A lot of Time in the Van =

Have you ever driven from Winnipeg to Nova Scotia?  When you look at the map it does not seem that far away...then you start to drive and it suddenly seems VERY far away...even longer when there are two very independent kiddos in the back seat asking, "where go we next?" repeatedly and fussing because they are ready to get out of the van.  Therefore I have come up with a list entitled:

``A lot of time in the van equals``

1) A lot snacking for all in the vehicle...especially Dimples.
2) A fussy baby when he decides his diaper is too full.
3) A squealing little girl when a new movie pops on the video screen.
4) Laughter from mom and dad when the two kids decide to love each other and hold hands.
5) A lot of responses to the question, ``Can we go swimming?"
6) Trying to guess what is being requested by the constant "that, that"...from both kids.
7) You guessed it...KARAOKE...especially the 90`s station on Sirius Satellite Radio.
8) Anticipation for our impending destination.
9) Listening to Princess excitedly exclaim ``Turn Left...Turn Left`` after GPS tells us where to go.
10) The trill of moving again at any rest stop, gas station, play park or restaurant.  It always feels good to get up and stretch legs...especially for the little ones.


We have been traveling since Thursday morning. Saying goodbye was not a fun endeavour.  It never is.  It is tough to leave behind loved ones and dear friends.  It is hard to have the kids say goodbye to grandma, grandpa, auntie, uncle and Layla dog.  Family has been our major support over the last three years while I eagerly finished my degree...without them I am sure there would have been many more headaches involved with daycare especially. I truly believe that family plays a vital role in the development of a child and therefore I am especially thankful for my iPad and Facetime.  We have had face to face conversations with grandma and grandpa everyday since we have left and it is making the adjustment easier than if we could not do that.  The kids love to see grandma and grandpa on the screen.  Sure, it is not the same, but it is better than nothing.

We are now halfway through our journey east.  We spent the first night just outside of Minneapolis and got our fill of Albertville.  We have specific dress codes for teaching at the school and needed to replace and replenish our "teacherly" wardrobe.  I was thrilled by some of the bargains we got and am excited to wear the newest additions...particularly the stellar purple 3/4 length sleeve dress shirt...it shimmers (it was so nice I got a green one too...cliche?  Probably.)  The best part of Thursday was a wonderful visit with a dear friend I have not seen since little Princess was 3 weeks old.  We have known each other for nearly a decade and although we live 7 hours apart have remained close through emails and Facebook.  It was so great to catch up over a delicious meal at a restaurant I would have never known about.  Love that girl to bits and I wish we could get together more often!

Friday morning we loaded up the van again for another trip...a short one only 5 hours to Madison, WI.  A stay at the Crowne Plaza and a dinner at Outback rounded out our trip...oops...I forgot.  Our `teacherlyness`kicked in at Target as we raided the school supply section.  School supply shopping has been one of my favorite pass times since I was a very little girl.  I love markers and pencil crayons and new pens...but I did not get carried away this time.  We just do not have the space to take extra supplies!  Waking up in Madison, we discovered that Dimples had a very swollen eye...only one of them and the whites of his eyes were normal.  I figured he got bit by a bug and it was off to find some Benadryl...It seems normal again now which proves that it was probably a bug bite. Momma`s intuition was correct this time.

After leaving Madison we ventured to Flint, MI.  Flint is not my first choice for locations to stop by and visit...nor is EconoLodge as my hotel choice.  But there are only so many options in a city that has been hit hard by the recession.  I do have to say though, that our stop in Flint was met by very hospitable and very friendly people.  We stopped in Flint because it was 7 hours from Madison, but we can say it was a pleasant place to stop.

Today we are in Kingston, ON.  Our hotel looks over Historic Kingston, the home of John A. MacDonald.  It is beautiful.  Boats on the lake, people milling about everywhere and a really cool place to walk around and explore.  It reminds me a lot of the exchange district but bigger!  It is one of those rare gems you discover when you least expect it and then wish you could spend more time there.  Unfortunately that will be impossible on this trip.  Perhaps on our next trip we can stop and visit again.

Dimples loves the chairs that we have had in our rooms...makes him feel at home.

Princess loves to jump from bed to bed...and up and down on them too. 

The view from our room in Kingston.  Absolutely beautiful!

 

So, hears to hoping that the rest of the journey brings more laughs, giggles, squeals of joy and excitement at new discoveries.  The next few days takes us to Quebec City, Fredericton, all over Nova Scotia and PEI!  The trip to PEI will be a first for me and the kids and although I have never really been much of an Anne of Green Gables fan, I am sure I will enjoy the land of Bud the Spud from the great red mud!