Trip Log (Part Three) – Going Home

We packed a lot of fun into only a few days. We had arrived just over three days earlier, but on Sunday afternoon the time had come to say good-bye.

Lij was infinitely better than he had been the past few days. He was running around and taking every opportunity my Uncles P & J provided for roaring. Thanks guys! Wind him up and then strap him into our car for the hours-long drive ahead.

It’s kind of tradition in my family to say long good-byes. Mom and I will spend hours “closing” our phone conversations. This provides Alexander with never-ending fodder for ridiculing me. Now, hopefully, he understands that it’s genetic. It took us just shy of one hour after announcing our departure to actually depart. There were hugs, tears and more hugs. It was so incredible to see both Lij and Dyl give hugs and kisses to my family (most of whom they’d never met only four days before).

Leaving Missouri was like leaving part of me behind (not to mention cool weather!!! and all that green). I always feel that way when I have to leave family. Fortunately, my most intimate and special family members now always (or most always) go with me, so the leavings aren’t as bad as they sometimes were.

On the road again it quickly became clear that one of our rules of travel should be only take road trips with slightly ill and subdued toddlers. This time around there was a lot more noise (and dissent) from the backseat. But the DVDs kept playing and our secret stash of goodies held out (we had purposely reserved half of them in a food storage can in the back of the car just for the return trip – wily were are!).

On the trip there, as is often the case, you just want to get to your destination. You drive until you (or your backseat dictators) can’t take it anymore and then you stop for the night. Anywhere closest to the off-ramp. That is how we ended up in a questionable hotel (a non-questionable name, I might point out) with a TV that sometimes worked and a tub that I was slightly afraid to bathe my kids in on the way to. But Lij was sick and we just wanted to get him to bed. So we stayed.

The way home was different. We had more time. We could pace ourselves. We could stop sooner or later than we had planned. And we were determined to stay in a nice place this time. And so after exiting the freeway, we surveyed all our options before shamelessly walking into several and comparing prices. One in particular was just GOREGOUS. It happened to be the most expensive (go figure). But not by too much. My sweet husband decided to splurge on us.

Unfortunately, the price they had quoted was not what they ultimately charged us. I had gone in for the price quote and Alexander to get for the room. He’s nicer than I am and didn’t press the issue. Oh boy, would I have pressed it!

But the hotel was nice. It had a great bathroom (with a pristine tub), a working TV, three pillows on each bed, a workout room and an indoor pool. Unfortunately, we arrived to late to enjoy the latter two.

What really made the hotel great was the breakfast the next morning. SO GOOD. Since we had been charged extra for the room (above what had been quoted to us, that is), we figured we could make up the difference in food at breakfast. And truthfully, I think we did. Even the boys ate like champions. We really had to go back for seconds. Both the boys were clamoring for more cereal and muffins and eggs. What we didn’t finish we stowed for the day’s trip. All in all, I feel we definitely got our moneys worth. Though I would have like a dip in that pool.

Despite a late start and several (hundred) miles of tears after the promise of ice cream had been revoked due to bad behavior (by the way, I believe I should have gotten ice cream – I behaved!), we finally arrived home again.

No matter how much fun you have on vacation it’s always so good to be home. And it warmed my heart just as much to see Lij and Dylan curl up contentedly (and without complaint) into their own beds as it did seeing them enjoy spending time with my family so much. After all, I guess they can sense it too – there’s no place like home. And home is where the love is.

Thanks so much to all my family for making it a great reunion. I love you guys!