Roooaaad triiiiiiiip!

The suitcases are packed, the car fun kits are ready, the two bags of road-trip food are assembled, and the backseat menu is complete. Yes, if you see a blue van speeding down the freeway with the driver talking on his Bluetooth, the passenger’s feet up on the dash, and the kids reading a printed menu, it is us. Hey, the menu makes me laugh (always a good reason to do anything), and it cuts down on my en-route mid-air twisting and endless rounds of “I’m hungry - What do you want? - What do we have? - Blah? – No. – Blah? - No. - Blah? – No. – Ahhhh!”:

It also makes me laugh that the girls SO know the drill by now. Whether you’re flying or driving, you don’t break open the food and fun bags until the wheels start moving. That is The Law. They read the menu (three times) over breakfast this morning and have already chosen their first foods (Ro will be starting with Ends & Pieces, which are Trader Joe’s fruitroll bits, and Ree and I will both be starting with Yogurt Stars, also from TJ’s). We haven’t heard TubaDad’s choice yet, but if I had to guess I think he’ll kick off the trip with a Diet Coke (straight from the can) and a side of Pringles (also straight from the can). Anyhow, I think we’re 80% ready to go. In case I don’t post while we’re gone, here are a few funnies to hold my mom over:

The girls recently had to complete a class career project where they decorated a paper doll to look like themselves when they were grown up and doing whatever it was they wanted to do as big people. Every other kid chose a “normal” career like fireman, teacher, mom, dentist, doctor, etc. You know Ro and Ree didn’t go that route, right?

Here’s Ro:

And Ro’s chosen career:

Here’s Ree:

And Ree’s chosen career:

Hmm. Funny thing is, the folks at school know these two girls well. There wasn’t even one single raised eyebrow.

Alrighty, now there will be car loading and some frantic last-minute repacking for me (gah – why are there always last-minute packing emergencies?), a few hours of school for the girls, and then we’ll hit the road. Happy trails!