One of the challenges of where Marc & I live (with really no great solution of where to move to lessen this problem) is that Marc and I live in the middle of our families (which is great), except that it makes the drive six hours to the east or six hours to the west to get to our families. So we started the tradition that we go to Wisconsin and South Dakota for Thanksgiving every other year. This year is our Wisconsin year.
The new challenge of course is traveling with Lucy.
In years past Marc and I have each taken our sleeping bags and a backpack with everything we need. This year, however, we have a lot more pack.
PLUS we have one JUMBO box of cutout cookies and one printer box of cutout cookies.
Took Marc 11 HOURS to bake these things - now to not break them.
Dakota is spending the holiday at one of the pet boarding places here in town.
I have to help with the Thanksgiving Eve service here in town at 7:00pm tonight, soooooo we aren't leaving tonight since it wouldn't be until after 8:00pm. We are planning on leaving tonight to head down to the Twin Cities to stay with my brother - we probably won't arrive till 10:30ish or so but it will be massively helpful in the morning - I would MUCH rather drive late night than have to get up and leave by 4:00 or 4:30 tomorrow morning. Lucy is a wildcard. She HATES riding in her carseat and six hours is a long ways for her to ride. We figure we will have to stop about every two hours to feed Lucy and to let her stretch - stopping at my brothers will definitely help some. I wish we weren't going so late but with work I don't really have many other options.
I am going to have to use disposable diapers on Lucy which I am not thrilled about - they just don't hold everything in as well as her cloth diapers. However, we don't own enough diapers to make it through the trip and won't have any access to washers and dryers.
We will be returning home on Saturday because I have to work Sunday morning - which while I am a little sad the trip will be ridiculously fast I am glad that we shouldn't be in the madness of fighting a ton of people who are returning from other places on Sunday. Plus this should give me Sunday to get caught up on everything: laundry, clean out the car, and get prepped for the next week without having to run around like a chicken with my head cut off.
Random fact that you don't care about:
I have discovered that (when possible) it is easiest to pack for Lucy, Marc, and I all in one Rubbermaid tote rather than having three separate bags. It makes it easier for us to only have to carry one bucket that fits everything we need: diapers, bottles, and clothes for the three of us. Since we know we will be sleeping on the floor we also are taking our sleeping bags and airbed as well as a pack n' play for Lucy.
What are your Thanksgiving plans?
Are you traveling for the holiday?
How do you feel about traveling during the holidays?
I suggest using one of her cloth diapers, but take out the insert and use it as a "insurance" against a possible blowout over her disposable.
ReplyDeleteAlso, skip the pack n play and use your rock in sleeper instead....easier to take around.
I've also used crates or laundry baskets to pack the kids clothes or our stuff. You can stack them and they work well for holding the dirty clothes and any other extra items you go home with. But yes, you feel like you're packing for an army when going with an infant ;)
Ahhhh I didn't even think about blowouts! She NEVER blows out in her cloth - she hasn't worn disposables since the NICU so I don't even know how she'll do. I am definitely throwing in a few covers. Thanks for sharing your Brilliance!
DeleteYou are smart - yes, going to pack the rock n play!