Emilee – Page 8 – Terry Family Shenanigans

Spring Break 2019

Spring Break was a week earlier than usual this year, and with as much time off in February as we had by the time it came to Spring Break I felt like we had already been having a Spring Break.

Ryan and I talked about doing something further away like maybe Chicago or Gulf Shores. Neither of us got around to planning it though and we had asked our friends the McDonald’s to do something with us. By the time we did get around to planning it we decided to do a long weekend in St Louis with the McDonald’s and spend the rest of the week at home.

Monday was my catch up day. I told the kids that I was going to be checking as much off my to do list as I could then we would have more Spring Break like activities the rest of the week. Monday was actually the first sunny day with temperatures in the 40’s instead of teens so it felt wonderful to be outside. I ‘made’ the kids go to the park for 30 minutes at least. Three hours later I had to drag them home with sun burned faces. After a quick refueling they were back outside playing baseball and riding bikes, playing tag, roller skating, digging in the dirt, and having a great time being outside. It definitely gave us all Spring fever. It was just a teaser though because the rest of the week was cold windy and rainy.

Tuesday was cold and rainy so we decided to go swimming at the Olathe Community Center with the rest of the people in Olathe. Despite the large crowd the kids still had fun. Emilee in particular can’t wait until it is swimming weather again.

Allison picked our activity on Wednesday. A few weeks earlier she had gone to the Johnson County Museum with her girl scout troop. She loved the kids area and has been begging to go back again. We invited our cousins to go with us. The boys stayed behind to play some video games and the girls came with us. They played at the museum until we were all hungry and then we went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. We topped the day off with a sleepover.

Johnson County Museum
‘modern art’ toys
Spinning chairs at the museum.

Thursday we played around the house and packed up to get ready to go on our weekend getaway. Friday morning we followed the McDonald’s to St Louis and spent the weekend there. We stopped for lunch and then went to The Arch. We had all seen it before but we had never been in it, or seen the museum with it. It was cool to see the view from the arch. The tiny round 5 person pod that takes you 600+ feet into the air was a little claustrophobic but bearable. After the arch we checked into our hotel and then went to Dave-N-Busters for dinner and to play in the arcade for the evening. Matthew figured out the timing on one of the ticket winning machines so he scored a bunch of tickets for everyone. It almost took longer for then to ‘shop’ with their tickets than it did to play the games. It was a fun night.

Then next morning after breakfast at the hotel (one of the kids favorite things about staying in a hotel) we went to the City Museum. It is an incredible place. It is an old ten story building that they have converted into a giant play area. We went a few years ago and it was a little nerve racking trying to keep track of the kids. They can crawl in a hole and come out in a completely different room. It is almost impossible to keep track of them. They are older now so I was a little less worried. We set a meeting spot and split up to explore. There is caves, and a catacomb area with a ten story slide. There are basically just mazes and places to crawl around all over. There is an outside portion the has tunnels and paths leading all around that is literally attached to the side of the building so you are hanging in the air. Everything is made with recycled material too. It is hard to explain but it is a pretty amazing place. We spent most of the day there exploring. When we were worn out, we ate lunch and then stopped at a well known ice cream place that I can not for the life of me remember the name of now. It was yummy though. We were meeting our long time friends the Schellman’s that night so we had about an hour to kill before we were supposed to meet them. We all decided to stop at the park and play because the weather was pretty nice. After dinner and visiting with the Schellman’s for a few hours we met back up with the McDonald’s at the hotel and the kids all swam for a few hours. The second best part about staying in a hotel. Sunday morning we went to church with the Schellman’s and then drove home. It was a fun weekend. It was nice to get out of town for a few days and enjoy some fun time with family and friends.

Fortune cookie at dinner on Spring Break
We went to St Louis with the McDonald’s
Top of the St Louis Arch
Entrance to the pod that takes you to the top of the arch.
The McDonald Pod
The Terry Pod
Riding up to the top of the arch in our five man pod.
looking out the tiny windows
Top of the Arch
Top of the Arch
View from the top of the Arch
Top of the Arch 2019
Lined up against the outside of the Arch
City Museum in St Louis
Allison crawling through a tube above me.
Emilee peaking out a castle window.

