Our New Year (Trip Part #1)

After Christmas, we came home to a very messy house. We had left for Christmas earlier than planned and had to leave in a hurry. It took a lot of work to feel organized again. We did lots of cleaning on the morning of New Year's Eve. Around noon, as we were feeling like the house was finally clean, Justin said, "Let's pack up really fast and go to the cabin for New Year's!" Of course I couldn't turn that down. My family would be celebrating there but we hadn't planned to go because we were leaving for Disneyland in two days. It would mean some extra driving, but we decided to surprise my family. And they really were surprised to see us. We had some delicious food and a couple of relaxing days. Thanks to my family for feeding us when you didn't plan on us even coming.

The problem was that we came down with colds while we were there. Suddenly I began dreading the long drive (we expected about 9 hours) to my Nana's house near San Diego. Saturday morning (Jan. 2) came and we got a pretty good start. We stopped in Hurricane for some cold medicine, and drove on to Las Vegas where we stopped for lunch. As we approached Jean (just outside of Vegas) it turned into bumper to bumper traffic. We were stopped more often than not. We had expected the traffic to be worse on Sunday and we had even checked several sources to see that we would be able to get through. I began getting really worried and then we approached a sign that read: Heavy traffic to California - expect long delays. Our sources had been dead wrong. In Jean, we turned around and I began to cry. Now people, I am not a cry baby. But we were feeling so crappy and I couldn't bear to think of taking some back highway that would take another 9 hours from where we were. It had already been over 5 hours! My kids are fairly good in the car but I can only subject them to so much time in a 5-point harness! And my back has never done well in a car for more than several hours. Soon I was weeping and I told Justin to call the travel company and find out what was refundable. I was so ready to go back to my mom's house, sleep off our colds, and go home. We could go to Disneyland in a month or two if we wanted.

Justin urged me to press on. He said, "We are not quitters" and "how would we break the news to Nolan that we're not going to Disneyland?" Oh, the whole thing was awful. I felt like screaming, "Yes, I can be a quitter! There are many things in my life that I have quit!" We did go on though. We turned around, went back through Vegas and took some back highway through Searchlight, Nevada. My low point was when we pulled off the highway, I nursed the baby on a small dirt road, and then peed in the bushes. I couldn't believe we were actually paying good money for this "vacation!"

The day wore on and we could only make it to Barstow via I-40. We had been in the car for about 10 hours with only two short breaks. I was glad for my borrowed book: One Tattered Angel. Thankfully we were able to book a nice room with a big jetted tub. Nolan loved staying there. He is too little to remember the last time we stayed in a hotel . He probably would have forgotten about Disneyland because he was so happy.

The next morning, we were just as sick but feeling a little refreshed. It was only another 3 hours to Nana's house. I'm just so glad we have our van. Nolan only watched one or two movies but it was good to know it was there. There was room for one of us to sit in the back if we needed. And Ezra was happy THE WHOLE TIME. What a big help!

It was good to make it to Nana's house. She had never met Ezra and I think she was surprised at how mischevious Nolan is. At one point, she said, "He has the devil in his eyes." I think that's a bit strong. Later she simply noted that he is like his Grandpa John (her son and my dad). Now that I can believe! Nana has been feeling lonely since Papa passed away over two years ago. I hope we were able to share some happiness while we were there (and not just germs!).