Thursday, August 6, 2009

Days 2 & 3: Yohio and Beyond

Greetings from America's Heartland! I think the Midwest is completely overlooked and underrated. We have loved our time in "Yohio." It's green and rolling. Traffic is not an issue. The people are outgoing. And some of our best friends on earth live there, which doesn't hurt either.

Yesterday we left Cincinnatti, driving 320 miles across Illinois and Indiana to visit our beloved cousins in St. Louis.

The last time I was in Indiana, I was a newly-adoptive mom, meeting my Jake for the first time. I didn't see much of the state then, because it was January and I was busy sterilizing bottles in a hotel room. So...I was excited to see the Hoosier state from I-70. I saw a lot of it yesterday. And I'll sum it up in one word: flat. Beautiful in that wholesome cornfield and cow pasture way, but basically just flat.

Illinois is too. So it was a long 5 hours yesterday.

Here are a few ways we've been killing time and not killing each other in our minivan:


Jake is allowed in the front seat. I am not sure it's legal...but since it prevents fighting and, therefore, prevents child abuse...I think it is a good thing. He is one of those lucky people who doesn't get carsick reading, so he has finished "DoubleFudge" and is starting a new Goosebumps novel to pass the time.
Before we left home, I did the old "surprise-every-day" care package trick. Sometimes just having a little present to open gives everyone a new lease on life. These window markers were a hit yesterday. (Don't worry, Hun! They wipe right off! Promise!)
Matching shirts are a good way to keep track of little people at the rest-stop. Plus, they look so cute that strangers will forgive their road-trip induced rowdiness.

Wearing crazy "travelin' pants" makes it easy for kids to keep track of Mom at the rest-stops. And (bonus!) they have just a touch of spandex to accomodate road-trip snacking and much needed refreshment from Sonic Drive In.

Next up: Missourah
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16 comments:

melissa walker said...

You are a brave, fun mom! Let me know if you're heading into Chicago! There is a lot of great stuff happening around here!

Anonymous said...

Love the matching shirts! You have a lot of clever ideas!

al + sar said...

Haha Gabi you are so cute and funny. Im glad your back to the blogging world!

Annemarie said...

Your travel pants are hot stuff. Love 'em!

Marla said...

love, love your traveling pants! And I think the "treat" a day is a fabulous idea for car trips!

Lauren in GA said...

I am so loving reading these. Not only because I have missed you, but because I am always looking for ways to, "kill time and not each other in the minivan" and, "the prevention of child abuse" is good, too.

I love the surprise everyday thing. I NEED some of those markers.

I want to be in your sisterhood cause you look so great in your travelin' pants.

Jeanelle said...

You are SO stinkin' cute. Seriously.

calibosmom said...

The window markers have kept us busy around these parts too. LOVE the pants-spandex is a lifesaver!!

brooke said...

First, I love your darling capris. Second, I love the pic of the boys in matching shirts goofing off on the phones. Third--the window markers are genious--gotta get me some of those. Fourth, I showed my husband your pictures from Pittsburgh--he lived there for 4 years as a kid and loves the city.

Travelin'Oma said...

It is so fun to have a visit from you every day here in blogland. The markers look fun! I hope you and Em picked up on those cute guys.

cami said...

One of my all-time favorite gabblog lines..."but since it prevents fighting and, therefore, prevents child abuse...I think it is a good thing." I love it!

You look spectacular and I think your cute crazy pants are awesome. I wish I could pull of wearing some spandex these days!

jessica said...

I'm lovin that you are back! I want your pants and your markers. Seriously...where do you get window markers? I've never heard of such a thing and now I NEED some!

Ilene said...

Love the statue pose while taking a picture on the toilet.

Blogging at its finest.

Margaret said...

I hearty love that you were standing on the toilet for that last picture. :)

wenderful said...

Shoot! I think we DID just miss each other. We were in Nauvoo just last weekend! Darn. Cute pants and flip flops!

Fernando Solis Eguiza said...

El NiƱo Y Tu Pilin

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