Wenatchee or Bust - Home!

Start: Courtyard Marriott, Moorhead, MN
End: HOME!!
Miles: 219 miles (approx)
Total Trip Miles: 3,734 miles!!

We slept in a bit this morning. I mean, it's been a wonderful but LONG trip! The Marriott doesn't have complimentary breakfast, so the kiddos and I walked to the gas station to grab something to eat. It was BEAUTIFUL outside. We ate our breakfast in the hotel lobby so as not to wake Emma or Jim!

Then it was pack up and head home! HOME! While the trip has been amazing, I think we were all ready to get out and stay out of the van for a while and to sleep in our own beds! We pulled into our driveway at 2:30pm. I think this shows how happy we all were to be home:

Twenty "deep thoughts" from our trip:

1. I am now scared of hotel shampoo and conditioner because Emma said they put stuff in it to make your hair fall out! Great! One more thing to worry about. Thanks!

2. Complimentary breakfast at hotels is a MUST when traveling with kids. They can all get what they want and you can get on the road with full bellies! Because my kids want to eat ALL. THE. TIME. (which I already knew but being stuck in a vehicle with them really brings that out!!).

3. My kids are pigs and our van was their sty! I mean, seriously. Emma was a Drill Sargent about picking/cleaning up after themselves and it STILL was a mess. Sheesh.

4. You can pack all the fancy games and toys and books and at the end of the day, my kids just wanted to watch movies, play on their tablets and the Switch and color. Duly noted. Although, I couldn't find our Mad Libs Travel book from last year and I remember having a lot of fun with that. SO, I ordered one while we were gone and here's hoping I can find it NEXT year!!

5. The BEST find for our trip was a self-cooling cooler! Seriously you guys...you NEED one of these things! They plug into the van and keep everything cold without needing ANY ice. LOVE so much and saved so much space and time. For next time, we need a converter so we can plug it in the hotel room instead of having to unpack and repack it every night.

6. Use the space your vehicle gives you! Last year we had a roof topper, which blew off somewhere in Nebraska, so we knew we didn't want to worry about that happening again for this trip. Jim, ingeniously might I add, suggested we use the stow-and-go space to store the kiddos' suitcases! They fit perfectly and saved so much room in the back of the van.

7. You learn so much and are way more in the "know" when you travel with a teenager. That's straight facts! Period. I can now say the Hootie concert had lots of "bangers" and if you don't know what Tick Toks are...you really need to look them up! Hilarious. Also, teenagers like to stay up really late and sleep in equally as late (but we all already knew that!!).

8. When visiting and touring a dam, your five year old NEVER gets tired of saying "dam" jokes. Like ever. Think: "That sure was dam fun!" I eventually had to tell him he can only say them while we are physically at a dam.

9. My kids will never EVER get tired of swimming. Period. And they are 2.5 out of 3 not needing life jackets (Mac still uses one some of the time because he isn't a strong swimmer...but the little fish CAN actually swim! By far my earliest swimmer!).

10. We will never be able to go on a road trip again without adaptive cruise control. I mean, driving any distance without it is torture, but on long driving days like these, it is a must.

11. When my kids are involved, do not mention the "H" word (hike). Instead call it a nature walk! They are far more willing to go along and not complain...even though they are actually the same thing. Smarter not harder!!

12. If you suffer from migraines (me) or back pains (Emma)...bring your medication and back brace along on a long road trip. I mean, duh, right?!?! In my defense, my insurance only gave me two pills and didn't refill it until the day before we got back! Argh.

13. Blankets for everybody in the van saves so much arguing about temperature! And makes great shade if the sun is on you and you don't want it to be. They also work great as a shawl when you're in the mountains and the temperature drops over 25 degrees in a matter of minutes. See? Multi-functional. Zipper sweatshirts are also helpful and easy to get on and off.

14. When a bull Bison decides he wants to walk down the center of your lane...you let him and you don't rush him. Things are on his time table. Just enjoy the experience and the views around you!

15. If you want to enjoy the more popular spots of wherever you are visiting, you really need to get there at the crack of dawn or right when it opens. I think Mammoth Springs and Norris Geyer Basin would have been fine if we'd gone way earlier. We did that when we went to Mount Rushmore a few years ago and it was empty! Pro tip!