Mystery Lunch with the Girl Scouts

Emilee and Allison both went to the red carpet mystery lunch that another Girl Scout Troop put on. Neither of them had been before so they didn’t quite understand what it was. They are given a menu with items to order in four separate courses. Each course has three choices from the menu but you can only pick each one once. After a course was finished they took your plate away so that you didn’t have anything to start the next course. The entire meal was macaroni noodles with spaghetti sauce, meatballs, and Parmesan cheese, lemonade, a bread stick, salad with ranch, and a Ding Dong for dessert. Emilee was not amused when they brought her the first course she had ordered. It was a knife, fork and meatballs. She lightened up and enjoyed it when her next course included a Hostess Ding Dong. Allison and her troop were swapping and trading their food so they could all get a good course. One of her courses was ranch, Parmesan cheese and a fork. After they finished eating they let all the girls walk the read carpet in the fancy dresses or whatever they wore and get pictures taken. Emilee was mortified, Allison ate it up. Overall it was a fun activity.

Girls Scout Mystery Meal
Mystery meal red carpet walk
Mystery Meal Red Carpet
Mystery Meal Red Carpet

Bye Bye February

Its already mid March but I wanted to bid a formal farewell to February. I’m glad it’s over, good riddance. For being the shortest month of the year, February sure felt LONG. At least the last half of the month did. This winter has had a lot more snow then usual. I think it is safe to say we are past the snow part but I’ll ‘knock on wood’ as I type this. Usually we have 2-3 snow days each winter, this year we had seven, five of those were in February.🤦‍♀️😒 February is also ‘famous’ around here for having the most days off of school. So just for fun lets do a little math. There were twenty possible days to attend school this month. Twenty minus five snow days, one holiday, and three scheduled days off of school, takes it down to 11 days of school. Mingled among those 11 days of school, each of the kids was sick for 2-3 days at different times. This added five doctor visits to our month. Adding in the regular stuff we have going on and my work schedule that I over booked this month and I felt a little more stressed and discombobulated than I usually do.

It isn’t that I don’t like the kids being home, it was nice to have snow days and a little break from the school schedule but it is hard to keep a some what constructive environment going when it is repeatedly being canceled, postponed, and rescheduled. It felt like a constant state of unknown plans which drives me crazy. I also feel like the older I get the more I notice that I start to get a little stir crazy and have the winter blues by the time February comes around. I’m just ready for some sunshine, foliage, and fresh air. The kids show signs of needing to get out and stretch their legs and burn off energy too.

Dad is just going about his business while Emilee dresses him up.
I love pictures like this
Awards from Grandpa Jones
Mrs. Pahl’s student of the month
Emilee named our snow man- Mrs Snowman because it is a girl.
Emilee wanted to make a giant snow man on our 7th snow day.
We smoked the escape room with 20 minutes to spare.
Allison’s sleep over with Hailey

Winter Festivities

This year our resident NFL team did really well. They ended up making it to the play-offs. They haven’t done that for 20 years or something like that. I don’t remember they exact statistic. This year they made it to the play-offs so Ryan took Matthew and went with a friend of his from high school. They got seats for the lower bowl on the 35 yard line. It was COLD! Like low 30’s with snow and wind. They had several layers of everything plus snow pants and boots. They stayed pretty warm except for their toes, but that didn’t stop them from having a great time. The Chiefs won too! They lost the next week, but they won the game they were at which made it even more fun.

Chiefs Play Off Game!
Chiefs Play Off game with dad.
Chiefs Play Off Game 2019

The girls have been taking gymnastics for a few years. A couple months ago we switched to a new gym and they had pictures recently. So I got a cute picture of each of my gymnasts.

Allison’s gymnastic picture
Emilee’s gymnastic pictures

The high school has a Saturday cheerleader camp every couple of months. Allison and her friend Carlee like to go together and dance it up together.

Cheer Camp
Cheer Camp

This is Emilee’s second year playing basketball. She has come a long way. Last year she wouldn’t run to the other end of the court. When the ball went to the other side of the court she would sit under the basket against the wall and wait until everyone came back. This year she runs the court. If she gets tired though she comes up into the bleachers and asks Ryan and I if she can be done. Matthew works on her dribbling with her during the week and she is getting better.

Emilee having a team huddle with her basketball team ‘The Bears’
Emi playing in her basketball game.

February is always an odd month. Its short anyways and there is usually teacher conferences and President’s Day which are no school days. Then there is usually snow days. So far this month thanks to ice storms we have had FOUR snow days and its only half way through the month. Nothing makes the kids quite as excited as a surprise day off of school. We try to get in some fun activities and of course lots of playing in the snow.

Snow day facials
Matthew and Carson built a snow fort.
Emilee and Jovee built a snowman.
Allison and Leah went sledding with Ross and Lauren.
Emilee and Jovee working on their snowman.

