The Beginning of Our Month Long Trip in Missouri

Mom, Dad, Ava, Christian and I left on Thursday for our big trip to Missouri. Dad took off work to drive us out and then fly back that weekend, so we would have a man with us on our trip, considering what happened last time my mom and I drove the kids to Missouri (famous St. Louis trip) We left around 5:00 from Mercersburg and within the first hour, Ava and Christian were already wondering if we were there yet. They actually did well with traveling overall. My favorite part about the trip out was at one point, while still in PA, Ava said, “I see Missouri!!” We kind of chuckled and she said, “no, I do. I see Missouri. Look, there are horses.” Pretty cute as she was thinking Missouri was the only place that has kittens and horses. Also, every horse we saw, the kids named it B.G. in honor of Ashlyn’s horse.

We drove straight through the night and all did pretty good. The kids actually slept most of the night and we were so tired but we knew that the best time to travel with toddlers was while they were sleeping. We did stop to get dinner at McDonalds and while we were standing in the line waiting for our food, mom did the most hilarious thing. Before me in line, a family ordered two happy meals and then another meal. Then I ordered and I also ordered two happy meals. So, naturally they put the first two happy meals on the tray for the other family first. However, mom thought this was my tray and so she reached over to yank a French fry out of the happy meal. I quietly said, “mom, that isn’t ours.” Then we both started to laugh because it was so funny that she tried to snatch someone else’s French fries. I don’t think the family before us saw her do it. However, we did laugh about this for quite awhile.

When we got to Sedalia, mom decided she wanted to drive and she drove us the rest of the way home. When we got to Grandma’s, the kids were so excited to be in Missouri. They think Grandma – Squeaks house is “Missouri” so that is fun. They hate leaving the complex because they think it means they are leaving Missouri. They also kept saying their butts were sore, which probably was true.

Of course, when we got here, the kids got to see Larren and Austin and that made them so happy. Christian has been saying that the boys are his two brothers and he has continued to refer to them as his brothers for the entire time we are here. In fact at one point, he came downstairs and walked through Grandma’s house to see where they were. When he couldn’t find them, he asked me, “where are my two brudders mommy?” He couldn’t understand why in the world they had to go to school. So sweet. Ava kept asking when her Ashlyn was coming. Ashlyn did show up, but no till the next day. They were hugging her and exclaiming their excitement to see her.

Christian and Ava love Grandma and Grandpa’s remote control recliner. They like to sit beside Grandma and take rides in it. Ava gets a little bored since it is a slower moving ride, but Christian thinks this ride is a little more his pace. He is not the adventurous one, as much as his sister.

A few of the fun activities they did the first week were jumping in piles of leaves with Malachi and Larren and Ashlyn. They also played in their homemade forts and tents taking up all of Grandma’s play room and living room. If ever a time you couldn’t find them, you knew walk out Grandma’s back door and yell up toward aunt Squeak’s house and pretty soon you would see a little head or two popping out and waving at you from the porch. Sure enough, the kids had walked to Aunt Squeak’s porch to play with and torture her kitties. This was the one activity that remained consistent throughout the entire trip. They LOVED those kitties.

This is Cousin Ashlyn's Horse, B.G. and she loves to eat apples and carrots.