16. Another Pro Tip: If you have to do laundry when traveling, do it at "extended stay" type hotels. We find they usually offer it free of charge or WAY cheaper than normal hotels and have nicer facilities. Score!!

17. Sasha's presence is always felt, even if she is in a different state.

18. For being a "picky eater" Emma's culinary journey was very diverse on this trip! I was very proud of her for trying new things and stepping out of her comfort zone. Jim said on the way home that if I hadn't mentioned that Emma was a picky eater, he would never have guessed based on the things she ate on this trip!!! So proud of her. However, she did learn that if she ever orders trout again (which is a big IF), to order it without the head or skin. Now she knows!

19. The trick to Nana's popovers is to mix the batter the night before and mix for at least 5 minutes! Ha, now I know!!! I will conquer you, you darn popovers!!

20. There is nothing more precious or important than family time and making memories. We are so happy that our kiddos are growing up with their own experiences and memories of family in other states, even if we only get to see them once or twice a year. But also, this includes the time we spent on the road together. Yes, there were trying times and yelling and arguing (sometimes I wasn't sure if bringing the Switch was a good idea at all!!), but at the end of the day, we played together, talked together, ate together, helped each other, swam together and even were kind to each other (shhh, don't tell Finn he was kind to Korri!!). Times like these bring us closer together and we learn more about each other and us as a unit. Here's to many more trips and lots more family experiences and memories being made!!!

21. Bonus thought: Kidz Bop concert was WAY better than Jim, Emma or I thought it would be. Super fun for the whole family. Highly recommend it, even if they didn't perform Old Town Road! Oh and for the parents...they sell beer! I mean, they kind of HAVE to sell beer, right?! LOL

Thank you for following along on our journey. It was amazing and we know how truly blessed we are. We are thinking maybe the Redwood Forest next time (for the "nature walks" NOT hikes!!). Until then...

Wenatchee or Bust - Day 12

Start: Comfort Inn, Dickinson, ND
End: Courtyard Marriot, Moorhead, MN
Total Miles: 292 miles

Today was our last full day. While I'm sad to see our trip end, I'm excited to see what the next two weeks bring (Walsh sisters' family vacation, first day of middle school, Welcome Day for 3rd grade, first day of 3rd grade and Mac first day of preschool (for the third time!). Should be fun!

I started the day bright and early. I worked out, got ready, woke the kiddos up (well, Finn was awake, Mac had JUST woken up and I woke Emma and Korri up), we went to breakfast (Comfort Inn breakfast is way better than Holiday Inn breakfast in my opinion!), I got ready, the kiddos got ready, the kiddos packed their stuff and I packed up the van. Not bad on my part!! I think we left just at 10am, which is what we were shooting for.

It was an uneventful travel day. We did stop for a picnic lunch, which I love, even though it was a bit chilly and windy. And they LOVE Tick Tocks. Oh, you don't know what Tick Tocks are?!?! I'm so in-the-know because of Emma! Look it up. They are hilarious.

We got to the hotel  a bit early today, so we decided the kiddos has time to swim for a bit before we headed to our adventure today.

What adventure you ask? The Kidz Bop Kids concert in Moorhead!! It fit perfectly into our schedule and Finn and Korri both asked to go seperately from each other and they NEVER want to go to these things. So Jim decided it was worth it to go. I don't know who was more excited...the kids to go to their first concert or me to experience their first concert excitement with them! Emma was "ho hum" about it but I know secretly she was excited but just too old and cool to admit it!

Okay, love or hate Kidz Bop, it was a fun concert and the kids had a great time. Mac danced his butt off in isle and Finn got ticked that Korri was dancing his Finn's "personal bubble" during the songs!! Emma knew every word today every song...but the "original" not the the Kidz Bop version, of course! Jim and I had a few beers, which not surprisingly, made it a lot more fun for both of us!

Jim also got them each a t-shirt (I would have taken a tank, but they didn't have any!) They were copying the pose om the front of the white shirts!

Honestly, such a great family fun night. The perfect way to end our trip. We got back early enough that the boys decided to go swimming a second time while the girls (Emma and Korri) walked to Noodles and Company to grab a late dinner (after Korri fell on the stairs and hurt her knee!).

Tomorrow, we are heading to Waverly and ultimately the State Fair for Jim's birthday present. Maybe you'll have to wait for a post about that (or look at the State Fair's concert schedule...LOL).