Allison was Ms. Coovert’s class Student of the Month. She gets a special certificate and a coupon for a free ice cream at Culver’s. She was very excited and Ryan and I were very proud of her. One of her besties Hailey was PE Student of the Month with her.

Allison was the Student of the Month
Student of the Month with Hailey

More pictures from our Winter.

Allison decided to use her bean bag as her pillow.
Emilee’s 100th day of school celebration
The 6th Graders went on a ski field trip.
I thought this was a cute picture so I just stuck it in here. 🙂

Pine Wood Derby

Allison was in her second pine wood derby this year. Ryan was helping her make it and was spending time making sure the weight was good. After a while she looked at Ryan and said, “I don’t care if it is fast, I just want it to look good. I can handle it from here.” She did just that too. She painted it all white and then put yellow circles all over it and then drew different emoji faces on each circle. It was pretty stinkin’ cute. Her car wasn’t the fastest but it won the ribbon for Best In Show.

Allison’s Girl Scout Troop
Allison watching the races.

Emilee was in her first derby this year. She did a great job helping her dad form it and put the weights on. Then she painted it all by herself. She had fun watching the races with the other girls in her troop. They are all a cute little bunch.

Troop 2779

Family Jeopardy

Our Stake President spoke in church a few Sunday’s ago about different titles of the Savior and Satan. He focused mostly on the titles of Satan as an Accuser and the Savior as our Advocate. It was a really good message. Ryan and I both talked with the kids about how we should be advocates for each other in our lives, and not accusers. This has been on my mind a lot and I have been trying to catch myself when I am being an accuser and change to advocate. Not always easy.

A few days after his talk the kids went back to school from a three day weekend and I found myself looking around the house and saw mess after mess that they had been told to clean up, and other jobs they had done but not well. I started thinking about how it was time to have yet another lecture on doing what you’re asked, doing things well, blah, blah blah. As I was mulling over what to say and how to do it as an advocate not an accuser I had the thought to make a jeopardy game.

It didn’t take very long at all to get ready. It took about 20 minutes to make up categories and then five questions for each one. After dinner I set it up and we had the kids play. I was the game show host, dad was the score keeper and played the Jeopardy theme music when we needed it. The kids were a little unsure at first, but after a few questions they started to get into it. Allison was the most enthusiastic, she loved it and gave really good answers. They were so thorough we started giving her a time limit for answers. Matthew was s little bit of a stinker at first because he was having a hard time beating the girls to the buzzer but by the end they were all participating. It was a little surprising the answers they got right or wrong. I need to give Emilee a little more credit and responsibility. She is a little to good at playing the ‘I don’t know how’ or ‘I need help’ card. According to all her answers though she is quite aware of what she is supposed to do.

The final winner was Allison followed by Emilee and then Matthew. They were all on pretty even playing fields which is hard to get most of the time. Allison loved that she legitimately beat Matthew at something. She wants to play Jeopardy every week. I don’t know about every week but it is something I think we will do again on occasion. It is really easy to fit the categories to whatever we want to talk about. It was a fun family activity, we had lots of good, non-confrontational conversations, and had a few expectations clarified or explained.

For example, all of our kids are aware of what the “Golden Rule” is but a little fuzzy on its application and meaning. I remember not quite getting that when I was younger. I remember pondering it many times trying to figure out what I was missing. It might be helpful if it had a second line about treating others the way you want to be treated, regardless of how they are treating you.

Ryan and I learned we need to give the kids more credit as far as what they are capable of around the house. We also need to be more consistent in holding them accountable for what they are asked to do more and remind them less. They are good smart kids.

As a side note, to make it interesting we let the kids have a say in the prize for the winner before we played. The majority vote was for money. The winner got $5 and the other two got $1. When we gave Emilee her dollar she was a little sad. I asked her what was wrong and she said, “I don’t really like dollars, all I do is lose them.” Haha! I thought it was pretty funny. Allison can’t have more than a dollar without it burning a hole in her pocket so she wanted to go to the dollar store the next day and found many things to add to her slimes. Emilee was happy to trade her dollar for a coloring book before she lost it.

Favorite Category- I should know this by now.
Allison is the winner!
Matthew needs to review how to correctly make the ‘loser’ sign.

2018 Quotes for the Fridge.

I have a little white board on our fridge that I decided to use to put quotes on that I read or heard somewhere. Someday I will have a quote wall or something to display a bunch of them but I haven’t figured out how to do that yet so it doesn’t look sloppy and drive me crazy.

When you really want something you’ll find a way. When you don’t really want something you’ll find an excuse.

~Girl, Wash Your Face

Whatever standard you’ve set for yourself is where you’ll end up…unless you fight through your instinct and change your pattern.

