The trek west day 1

April 3, 2009

After days of planning, packing, and organizing we were ready to set off on our drive to UT(about 1300 miles) and then to Boise, for spring break. We had been reading weather reports and road conditions to determine our route. On the morning of our departure I-80 looked like the best route and so we loaded the kids in the already full Suburban and we headed west. We have always driven straight through with out stopping at a hotel, but we decided that this time around we would push hard the first day stop at a hotel, let the kids swim, eat a nice dinner, get a good nights sleep,and then get up early Sat. morning and drive to Grandmas.

The drive started off with a bang. About an hour into the trip Cole started throwing up everywhere. It was so bad we had to pull over to the nearest gas station clean up the kid as best we could, but the car seat was too far gone to clean out with mere wipes and paper towels. Cord went into the gas station and got a big garbage bag. We just bagged up the car seat and threw it in the back of the car. We rearranged kids and car seats and then we headed off. Of course, before we started again we gave Cole a Dramamine. After a unexpected stop we were back on the road almost as if nothing had happened. Unfortunately, the scent would linger.

The rest of the day went pretty well. The weather was great, so when we would stop at rest areas the kids could run and play and get their energy out. To get the kids to run Cord told the kids he would give them $1 if they could touch a bird. So the quest began and the girls ran like crazy at every rest stop to try and catch the bird. Poor little Cole was still just crawling and wanted more than anything to get down and go, but there really aren't a lot of places at a rest stop that you want your little baby crawling...

The kids were doing great so we decided to push the last little bit and drive to Cheyenne, WY. About an hour out of Cheyenne, Cole's medicine wore off and he threw up. Luckily this time it was not as bad and we were able to clean up and drive at the same time, but no sooner did Cord get it cleaned up it started to rain. Before we knew it it was a downpour. A few miles out of Cheyenne and the rain turned to snow. As we pulled into the Hampton Inn it was almost like a blizzard.

Luckily, we got a room, the kids went swimming, then we feed them a quick easy dinner, and put them to bed. It looked like the storm would pass us as we slept and then we would get up early and be back on the road. Or so we thought....

The Car full of kids

Thank goodness for DVD players.

Cole finally getting down for a minute

The kids playing at a rest area somewhere in Nebraska

The whole family somewhere in Nebraska