Honestly, this has been an amazing trip. For the most part, the kiddos have gotten along and listened well. It was great having Emma long, but being an only child, I think it was a learning curve for her as well!! I mean, going from only child to three annoying younger siblings is a lot!! I'll post more post-vacation thought tomorrow after we get back and I have a minute to collect my thoughts. Overall, I've been very lucky that Jim and Emma did most of the driving but being in the car for almost two weeks is a LOT. I need some down time!

Until then, thanks for following our journey! We are so fortunate to be able to take trips like this and I feel like we have it down to a science at this point. Until tomorrow...

Wenatchee or Bust - Day 11

Start: Holiday Inn Express, Billings, MT
End: Comfort Inn, Dickinson, ND
Total miles: 315 miles (approx)

I think the universe is against us ever leaving a place before 9am! Luckily, we "only" had about 4 and a half hours of drive time, so it didn't really matter. However we wanted to get going because we had two stops on the way today that we knew would take some time.

After a disappointing workout on the elliptical (because somebody else was running on the treadmill...how dare they?!?!), we were packed up and on the road before 9:30am. Not too bad.

Our first stop was at Makoshika State Park which is Montana's largest state park and features badland formations and the fossil remains of Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops and more. Somebody had mentioned it at a stop on our way through last week and Jim had heard about it, so we thought it was worth a stop. And boy was it ever. HIGHLY recommend it. It would even be worth stopping over night there, camping and hiking on all the amazing trails with incredible views! Seriously...and we aren't even remotely camping people! And of course, pictures don't do it justice, but I'll try anyway. The first picture is all three kiddos holding actual dinosaur bones!!!

Here are some selfies (so I'm actually in some of the pictures!). And yes, Emma is 4 inches taller than me; it isn't just the angle!! LOL

And here is Jim (red shirt) WAY out on a trail:

Then we stopped at Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum. It was OKAY. The kids enjoyed the Junior Paleontologist scavenger hunt but would have liked it better if we'd had more time. We stopped at Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita, CO last year which was WAY better but it didn't help today that it was past lunch time and I was hungry AND tired (and it was the second time this summer I've had to deal with "creationism" with my kids and didn't want to deal with it TODAY). So there's that.

 

We got to the hotel around 5pm and were pretty beat. However, the hotel we're staying in has a mini-waterpark...so we went swimming, of course! LOL, this trip really should be called Swimming or Bust! It would be way cheaper to just go to the GrandStay in Delano for a week and let them swim all day!

Tomorrow is our last full day and we are doing something that MIGHT end up being the highlight of the trip. Who am I kidding?!?! It WILL be the highlight for the kiddos, anyway. Until then...

Wenatchee or Bust - Day 10

Start: StayBridge Suite, Missoula, MT
End: Holiday Inn Express, Billings, MT
Total Miles: 352 miles

We had a late night last night. Emma and I stayed up watching  Dirty Dancing and then the Patrick Swayze documentary "I am Patrick" until really late (I think my FitBit said I went to sleep at 2:15am!). I may have had a few drinks while watching, so I was NOT feeling great this morning. But I rallied and took the kiddos down for breakfast and even managed to eat a hard boiled egg! The kiddos loved the StayBridge's yogurt "bar" except they figured out it tastes the best WITHOUT the yogurt: just strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate sauce! LOL Whatever. We're on vacation.

Today was basically a travel day with nothing else really planned. I think we left around 11am and got into our hotel around 4pm. The ONE thing we did today was stop at Burger King to try their new Impossible Whopper. Have you heard of it or tried it? It is a flame-grilled patty made from plants. And you guys...it TASTES and looks just like meat! I mean, you know Jim and if it was weird at all, he would have said so. But he ate almost all of it (it's still a Whopper, so it was a bit too big!). So that was our big adventure today. Oh, and they had a play area, so the kids got to play off some energy.

Tonight, we decided to stay in and have a relaxing evening. Emma and I worked out (as you can imagine, I was NOT in any condition to work out this morning, even with our late start!). The kiddos had some electronics time then went swimming (duh) and then had dinner. I mentioned going to the Pictograph Cave State Park near Billings when we got in, but we were all a bit wearied due to travel. Maybe next time.

I think Emma is working on editing Mac's third video, but it is from the whole weekend, so it might be longer. Maybe I can post tomorrow...