~Girl, Wash Your Face

Words have power but actions shape our lives.

~Girl, Wash Your Face

When you know better you do better.

~Maya Angelou

Life is to be enjoyed not just endured.

~Gordon B. Hinckley

If thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ, then we must think Christ like thoughts.

~Ezra Taft Benson

Forget yourself and go to work.

Be grateful, humble, smart, prayerful, involved, true, positive, and still.

~Gordon B. Hinckley

Be proud of the work you do the person you are and the difference you make!

God gave the Sabbath day for man, not man for the Sabbath day.

It’s their day too.

The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God won’t help you.

Choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong.

~Thomas S. Monson

Wherever thou art, act thee thy part.

~David O. McKay

If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.

One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what someone has to say.

I am your mother, you are my child. I am your quiet place, you are my wild. I am your calm face, you are my giggle. I am your wait, you are my wiggle. I am you dinner, you are my chocolate cake. I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake. I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo. I am your good night kiss, you are my I love you.

In December we decided to change it to our scripture board and we wrote scriptures on it that we wanted to memorize as a family. For a little incentive to memorize them, we let the kids pick a small reward each time they memorized one. Matthew picked a QT icee, Allison picked staying up an extra hour after her regular bedtime one night. Emilee is still deciding. They have to have them memorized to the point that I could ask them at any time and they could rattle it off without thinking.

Alma 37:35 …yea remember my son and learn wisdom in thy youth. Yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

Alma 38:9 …there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved only in and through Christ. Behold He is the light of the world. Behold he is the word of truth and righteousness.

Merry Christmas!!

Despite the fact that time slowed down so one day felt like 10 according to my kids Christmas Day FINALLY came! We were at Grandma and Grandpa Terry’s this year with our Bourne and Terry cousins.

Christmas Eve we had a big yummy ham dinner together. Grandpa read us the Christmas story and talked to us about using our time wisely on Sundays when we get an ‘extra hour’ at home. We sang Christmas songs and then the kids bounced off the walls and played games until bedtime. Then they continued to bounce off the walls in their beds with excitement until the last of their energy wore out and they fell asleep. Leah and Allison were the last two to fall asleep. There goal was to stay up all night. They said they made it to midnight, but I checked on them at 11:30 and they were sleeping. They woke up at 5:45 but we made a rule the night before that no one could wake anyone up until 6:30. They stayed in their room like they were supposed to and argued about who was not being quiet enough just loudly enough for the people below, next to, and across the hall to hear them.🤦‍♀️ At 6:30 AM sharp all the kids magically awoke if they weren’t already and let everyone know it was time to open presents.

Santa was right on with his gifts this year. Emilee loved her doll that can ride her horse she got for her birthday. Allison got a karaoke machine that she has been using non-stop. Matthew got a new bat for next season that he is very excited to use.

We spent the rest of the day playing with new toys, eating left overs, relaxing and staying in our pajamas. It was a very nice Christmas day!

The moms always go get their toes done. Alli and Leah get to come now too. Allison has been looking forward to it since last Christmas.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Emilee and Allison loved to hold Baby Chloe.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Morning!
Allison opening her Karaoke Machine from Santa.
Matthew’s bat from Santa.
Tyler and Emilee eating Pringles and watching the cars race
Emilee’s doll from Santa
Traditional Christmas morning family selfie.

Not sure why their hats are attached to the front of the foreheads…great job on the song though.

Grandpa always has some new jokes for the Grandkids.

Christmas Activities

The past few years I have tried extra hard to make it a point to enjoy the holiday season and not get to busy with things that it rushes by and I feel stressed and frustrated instead of joyful and peaceful like you should feel at Christmas. I was able to get decorations up and most of the Christmas shopping done before we left on our cruise so that when we got back we could enjoy the rest of December and do our family Christmas traditions.

We kicked off the week after we got home by setting up the card table and pulling out a bunch of puzzles to start doing. There is something about Christmas music, lights, decorations, and cold weather that makes you want to put your slippers on and do a puzzle, or ten.

A few times before Christmas we like to drive around and look at Christmas lights. We get in our PJ’s, make some hot chocolate, bring a cozy blanket, turn on our favorite Christmas music, and go check out all the neighborhood Christmas lights. There are several neighborhoods that we know will not disappoint but we try and find new ones too. When we found the house with all the blow ups we had to get out and walk through it to appreciate the 100+ blowups in their yard, including a 25 foot penguin. I bet their neighbors just love them.

The girls are sitting on top of the van to get a better view of a light display we were watching.
I remember doing this as a little girl.

