Item #11 – Go on a Road Trip

Nancy and I at the beginning thinking “we got this!” We so did not.

40 Things for 40 Years in 40 Weeks: Item #11 (Bucket List) – Go on a Road Trip

I’ve been on many a road trip over the years but very few since we’ve had kids. When I was making my list for #40for40in40 I decided that it was time to try it again and I enlisted my sister Nancy to join me on this one. It would be she and I and our 4 boys all under the age of 6. While the “road trip” portion of the trip would not be that long, we thought it would be fun to get all the cousins together and hit the road – San Miguel bound to see our other sister Brenda and her husband at their ranch.

We knew it wasn’t going to be easy but we thought a sense of humor and our “can do, super mama” attitudes would see us through any challenges. We had no idea what we were in for. To say that four boys under the age of 6 are crazy together is an understatement. To anyone that has four kids, especially all boys, you have my utmost respect and you should be named a saint. Someone was cut and bleeding within the first few hours we were together. Most of the kids complained, screamed, or yelled during the car ride, sometimes simultaneously. Kids were lost, found and then lost again. It was pure insanity 24/7. It’s now been 2 weeks since we embarked on the trip and I think Nancy and I are still mentally and physically recovering from the amount of exhaustion we experienced.

BUT, in light of all that… we made memories that will hopefully last a lifetime for our kids. We had a blast staying at the ranch which included a daily ringing of the famous bell at the ranch, a puppy for every child to play with at all times, 7am tractor and riding mower rides, a daily swim in the pool with complimentary lessons by Uncle Sean and attending a 4th of July Parade in Hometown USA aka Templeton. Brenda and Sean also hosted a donut decorating birthday party at a local donut shop for all four boys, three of which have summer birthdays just weeks apart, and we all sang happy birthday to each of the kids. It was crazy at best but the kids loved every minute. We headed back up the valley after 4 days and celebrated the 5th of July with fireworks in the street, a water balloon fight, visits with “Gigi” and more donuts with “Papa” before heading home.

Thank you Nancy for helping me survive the road part of the trip. It was the craziest drive in history up I-5 but I’ll never forget it. And a huge thank you to Brenda and Sean for rolling out the red carpet for us and letting our kids run wild for 4 days straight on the farm. You both outdid yourselves! And thank you to both of my brother-in-laws for being photographers at either end of this trip. I love how angelic the boys appear in the photos. Don't let them fool you people!!!

And so that completes #11 on my list. 7 items checked off the list and 33 to go! Stay tuned for more… #40for40in40