Wenatchee or Bust - Day 9

Start: Holiday Inn Express, Wenatchee, WA
End: StayBridge Suites, Missoula, MT
Total miles: 380 miles (approx)

I guess I should now change the trip name to "Waverly or Bust" but you get the point!

Korri got to have a sleepover at Auntie Debbie's house with Sonia last night! I love that she is so adventurous and doesn't mind spending nights away from us. Plus, she can rub it in Sasha's face that she got to sleep in Sasha's bed!

We got up and packed the van this morning. It was so nice the last couple of mornings NOT to have to pack up all of our stuff! But thankfully, we have it down to a science and Emma is a HUGE help. We went to Nana and Papa's for breakfast consisting of Nana's famous popovers (made successfully by Debbie!!!) and little smokies...and there MAY have been some mimosas!

It was bitter sweet. Great breakfast but we knew we had to leave afterward! What a great visit we had with Nana, Papa, Auntie Debbie, Uncle Samir and Sonia!!! They do such a great job of making us feel right at home and...well...part of the family! LOL (because we are!) They made Emma feel like she fit right in, which meant a lot to me. She kept saying how nice everybody was to her!!! And she tried lots of new foods including a traditional Lebanese meal, cooked by Debbie and Samir! So good!

Since now that we will be traveling East instead of West, we had to get going because we lost one hour during our travels today. Luckily, we were able to stop and see Dave and Marika (and their girls!) for lunch on our way through Spokane. Such a nice visit. I told them it is too bad that we don't live closer because Korri would be an insta-babysitter for Henley! They loved each other. AND we got to meet baby Millie! So tiny and so precious. Glad we got that time with them.

And then we had another 3 hours to drive to get to our destination for the night: StayBridge in Missoula. Sounds familiar, you say? We stayed there on our way TO Washington! Mac was like: wait, have we been here before?!?! LOL

Emma drove for the WHOLE trip! It was a bit nerve wracking having her drive through the mountains, but she did great! We arrived in one piece, so that's what matters! Although I did wonder a few times how sturdy the guardrails were (not because of HER driving, just because it was mountain roads!).

And now we are chilling in the hotel room, watching the Vikings vs Seahawks preseason game and then the kiddos are going to go swimming (no way!).

We'll see what tomorrow brings! Probably more time on the road!

Wenatchee or Bust - Day 8

Start: Holiday Inn Express, Wenatchee, WA
End: Holiday Inn Express, Wenatchee, WA via Devils Gulch Trail and Levenworth, WA
Miles: 78 miles (approx)

This morning we got up a touch early (7:30am) to get up, eat breakfast, get dressed and meet Auntie Debbie and Sonia for a trail hike at Devils Gulch (we called it a "nature walk" so my kiddos wouldn't rebel...it only halfway worked!). It was BEAUTIFUL outside and perfect for a hike.

Half way in, the drop-offs were too close for my comfort, so we took a group selfie and headed back down.

 

After the episode at Mammoth Springs in Yellowstone, I was NOT looking forward to doing this hike with Korri...but she was amazing! I don't even think she complained ONCE! Sheesh. Maybe she was just trying to prove me wrong. Whatever, it was heavenly, considering it was quite the hike.

After the hike, we went to Levenworth for lunch and to shop a bit. We went to where else? Gustav's! So good and very fast service. Plus they had pudding shots, which were AMAZING!! We may have eaten all they had left. After lunch we did a little shopping and then headed back to the hotel.

After swimming and resting, we went over to Auntie Debbie's for a Lebanese dinner. So good! All I can taste right now is garlic...but it was so delicious!! We also took some family pictures (thanks, Emma!).

Pretty sure everything she ate tonight was new to her, but Emma tried lamb for the first time and...liked it!!

So adventurous. Then the kiddos roasted marshmallows and we headed back to the hotel for one last swim before bed (and leaving tomorrow, tear!).

Random out-of-the-blue thoughts by Mac while on the hike...

M: Would you rather be a lamp or a ghost?...Easy question, ghost, obviously!

I mean, isn't that what YOUR conversations are like while hiking up a mountain?!?!

Tomorrow we leave to start our trip home. We aren't going to think about it until tomorrow. Popover breakfast at Nana and Papa's tomorrow morning before we leave!

Oh! I finally created Mac's YouTube channel: MacAttack. Here's a link to his first video (I hope you can view it...and subscribe! Mac really wants subscribers!):

https://youtu.be/jYaL7sjLB7w