Ever, Ever After: The TR Formerly Known as Wishing You Were Here- May 2011

[tinacaplan]

Oh yes, the right before bed craziness...I know it well! And was it about little kids and hotel rooms? Max has loved every hotel we've ever stayed at. Glad you made it without running out of gas or having to stay at a not so nice hotel.

 

[TheLadyTremain]

Following along and thoroughly enjoying your trip report. It makes me want to drive to Disney but not sure if I could take the lengthy drive from PA with three small children.

 

[PirateKate]

Love the update! So glad y'all didn't run out of gas & found a nice hotel as well!

Oh, boys & their endless amounts of energy. I often wish I had 1/4 of my son's energy. But, the part with them singing & then laughing really got me laughing, too. And now I have that song stuck in head as I'm about to head to my bed & try to go to sleep.

We were very happy to see that gas station. We've never run out of gas yet, and I didn't want to start that night.

It's funny, long car rides always make me tired, but they always seem to wind the boys up. I think the singing and laughing would have been a lot more enjoyable at the time, if it hadn't been so late. Apparently, Shake It is a good song choice for going to sleep. It seemed to work for Carter.

Joining in! That hotel sounds really creepy! I'm glad you guys found a nicer place to stay and didn't run out of gas!

Hey, you're back! I'll be watching for your TR. The hotel was definitely giving me the creeps. It all worked out fine in the end, though.

My Kids get really goofy at night when they are tired too! I have no idea where they get that Behavior from
I can't complain though. It's better than the alternative grumpiness

I'm so glad you found a nice quiet fluffy hotel! Hamptons are pretty decent in my area too

I'm sure they don't get it from us. Singing and laughing was certainly better than listening to them crying and screaming themselves to sleep, so I guess I can't complain either.

That Hampton Inn seemed really nice. We would stay there again, but it was awfully far to drive. We'd have to leave earlier or something.

I can't believe the boys weren't exhausted either! Don't you wish you had half their energy sometimes!

Your update made me feel better about the trials and tribulations of trying to get toddlers to sleep in hotel rooms. I'm glad I'm not the only one with kids who don't magically drift off to sleep without protest as soon as their heads hit the pillow! I do have to admit that Carter singing metro station made me laugh! At least it was better than crying!

They sure should have been exhausted. It's too bad I didn't have the same energy as them that night. Carter was a little unsure of the lyrics on the verses, and I could have helped him out.

My boys hardly ever go to sleep perfectly quietly. The best we can usually hope for is no crying. And I really don't mind a little bit of talking and singing before bed. It is funny that Carter sings Metro Station. I guess I've been playing my iPod in the car since he was born, so he might know all my songs.

I'm glad you didn't run out of gas and good call on the Hampton Inn. Their beds really are pretty comfortable.

There's just something about being a kid in a hotel. You always have to explore and jump on the bed. I think it is a kid law or something. I'm sorry they decided to sing when all you wanted to do was sleep, but at least the laughing and singing must have lulled them to sleep as well.

Something about that Hampton Billboard just looked so nice. It was a good choice, although I think we were all tired enough that it wouldn't have mattered too much how the beds were.

I do remember hotels being very exciting when I was a kid. Jumping on the bed was such fun. The laughing and singing really was pretty cute, if only it had been earlier. But it did help them get to sleep, so that's good.

So glad that you made it on gas and got to a Hampton Inn. We love Hampton Inns...we've always had spotless rooms and very comfortable beds.

I love how Carter was jumping on the bed and Landon is checking things out for, perhaps, bed bugs, to keep his family safe?

I told Jeremy we should always stop at Hampton Inns from now on. Our room was very clean. The boys didn't even get dirty from crawling around on the floor.

Landon probably was checking for bed bugs. Landon to the rescue!

Subbing! I'm glad you stayed in the nicer hotel...sleeping in a scary gross place wouldn't be a fun way to start off any vacation!

Hi! Thanks for joining in! I'm really glad we stayed at the nicer hotel, too. Next time, we won't bother with booking ahead of time.

Your boys are just so adorable. Their laughing and enjoying each other in the dark just sounds precious...unless of course all you want to do is sleep and get to WDW! I am glad you decided to skip that sketchy hotel. Your peace of mind is worth way more that $20.

Thanks! I wish I had thought to record the singing and laughing on my phone, because it really was very cute, but at the time, I was just thinking they should go to sleep. The nicer hotel was worth much more than $20. It was a very pleasant place to spend the night.

 

[DisneyMomma09]

I love listening to Colby fall asleep on the monitor. It is funny to listen to him talk to himself! But I bet it is not quite as entertaining when it is so late, you are exhausted, and you are all in the same room!

