Memory

  

This summer we put over 7,000 miles on our car.

That's a whole lot of wheels on the bus, goldfish, potty breaks, I Spy, surprise bags, giving in to suckers, family chats, and rummaging in the snack bag.

We've learned quite a bit about how to road trip with a toddler and preschooler.

Here's some hard-earned wisdom:

Pack extras: plenty of wipes and diapers are obvious, but I also pack two changes of clothes and a set of PJs. I almost always use at least one of the extra sets.

Make your own playlists. We use three.  A mix of kid friendly songs and grown-up music is what we start with, then when things get hairy, we switch to kid-only songs.  When all is quiet in the backseat, we balance it out with grown-ups only music.  

Don't forget paper towels, plastic bags, hand sanitizer and wipes, antibacterial cleanser wipes, and tissues.  Spills and messes will happen. So be prepared.

Surprise bags are my favorite trick. Before leaving, I pick out a few new toys and pack each of our two travelers a special bag. I like to buy one nice toy, a few new books, stickers, a coloring or activity book, and then some dollar store trinket toys like a little ball, a sticky hand thing, a mini magnet fishing set, and little horse dolls. I pack the toys and a few special treats in a gift bag and put them in front of each seat. These are some favorite car-friendly toys:

Water Wow Coloring books

Crayola Color Wonder

Sticky Hands

Sticker Pad

Technology is the last resort, but a good one.  I don't believe in plugged in road trips where kids are glued to a screen the whole time just to keep them quiet, but I do know that kid's apps and shows can be life savers, so I carefully choose when to say yes to "show please!" and when to re-direct. I never start the trip out with shows or games since that sets a bad precedent. I usually wait for the in-between trough: where the kids have had  a snack or meal, have been playing or talking for some time, have slept or are really needing sleep, and are starting to slump into cabin fever. Then it's showtime. We got this headrest mount for one of our tablets and it created the best mock-rear entertainment center for the kids.

*we've also tried audio books and read-alongs with some success.

Plan for efficient stops.  A nice clean rest stop where you can potty break, change diapers, and stretch legs can be a life saver. We found out that we don't need to take time stopping to eat since the kids eat fine (if not a bit messily) in the car, but we do need to time to shake the sillies out once or twice.  

Food. For us, variety keeps the crew happy and I like to pack mostly fresh things. Fruit, berries, ready-to-eat veggies, yogurt and cheese (and sometimes deli meat ) are the bulk of our snack cooler. Then there's a cracker, popcorn, jerky, granola bar, nut, and treat choice. Every one has an appropriately sized sippy cup full of water, and then a back up juice or milk is waiting in the cooler. I pack a large dixie cup for each person to use for dolling out individual portions, and it really helps to keep the mess down and lets the kids feed themselves. 

Organization helps keep mama happy, and when mama's happy, everyone's happy. I organize everything into bags: Sawyer's toys, Elouise's toys, tablets and cords and chargers, fresh foods, snack foods, rest stop bag, overnight bag. That way, not only is there space for everyone to be comfortable, but so I can quickly get to what we need. Road trips with a toddler and preschooler are not relaxing. They are fun, but it's a lot of work and knowing where my "tools" are keeps the stress level low and makes for a good trip.

Palmyra, New York

I grew up going to the Hill Cumorah Pageant nearly every summer and it was always a family vacation surrounded by high anticipation.  Not that it's in an incredible location-Palymra, New York is Podunk, USA. And not that the weather is beautiful-without fail, it is muggy, hot, sweaty weather. Somehow, in spite of this, it is still an incredible, beautiful, fun and exciting trip to make as a family.  I LOVE the Pageant. Everything from the costumes and effects, the narrator's voice, the message and story of the Book of Mormon, the families that participate, and our family setting up camp on the opposite hill with blankets and pizza and twizzlers...... I LOVE IT.  I'm happy to report that my little family loved it all just as well.

Our first stop upon arrival was the Sacred Grove, a forest where God and Jesus Christ appeared to a boy named Joseph Smith (in our faith, this event is known as the beginning of the Restoration).  It's a beautiful forest and we went in search of the oldest tree, our favorite trees, and while so doing the kids found a "pirate ship" tree stump. The Grove is one of my most favorite places, but remember how it's always hot and muggy in New York July? Sweat drenched and red-faced, we emerged ready for ice cream. A lot of ice cream.

{the boys and their favorite tree}

{it's a 100 year old pirate ship}

{the name Sawyer means: and he shall find frogs wherever he goes}

Luckily Palmyra has a place just for that, a place which we have frequented for generations, the Chill and Grill. It has some of the largest portions of ice cream ever, nearly to the point of being ridiculous. But, ya know, since it's ice cream, it's not. A kiddie size is 3 scoops of ice cream, and I think a large is like 8?!?! It becomes necessary, though to eat that much (as previously discussed, in sweaty detail, it is HOT).

Finally we made it to the Hill to set up camp and wait for dark for the Pageant to start. While we waited we played with cousins and friends from our church flying styrofoam airplanes, blowing bubbles, playing "soccer," chasing each other with swords, and milling about with the cast looking for Sawyer's favorite Book of Mormon characters.

{enthralled}

The morning following the pageant we went out to Fayette, New York to attend church and visit the Peter Whitmer farm; which is where the first meetings of our church were organized and held. We went to church in a beautiful, historic chapel, that is literally a right turn past the middle of nowhere. That's not so surprising of upstate New York, and especially of a location that was once a farm and is still surrounded by farms. Driving up to the church was something like corn field, dilapidated town, corn field, farmhouse, falling apart barn, dirt road, corn field, more fields, ghost town, fields, fields, trees, then big beautiful white church. Also, peace. It is so incredibly peaceful.

Zoo Day

{Mine were the only children forcibly placed atop this bronze wolf for a super-posed picture who did not scream. They were quite obliging, just look at my sweet Sawyer's face. And Louie's probably in the middle of a pack-assembling howl.}

{Brother bear. As noted previously, he is one with the animals}

{I swear, she looks cute doing anything.}

{not pictured: Sawyer's rocky wipeout which led to a Dr. Mom moment that was prefaced by an unattended first aid office Mom looting. Desperate times.}

Who doesn't love a day at the zoo.