Adventures in Parenting: Roadtrip to Taos Part 1
Rule #190: It’s always an adventure when you’re traveling with tiny humans.
We’re on our way back from a long trip (not a vacation) with the littles. I’m actually writing this as Jon Boy drives our loaded down Suburban, Adele. Just another 6 and half hours until we’re back home! This trip was definitely one for the books! It’s been an adventure in parenting: two sick kids, two trips to the doctor, sharing a hotel room with a newborn and a toddler, a wolf stalking our baby, and lots of snuggles and laughs.
This about sums up trying to pack for an 11 day trip while entertaining this crazy toddler and his baby sister.
We loaded everything up the Friday before Thanksgiving and set out bright and early (only about an hour after we’d planned… this became a theme for us). But at least we didn’t forget anything (or anyone)!
Jon Boy had the joy of working remotely during our drive to Amarillo. He’s a saint. Also… I have no idea how he focused with the two crazies in the back.
We got our Stopping System down to an art by the end of the first day. One of us would change diapers while the other ran into whatever gas station or fast food place we were at, then we’d switch and the other would feed Brooke.
Occasionally feeding Brooke involved protecting her little strawberry blonde head from the sun with whatever was handy. She was a real trooper through the whole trip though. She’s finally loving her carseat and slept for most of the drive!
We stayed all nice and cozy together in a hotel room in Amarillo Friday night. Corey had had a cough for a few days before we left, but that’s nothing new. Poor buddy has reactive airways (pre-asthmatic), so any little cold will usually end in a nasty cough anyways. When we woke up Saturday morning, his cough was so bad that we decided to take him to Urgent Care in Amarillo. His daddy sent me this picture from the waiting room while they were there. Corey saw Jon Boy cross his legs so he crossed his and said, “Look Daddy! I’m just like you!”
He was still a sweet little monkey despite feeling pretty crummy.
Three prescriptions later, and we were on our way!
Brooke decided she was tired of hanging in the back, so we let her have a turn driving. I have to say, she’s a much better driver than me.
We started seeing the beauty of the mountains and breathed a sigh of relief! Our total drive time was about 16 hours. We got in close to bedtime, scarfed some pizza and wine, and passed out.
The next morning, we were ready to get out and play in some snow! Big man here was so, so excited to build a snowman and make a snow angel.
Well, that is until he actually touched the snow. Then he hated it. Like… HATED it! “I can’t like it, Mom!” Also, I’ve now been demoted to Mom from Mama. Gotta love threenagers. Good thing he’s cute.
The views from the house we rented with my Momma were breathtaking. If you’ve never been to northern New Mexico, you are truly missing out. We stayed in a small village outside of Taos called Arroyo Seco. Our family has a house there, so we just rented on nearby to be close to them.
I need birdfeeders and a patio like this ASAP. The birds that would come and eat were all so unique and beautiful. They were also fast and camera shy, so I never snapped a pic! Little stinkers.
Here’s when I’ll explain why this was a TRIP and not a VACATION. You see that tempting fire pit down there? Well, we had plans to use it every night. Pre-kids Jon Boy and Lilly would have used it every night with some drinky-poos and cuddles. You know, vacation style.
When we got there, we even said, “Oh yes! That’s getting used!” I think my Mom chuckled to herself when she heard that. Y’all. We used it ONCE. One. Freaking. Time. It was a good time, but definitely not the ‘every night hangout’ we’d imagined. Trippity Trip Trip. Also: you’ve got to read this article if you’ve never heard that phrase.
Another piece of evidence that this was a trip and not a vacation: BOTH kids got sick. I’m pretty sure at the exact moment I took this picture, Brooke’s tummy bug kicked in. She had all the lovely bodily functions that accompany a tummy bug and then spiked a fever of 100.7 later the next day. Talk about anxiety. A sick toddler (meds weren’t doing much at this point) and now a sick newborn. Again, not a vacation.
Jon Boy and I had some laughs and shake-your-heads about the whole thing. We took both babies to a pediatrician in town (thanks to the rec from our sweet family friend), and they were both cleared. Just a tummy virus for Brooke and bronchiolitis for Corey. No meds, just rest and fluids. We had high hopes for our vacation-turned-trip, and I have to say they were met, just not in the way we’d imagined. Parenting is an adventure, and no matter how much you pack your Suburban, you’re never fully prepared for what comes your way. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t make memories and laugh about it all later.
I hope you enjoyed this Adventures in Parenting: Roadtrip to Taos Part 1 post. If you did, check out these other similar posts!
There’s so much to like about this post. We have a threenager too. It’s hard.
Also – and this might be a bit specific – but that is a well packed car. It’s the little things…
Cheers!