Hampton Inn those are nice. Anytime we are thinking about a hotel I start searching online. Then I use hotels.com or like sites to read reader reviews. I thought I found a hotel in Sandusky for this weekend till I found the reviews...Willing to pay more for a better place even if we are only sleeping there for the night and at Cedar Point all day....

I'm goint to Cedar Point next weekend! Just for the day, though. Love it!

 

[PirateKate]

HAHA too cute!!! My brothers do the same thing especially when they're tired! Giggle giggle giggle!!! Glad you found a nicer hotel!

Thanks! The giggles were pretty cute, looking back on it. It's nice to have a brother to giggle with. I'm glad we found a nicer hotel, too.

It's always good to fall asleep happy! Cannot get much happier that giggling away with your brother!!!

They were certainly happy that night! I do love to hear them giggling together.

Hampton Inn those are nice. Anytime we are thinking about a hotel I start searching online. Then I use hotels.com or like sites to read reader reviews. I thought I found a hotel in Sandusky for this weekend till I found the reviews...Willing to pay more for a better place even if we are only sleeping there for the night and at Cedar Point all day....

That Hampton Inn we stayed at seemed very nice. It seemed a lot more than $20 worth of nicer than the Quality Inn. I'm never sure how much credibility to give online reviews. I figure someone's always going to be unhappy about something. I've actually seen a review that called the Polynesian Resort a filthy, dirty, dark, depressing, dated, rude, overpriced dump.

Yay, so glad you didn't run out of gas, that would have been scary! Hampton Inn's are usually pretty nice, good place to sleep for the night!

Awww, so cute, the boys giggling themselves to sleep, that's so sweet!

I figured even if we did run out of gas, at least we were off that exit. I liked the Hampton Inn we found. It lived up to the billboard.

It was really cute. I'm just glad the giggles resulted in sleeping and didn't turn into cries.

Love that you just let the boys giggle until they fell asleep. So cute!

Glad you didn't run out of gas before you found something!

I guess there really wasn't much else to do but let them giggle to sleep. They both have very cute laughs.

I'm glad we didn't run out of gas, too. I guess it would have been an adventure, if we had.

Oh yes, the right before bed craziness...I know it well! And was it about little kids and hotel rooms? Max has loved every hotel we've ever stayed at. Glad you made it without running out of gas or having to stay at a not so nice hotel.

I think my two are getting more crazy before bed. Or maybe it's just that Carter has enough of a vocabulary to express the craziness now. Either way it's pretty entertaining. I bet Max hasn't stayed at the Quality Inn off exit 87...

Following along and thoroughly enjoying your trip report. It makes me want to drive to Disney but not sure if I could take the lengthy drive from PA with three small children.

Hi! I'm glad you're enjoying my trip report. PA's quite a drive to Disney, isn't it? I bet the kids would do great, though. I'm often surprised at how well Carter and Landon take long car trips.

 

[Queenofallthings]

Great updates Kate! There is nothing like a DVD in the car to keep the little ones amused!

As I was reading about you pulling into the first hotel, I knew there was no way you would be staying there that night! The Hampton sounded much better and a better area too!

I did laugh when you were writing about the boys laughing....I love when little ones laugh and sometimes you just need to let them....

 

[kaileighbug]

I'm goint to Cedar Point next weekend! Just for the day, though. Love it!

We decided to do that plat passes since my son will be around this summer. More days = more fun = more parks....lol

 

[kaileighbug]

That Hampton Inn we stayed at seemed very nice. It seemed a lot more than $20 worth of nicer than the Quality Inn. I'm never sure how much credibility to give online reviews. I figure someone's always going to be unhappy about something. I've actually seen a review that called the Polynesian Resort a filthy, dirty, dark, depressing, dated, rude, overpriced dump.

I figure there are people out there like that but when almost all the reviews call it dirty I'll pass I used several different travel sites for the review and all said about the same.
As for the Polynesian that would be one of my dream resort...as if I win the lottery or skip going for a couple of years.... I love walking around there and it puts us closer to our favorite restaurant Ohana's

 

[PirateKate]

I love listening to Colby fall asleep on the monitor. It is funny to listen to him talk to himself! But I bet it is not quite as entertaining when it is so late, you are exhausted, and you are all in the same room!


I'm goint to Cedar Point next weekend! Just for the day, though. Love it!

We don't have a monitor for our boys, so I'm not sure if Carter talks to himself at night or not. I bet the things you hear Colby say are pretty cute. I think it would have been a lot more interesting that night, if I hadn't just wanted to go to sleep.

I used to want to go to Cedar Point when I was a kid. Never did, though. It sounds like fun!

Great updates Kate! There is nothing like a DVD in the car to keep the little ones amused!

