Nathan and Julia and their kids are in Hernando, Mississippi for Thanksgiving. Hernando is about 350 miles from Baton Rouge, but a lot closer than New Hampshire. My kids, grandkids and I have not been together since April 20, 2014. Nathan's family had not met Paige and Nicole's family had not met Thatcher. Once I learned that Nathan's family was going to be in Hernando, I could see a road trip in my future and, I hoped, in the future of Nicole's family. Unfortunately, Matt did not get to make this trip with us. In late September, I scheduled a day of PTO for yesterday. After Paige was in the hospital last week, I wasn't sure if Paige and Nicole would get to go. But they did.
I have been excited about this trip for a while. But Sunday, I kicked the excitement up to a whole new level. "Going on road trip. Going on a road trip," I chanted and had the girls chanting with me. Nicole gave me a lot of eye-rolls.
Tuesday evening I walked in the door chanting "going on a road trip." Nicole said she did not want to hear it again. Eye-roll. From me to her. I stopped for gas and Nicole went in to get a monster drink. When she got in the car, the big girls said, "going on a road trip." Everyone laughed. And that ended the chant. At least for a while.
We made a not-so-quick trip through the drive through at Taco Bell. They be out of Mugg rootbeer. We got in I-12 at 6:15 with Taco Bell in our hands. Thirty or so minutes later we are getting on I-55 North. Someone says, I know we are not even to Mississippi, but I need to go to the bathroom. It was not one of the girls and it was not me. It was that monster drink's fault. I know where are the rest stops and good gas stations are. I told her we would stop at the first rest stop in Mississippi.
Paige slept from Baton Rouge to Hernando.
We stopped north of Jackson. What is a road trip without M&Ms? Only the people that were awake got those and no one was allowed another drink. Then another stop in Grenada for gas. We got to the Day's Inn in Hernando at 11:45. Haley and I shared a bed and the other two girls slept with Nicole. When I got in bed, Haley said, "going on a road trip." Haley and I died laughing. And I could visualize Nicole's eye-roll.
Like I said a few minutes ago, Paige slept from Baton Rouge to Hernando. She needed about forty minutes of play time before going back to sleep.
The girls rose early.
After eating the free breakfast at the Day's Inn and spilling orange juice and syrup, we were off to see the cousins.
We got to Julia's parents at five minutes after 9:00. My goal was 9:00.
Julia's parents and I have been friends since our kids fell in love and I have always enjoyed being at their house. We just felt so welcome there. Emma Kate and Thatcher became immediate friends. The kids played outside. Inside. Outside. There was visiting, eating, laughing, eating.
Martha had really good soup for lunch. Then Nathan, Julia, Nicole, the five kids and I went to the movie to see "Ralph breaks the Internet." It was a really cute movie.
We went back to Martha's for dessert and pictures. I had hope to be headed back to Baton Rouge by 3:00, but we left at 4:00. I am thankful for that extra hour.
Haley cried. She said it had been so long since she had seen Camille and it was so short. Emma Kate behaved as she does when she is said. And Grammy might had had a tear or two.
Julia's dad and I agreed that we would probably make our first stop at Grenada or sooner. Thankfully, we were wrong. I got to Canton. We stopped for gasoline, food, potty. One stop does all this time. We decided to eat inside instead of the car. We need a break. And, did we ever get one. That fast food place was not fast at all. It was a long break. I was so tired. I went to get some coffee at the c-store and they were out of coffee. I was thinking I would have to make another stop, but I didn't. I pushed through.
We got home at 10:00. I was so tired. I was exhausted. But being with my family was worth every second of being tired. I would turn around do it again today if I had to.
It was an awesome seven hours.
I hope we don't have to wait another four years, seven months and one day to be together again.
I am so thankful for this time for my family to be together.
