Thursday, September 2, 2010

Three Things Thursday ...

Did you ever know that I hold a grudge against Thursday? Well, I do. It's my least favorite day of the week. Always has been. Maybe that's why I so rarely honor it with a "full" post. Instead, it gets a bowl full of my randomness. And today is no different.

1. We are visiting J's family in Rhode Island. It's kind of far from our house. My GPS says that it takes a little over 10 hours. Sure it does, Garmin. On what planet? Obviously, you have never "lead" our family trips before. Virginia to Rhode Island in 10 hours? With three kids in the car? Three kids who have to pee every 45 minutes? I don't think so.

We spent the night in Maryland on Tuesday to break up the drive. It took us four hours to get there. And yesterday, when we finished our journey, it took an additional 8.5 hours. Last time I checked 4 + 8.5 = 12.5 NOT 10. Just saying.

2. When our family takes these exponentially long road trips, we bring a lot of food. Generally speaking, if my kids are upset or bored or tired or just being annoying, I can usually pacify them with food (yes, I realize this is not the BEST idea).

I bring along plenty of goldfish, pretzels, 100 calorie packs and for the runner in all of us ...


Yeah, that's a bag full of Clif Bars and Gu - Because last time I checked, driving for 12 hours in a car with three kids is just as much of an endurance event as running a marathon.

3. Speaking of running, my kids are more tuned into my running habit than I knew. Sure, they know that when I break out the skirt and the socks that it's time to run, but apparently, they also know my sneaker rotation.

For the past few months, I have been running in my Mizunos with pink laces and bumming around in my Mizunos with rainbow laces. Just this week, I downgraded my pink laces to bumming around status. And Dizzle didn't get the memo. I asked her to get my sneakers with the pink laces, so that I could go to the store. And instead of just saying yes, she came back at me with a stern look and a question,

"Don't you mean the ones with the rainbow laces?"

I nearly fell out of my chair. Since when does my five year old know that certain shoes are only used for running? And others have lost that status? God, I love that girl.

27 comments:

Silly Girl Running said...

12.5 hours in the car? Oh my, poor you! Get some rest in now you're there!

chloë. said...

That is priceless that she knows your sneaker rotation! Too funny!

Anonymous said...

the Garmin doesn't know that the second you hit CT, no rules apply. I bet you that was the worst part of your trip, wasn't it? Where in RI are you, I am in CT, not far from RI and my friend and I are planning for 12 on Sunday--you interested?

Relentless Forward Commotion said...

I feel you girl...my almost 4 and almost 2 year old and I just drove from SC to NH. You should see how many goldfish and teddy grahms litter our backseat, haha!

misszippy said...

Long day in a car with little ones, for sure! And you've gotta do what you've gotta do to get through it.

Lisa said...

You're from VA? What part? I lived and taught middle school in Hampton (near Norfolk/Va Beach/Newport News) for 7 years. Oh I love your blog all the more knowing you're from VA. Watch out for Earl!

mystorychapter2.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I love that they know your sneaker rotation. Thats hilarious

Emz said...

#2.

#2 is beautiful. Love it.

Anne said...

That's a long car ride with three little ones...hope you got some well needed rest when you got there.

Love reading about your girls :)

Runners Fuel said...

Have a good road trip!

Bethany + Ryan said...

how can you hate a day that's followed by Friday? lol. have s safe drive to RI, we r in MA about 20 min away from RI. hopefully we get some good weather this weekend! have fun

track coach and adorable wife said...

When in a car, none of the regular rules of parenting apply. You are allowed to bribe them with as much food and tv as you want and you are still a great parent! Fact: learned it from my parenting magazine! Its all about survival so you can enjoy the destination!

Marlene said...

That's a lot of driving!!! Glad you made it.

And that is one observant kid!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Nice job on a loooong car ride with J and the kiddos. whew! That's a lot of "are we there yet?"s!

Nearly every weekend we do the same, load the car with snacks! It gets hard to come up with something new to hold their attention.

Knowing your sneaker rotation. priceless!

MCM Mama said...

Clif bars totally saved me on our last trip when the kids were melting down. All hail the clif bar. ;o)

And LOL that they know your shoes. I have boys. They wouldn't notice if I did my runs in 4" spike pumps...

Stephanie said...

I for one LOVE Thursdays.

In college it was the official start of the weekend (because who really goes to Friday classes?) -- and now it's "date night" with my husband (although date now is sitting on the couch eating take out, watching TV and hoping the kiddo stays asleep).

So cute about the shoe rotation. I think my animals know when I'm going for a run . . .now, if only I could teach them to bring me my shoes.

H Love said...

speaking of shoes...I am 5 weeks away from marathon day and thinking of get new shoes....just another pair of the ones that have worked great....just think they have lost their step. Aching feet and blister on toe???

Aimee said...

You are a brave soul to travel 12.5hours with your kiddos in a car! Wow!
It's funny b/c my 5 yr. old knows my running shoes from my other shoes too. It's interesting what things they pick up-ya know?

ajh said...

I enjoy your posts about your girls so much. What a smartie to have picked up on your sneaker rotation! Who would think?

Anonymous said...

Dizzle is a fast learner! You can never go grocery shopping in the same sneakers you plan to do a long run in!

Anonymous said...

wow thats a long time to be in the car ith three kids. go you!

Leah F said...

I find the visual of your girls sucking down GUs in the backseat delightful. ;-)

Unknown said...

I always say that all bets are off when traveling with kids...dvd for hours at a time - go for it...candy anytime you want it - be my guest...food as rewards/bribery - what's wrong with that???

Have fun on your trip!

Anabela (Bela) Neves said...

We just did a straight 16 hours in the car with DD and I bribed her to behave, be quite and still with snacks, snacks and more snacks, non stop DVD and DS playing and yes I would do it all again if I had to drive another 16 hours ;)

Anonymous said...

Wow- that is a LONG drive. Those "estimated times" are always taken with a grain of salt in my house. Never works out that way for some reason. I'll blame it on the kids. :)

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

Good Luck!!! Those car rides are totally brutal, aren't they?
And my boys know which running shoes I'm currently using too!

Zoë said...

Love the GU for the car ride! And that's so cute that your girls keep track of your shoes! Love that. :)