As I was reading about you pulling into the first hotel, I knew there was no way you would be staying there that night! The Hampton sounded much better and a better area too!

I did laugh when you were writing about the boys laughing....I love when little ones laugh and sometimes you just need to let them....

We figured a DVD player would be a good purchase, since it hopefully will last until the boys are pretty old. I was glad it amused them so well.

I guess I sort of knew I wouldn't be able to stay there, too. I hated to keep driving that night, but it would have been worse to haul the boys out at such a creepy exit. I didn't mind hauling them out at the Hampton at all.

I do love to hear my boys laugh. Especially when they're laughing together. Nothing else I could do but let them laugh it out, I guess.

I figure there are people out there like that but when almost all the reviews call it dirty I'll pass I used several different travel sites for the review and all said about the same.
As for the Polynesian that would be one of my dream resort...as if I win the lottery or skip going for a couple of years.... I love walking around there and it puts us closer to our favorite restaurant Ohana's

I guess that's the key, to see what the majority of the reviews are like. I always like a hotel that's clean enough that the boys don't come up filthy after playing on the floor.

The Polynesian is one of my dream resorts, too. Jeremy said that we could stay there anytime, but then we couldn't go as often, which really doesn't help any. I want to go just as often and stay at the Polynesian. We could eat breakfast at Kona Cafe and dinner at Ohana every night.

 

[PirateKate]

"Light off! Out order!"

I barely managed to open my eyes to peer at the clock. 8:10. I would have liked nothing better than to roll over and go back to sleep for another couple hours.

"Light off! Out order!"

In Carter-ish, a out of order light means any light that is off that he can't turn on. In this case, he was talking about the light above his bed.

I considered the chances that I could get in bed with him and sleep awhile longer. Not good. Well, we might as well get on the road, anyway.

Jeremy and Landon woke up as soon as Carter and I started to get ourselves ready. It wasn't long before we had packed up the entire room and were ready to go.

We stopped off in the lobby for the continental breakfast. In addition to bananas and sausage and biscuits, I let the boys try Fruit Loops, which they enjoyed.

Jeremy and I each drank two cups of coffee and were starting to feel more awake and ready to get back on the road.

We didn't have far to go to get to Atlantic Beach, where Jeremy's conference was being held.

The day was starting to feel odd to me. I was going to hate saying goodbye to Jeremy and leaving him behind, but I was also excited for our Disney trip and I wouldn't get the trip without the goodbye.

Although it was less than an hour to Jacksonville, the drive proved too much for Landon. Apparently, the late night was beginning to affect him.

Carter seemed unaffected by the late night and was his usual, pleasant self, playing with his light-up ball.

After I pulled off onto the road to Atlantic Beach, we saw a Walmart and decided to stop and buy all the stuff I had forgotten to pack- socks for Landon, baby sunscreen, and Gerber Smart Sips.

The shopping trip didn't take long, although I was tempted to drag it out. Time was going too quickly and I didn't want to leave Jeremy.

Forgotten items purchased, we got back in the car and drove a few more miles, until we saw a Sonny's BBQ. It was after noon, which was plenty late enough for lunch.

Lunch was good. Jeremy and I both had the pulled brisket Big Deal and it was tasty. The boys split a kid's macaroni and cheese meal. They ate every scrap of their lunch, plus some bites of ours. They'll be fun to feed as teenagers.

We paid for our lunch and got back in the car. That was it. Next stop- the resort where we would leave Jeremy.

"I don't want to leave you."

"I know. I don't want to leave you either, but it's just for a few days and you and the boys will be having so much Disney fun, you won't hardly have time to miss me."

"Maybe it was a big mistake. Maybe I should have stayed home."

"No, it'll be fun. I'll be there before you know it."

I saw the resort sign come into view. I felt sick to my stomach. This had been a stupid idea. How was I going to handle the boys by myself at Disney? Why hadn't we come up with a different plan, something that didn't involve me dropping Jeremy off at the beach and leaving?

Jeremy got out and took his bag out of the trunk. I got out, too. We had a long hug during which I tried to be very brave for the boys and succeeded.

After we had said our good-byes, Jeremy came around to kiss each of the boys. Then, I gave the boys each a new Slinky and I got in the car and drove off.

"Daddy?"

"Daddy had to go to work, Carter. He'll be back with us in a few days."

"Daddy?"

"Daddy has to work for awhile. We're going to Disney World and he'll meet us there in a couple days."

"Daddy?"

"Daddy has to work, to make money for us. You'll see him again in a little while."

"Daddy?"

"Daddy's working, bud. Today is Thursday. Daddy has to work Thursday and Friday and he'll be back with us on Saturday."

