Car Seats and Fishing Poles

Traveling with children.  I don't even know what to say.  If you have children, or have ever traveled with more than one for any significant length of time, I probably don't have to say anything.  If you don't have children and haven't traveled with any, then you'll probably think mine are horrible.  Don't feel bad for judging.  I did it too, before I had my own.

I have to preface this discussion by saying that we went fishing this weekend and it was fabulous.  We haven't been away in a very long time, and everybody genuinely enjoyed themselves.  As much fun as we all had though, we still had four kids with us and the trip was not without its, uh...quirks.  The first night in the hotel, which sported two full size beds for 6 people, everybody screamed simultaneously for an hour and a half.  They were mad that they couldn't sleep in a specific spot, that we wanted them to sleep at all, that the TV was on, that the TV was off,  that somebody was too close, that there wasn't enough blanket, that she touched me, that I have to pee, that I'm not in my own bed, that life isn't fair, that OH MY GOODNESS JUST BE QUIET AND GO TO SLEEP. Then, because we are insane, we woke our sleep deprived children up to go fishing early in the morning.  If you really crave disaster, do this a second night and morning, and then strap the four exhausted children in a car very close to each other for a SIX hour drive home.

Needless to say, this was horrifying.  One of these children is a nursing, teething baby, and the others take turns fighting, crying, poking, pulling, needing to pee and/or pretending to need to pee so that they can escape their car seats for one glorious moment, etc.  They really do get along well when there is adequate rest and space between them, but these were different circumstances altogether.  By the time we made it home, I was just grateful that no one had killed or permanently maimed anyone else.  We were all in tact, and the ride was finally over.  They could run, play, and have space to be kids! 

Nope.  Nope. Do you want to know what they decided to do after this colossal disaster of a car ride?  They decided to play "Going on a Trip."  No joke.  

Claire is even buckled in.  Notice anything else about this picture?  How about the fact that in spite of their close proximity to each other, they are all smiling?  They did this for about an hour and didn't fight, even a little bit.  I don't even know what to say.  This is just one of many reasons why My Awesome Kids Drive Me CRAZY.