alright, going through my schedule and this is how it starts off...
-24 hours
Our trip really starts Dec 12th as soon as dh wakes me up. Because... I KNOW he will be waking me up early in the morning as he always does when we have a vacation. He is like a kid, so excited!
We have to drive 7 hours from New Brunswick (we are northeast from Maine) into the big USA to Portland Maine. We have 2 toddlers, so pit stops will be required. We have all day to get there, but will probably leave around 6am as custom with our road trips.
First stop will be....
Ah yes, good ole artery clogging MckeeDees. It has been custom since I was a little girl. Road trip-McDonalds breakfast.
Along then we will probably end up stopping in Saint John. About 1.5 hours away for a potty break. Two potty trained toddlers...need to make sure no messes happen!
Then, as the sun rises... lol (keep in mind the sun rises later in December) we will be getting near the border. A concern of mine will be DH's record. Before ds was born there was an ordeal with his license. It was suspended for a year for unpaid speeding fines. There was even a warrant out for his arrest, which he very graciously drove himself to the police station as soon as he found this out. He still won't let those words 'warrant for arrest' slip out of his mouth. He is still in denial. Also, a little naive, he doesn't believe the customs officers will care if they found out. We have crossed 3 times since this. Im sure we will be fine this time. But it's always in the back of my mind kwim?
After we pass the heartpounding customs, we will stop at the
WalMart on the border city of Calais. I am hoping they have these booster seats.
Right now ds is in a basic no back booster seat. DD is in a car seat that is just too small. Booster seats with backs are double the cost here in Canada. And we need 2! The seat belt clasps at the top and the head rests are much needed on our trip! Hopefully Calais' WalMart will have them.
Then on to... BANGOR! Honestly, no offence to bangor. It bores me. There is just nothing that I find THAT interesting. A couple shops, a Super WalMart across the river in Brewer (our fav are super walmarts, there aren't any around here at all!)
But we are definitely stopping. Love the I-95 around this area. Highways just feel different in the US. We will probably be here by noonish. Have some lunch somewhere. Hmmmmmmm Denny's. We love Denny's!!
YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Then on to FREEPORT. Now, DH is trying to tell me to wait until we are on out way back to shop here. He says it's a different highway than the I-95. This could very well be true, however he is notorious for making up little lies to see if I will accept them. Which I never do. But sometimes I have no idea if he is telling the truth or not. He thinks he is funny. Good thing I live him.
Freeport is full of Outlet stores. I don't want to do tons of shopping. Just The Children's Place and Tommy Hilfiger. I don't think there is anything else that catches my interest.
If you have never been, go. Gorgeous in the summer time. So very New England! old homes preserved to their true nature, but at that...stores are built within. Just beautiful!
Then on to portland. Now, First time I have ever been to Portland was in July. We were in NH decided to detour and meet my folks there for a night, then a night in Bangor. Great! Well, we got lost. DH with his trusty GPS. We didn't know where we were going... so how can the GPS know?? Well, lost, downtown, passing some building with A LOT of homeless looking people hanging outside. Of course, stop sign right in front..WHERE WE WERE STOPPED. I mumbled...." Hunny go...now... get us out of here we are on the Bronx of Portland!" We laughed so hard afterwards, but holy..did not feel safe! We finally found Maine Mall Rd. Did some shopping. This time around we will be staying at the HoJo's who offer a Park and Fly. Stay one night at $96 and you can leave your vehicle for over a week for no additional charge. This worked out to be a great deal when you compare costs of parking at the Jetport. Also, we get shuttled at 4am for our 630am flight, and coming back will be an arrival of 1030ish. So the shuttle will be great in this regard since worrying about lugguage, kids, jackets, and car in a garage would be a bit much for these hours.
DH says he will need to be in bed by 930. Which is reasonable given we have to be up so early. BUT!! WE ARE GOING TO DW THE MORNING AFTER!!! How am I supposed to get to sleep????
Also, I will have to pack 2 seperate lugguage systems. One for DW one for road tripping. LOVELY!!
Well, that is it for now. We will work on The Official Day one in the near future. To bed I go to dream of Liberal vs Dion vs Layton vs May. Ok... Block Quebecois is there too... but... really.
To be honest, I have never voted before. It has been my dirty secret for far too long. So I am very happy this time around Im making the effort for my family, and for my country, and to take pride in all that we take for granted. My grandfather will be rolling over in his grave if he knew who I was voting for.
But he would just tap me on the back and tell me to vote who I feel would do the best job.
To bed... HAPPY VOTING DAY CANADA!!!!
