Road Trip!

This past week was Week #2 of our regular babysitter's holidays. Last week the kids went to the home of a friend where they were in the care of her 16-year-old daughter. Then last Saturday I loaded them up in our SUV and hit the road to take them to my parents' place.  It was not my most favorite road trip.

There were at least two accidents on the highway that backed things up for miles and put us behind by over an hour on what was already going to be a 4.5 hour journey. Food was thrown around. We had to stop by the roadside for pee breaks (not mine) more than once.  It felt like the longest road trip ever. And I've been on some long road trips. Like the one we took to Vancouver last summer. This is a picture of Mia on the last leg of our journey. She's still enjoying her book, not bored to death. I was prepared for just about everything under the sun - snacks, toys, dvd's, lots of rest stops along the way - and it made for a really enjoyable trip. This quick trip to my parents? Not so much.

While the kids have been gone, Murray and I have gone out to nice restaurants and had dinner where the only people we had to worry about feeding were ourselves. There's been no mad rush in the morning to get everyone out the door. No fighting at bedtime. No children's TV.



But there's also been no little laughter. No hugs. No one really excited to see me when I get home from work. Okay, that one isn't entirely true. The dog is excited to see me, but that's only because I've arrived home first and will let him out to pee.

Tomorrow I'm meeting my parents at a family birthday party in Medicine Hat where I will rescue my parents from the children. Mom & Dad always insist that they're happy to do it; this is the third time within about six months that the kids have gone to Papa & Grandma's for a bit of a holiday. I really appreciate that Gavin & Mia are building a relationship with their grandparents, despite the fact that we live 300 miles away. 

That said, I think a week away is long for enough for everybody. I'm looking forward to having them home. I'm pretty sure my parents are worn out after a week with my "high energy" kids (that's a quote from my sister). I'm also certain that the kids will be happy to play with their own toys and see their friends again.

At least until Friday, when we pack up the SUV for another road trip back to Saskatchewan. But that time I won't be leaving the kids behind when I come back home.