Silence. Maybe I had explained it satisfactorily.

"Daddy?"

"Daddy's fine. He'll be back later and you don't need to worry about him."

I felt horrible that Carter was so upset about his Daddy. I should have prepared him better for what was going to happen. I had mentioned it once or twice, but it didn't seem to have sunk in.

I tried to pay attention to where I was going. I was taking a different route back to the interstate and the last thing I needed was to get lost.

"Daddy?"

"Daddy's coming back. It's just for a few days, Carter."

Good. I found the interstate and merged successfully. All I had to do now was drive the three hours. I hoped the boys would sleep.

Carter drifted off after a few more Daddies. Landon had had a morning nap, but he was looking a little sleepy, too.

For awhile, all was well. I drove in peace, listening to my music and hoping the boys were resting well.

I made it all the way to I-4 until Carter woke up. Unfortunately, he woke up grumpy. He was probably still upset about Jeremy being gone and operating on a low amount of sleep overall.

I decided to pull off at the next exit and fill up with gas and maybe find a milkshake or turn the Wiggles on.

The exit I chose seemed sort of busy, which was good, since that meant there was plenty to chose from. After getting gas, I arranged the DVD screens and put in the Wiggles.

Instantly, the boys were quiet and happy. Landon only made it to Wiggly Party before falling asleep.

We drove on, listening to Wiggles and making good time, until we hit Orlando. It was only four, but traffic was already slowing down. We crawled through the city, going only 30-40 MPH.

At last, I reached Pop Century. We had made it.

 

[DisneyMomma09]

You made it! Yay!

I love the pic of Carter in the car with his foot up by the window!

I can't wait to hear how you handled the boys by yourself! You are a brave woman!

 

[amandaw]

Woo Hoo! Y'all made it to the resort!

I know how hard it can be when they're asking for their Daddy. Every single weekday morning when Reid wakes up, the first thing he asks is "Where'd Daddy go?" And it's always the same conversation: that he went to work, then he wants to know why, then I tell him it's so we can have money for the essentials: food, shelter, clothing & Disney trips. And yes, I really do include Disney in there!

Can't wait to hear how you did on your own with the boys!

 

[tinacaplan]

YAY! You made it to Pop! And to Disney, for that matter. I remember the days when Max would fall asleep in the car, regardless of the time of the day. I miss that. Can't wait to hear what you're going to do next.

 

[Thadine]

You are very brave to go to Disney all by yourself with your two boys.
Poor Carter, children are very sensative and maybe he felt that you were sad after leaving Jeremy, and that made him sad too besides of seeing Daddy stay behind.

I think your kids are the most photogenic kids I have seen in TR's. They are always smiling.'
The picture of Carter with his foot out of the window is really cool

 

[KatMark]

you made it. I'm sure it was hard leaving Jeremy behind, but I have a feeling you guys did great on your own.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Yay for making it to Orlando! I'm sorry you got stuck in some traffic, but at least it wasn't too bad.

I'm sorry that you and Carter (and I'm sure Landon too!) were sad about leaving Jeremy, but I'm also sure that you guys had a wonderful adventure alone. Time apart only makes the reunions sweeter.

I'm dying to see how that new stroller worked out, looking forward to the next update!

Oh and I started my new TR, if you'd like to catch up on the adventures of Everett

 

[jc040404]

How sweet.. All the "Daddy" questions broke my heart. Poor little guy.. You won't be without him for long though. Does he travel for work often?

I'm with everyone else that mentioned it. That pic with Carter's little foot in the window is super cute!

Glad you made it to Pop without any major issues.. Not glad that I have Wiggles' songs stuck in my head now though!

 

[teachermommy78]

Great update!!! I feel for you leaving Jeremy behind. I'd be feeling the same way! All the uncertainties and hard work (by yourself!). I can't wait to hear how your first day went!

 

[Shannon84]

I can imagine thats tough to explain to the boys when Jeremy had to leave for work...but hopefully you guys were able to have some fun waiting for him to join you!

 

[*Seanaci*]

Thank goodness for an exit with a gas station...and an open one at that.

And thank goodness for Hampton Inns!! Always a safe hotel. We went to see my in-laws a couple years ago...DH told me to pick a hotel in the city where they live (Red Bluff, CA, relatively small). I was running out of options...seedy motels. When I decided to do a site by site hotel search (search and see which of the major chains had a hotel with-in driving distance of Red Bluff). I lucked out...and found a Hampton Inn about 5 minutes from his mom's house. We LOVED it.

And for having to leave Jeremy. I hate our harsh winters here...when we get lots of snow and DH ends up staying at a hotel by work so he can get to work easier the following day. My bed is always lonely.

Yay for getting to Pop!!