Matthew is loosing interest a little in gingerbread house decorating but the girls still love it. Sometimes we make one big one, sometimes we each make our own little one. Then as Emilee announces several times a day, “Gingerbread houses are made to be eaten.” They slowly become stripped of their candy and frosting. If there is anything left, our elf Bubbit takes them with him back to Santa on Christmas Eve to share with all the other elves.

Allison’s Gingerbread house
Emilee’s Gingerbread house
Matthew’s Gingerbread house

Bubbit is our elf that visits every year and keeps an eye on who is being naughty or nice for Santa. Every morning he is in a different spot, sometimes he is being a little mischievous or silly. Occasionally he gets into marshmallow fights with the barbies or super hero figures. The older he gets the more he likes to just hide in funny spots. We got him in 2013. At the time Allison had found a grasshopper and named it Bubbit so when our elf showed up she thought it was the perfect name for him too. Lots of people have elves. They show up around December 1st. Some ambitious elves show up on Thanksgiving. Bubbit is a special elf that helps Santa do some extra work so he usually doesn’t make it to our house until mid December. It is good to let the anticipation of his arrival peak before he comes.

My mom and dad gave us a story called ‘The Last Straw’ that was a tradition we did in my family growing up. We have an empty basket and we fill it up with straw by putting in a piece every time we do something kind for someone. Then on Christmas Eve the basket is full of straw from hopefully hundreds of small acts of kindness and love, and we have a little Baby Jesus to put in the basket.

We usually go to the church Christmas breakfast. It was a little low in attendance this year but it was still a fun time. Allison picked a spot in the very back corner for us to sit. I looked up while I was eating and could see everyone there eating and visiting and having a good time while Christmas music played softly in the back ground. It was a nice moment. We have a very nice and friendly ward. Santa came at the end and the girls gave him a high five and talked to him. Emilee wanted to do it but almost had a heart attack waiting in line as the anticipation of willingly walking up to a stranger and talking to him built up. She was with her two good friends so that helped her bravery and she did it. When they finished and she found out that you get a candy cane for talking to Santa, her bravery went through the roof and she went back all by herself.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Champion.

Matthew has been a little bit of a scrooge this year. Allison has noticed and taken it upon herself to fix his ‘not Christmasiness’ self. She brainstormed a few ideas and I carefully helped steer her towards ones that might actually have the results she wants instead of the opposite. (Running into his room every hour tonight while he was sleeping and yelling, “Matthew be more Christmasy” until he said ‘ok’ was luckily moved off the table) Instead the girls made him a giant poster that said Merry Christmas Matthew and hung it up in his room. We will see if operation ‘Make Matthew Merry’ is a success.

Operation ‘Make Matthew Merry’

Several years ago we made chocolate pretzels to hand out as a treat to out neighbors. The kids had a lot of fun doing it and it has become our traditional treat from the Terry’s that we hand out to friends and neighbors. We have stream lined it pretty good too. It used to be an all Sunday afternoon activity, but now we can make them and hand them out in the same day. It is also pretty hard to screw up which is good for me.

Making Christmas treats

The kids are leaving tomorrow to go to Grandma’s early with their cousins. Ryan has work he wants to get done before Christmas, and I want to see the church Christmas program Sunday morning before we go up. It has been a very nice December. It isn’t over yet, I know, I’m just relishing the greatness so far of this magical month.

Thanksgiving

Our November flew by in a flash! Everyone had lots of activities going on, I worked quite a bit, and Ryan was extra busy with work. I also like to get as much Christmas prep done as I can in November so when December comes we can have less to do and enjoy the season. So we got our decorations up mid December and most of the present shopping done too. The girls had a daddy daughter dance with their dad for Girl Scouts. It happened to be on the same night as Ross and Lauren’s annual Pie Night, so the girls decided to leave the dance a little early to make it to both activities. Ryan was very happy with their decision because he looks forward to Pie Night. Emilee found a cat while we were waiting at piano lessons. She coaxed it from the neighbors driveway to the one we were at and played with it. I had a spell of momentary weakness come over me that almost ended up with me bringing the cat home. I was able to talk myself down though. The kindergartners celebrated Thanks giving by having a little singing program for their parents. They all dressed up as an Indian or a Pilgrim. Then they had a feast together when they were all done. The Saturday before Thanksgiving we had a Friendsgiving with some families from Matthew’s baseball team. It was a fun night. We are very lucky to have a nice group of families on the team.

Girl Scout Fall Ball
Emilee found friend.
The kindergarten classes sang some songs and had a Thanksgiving feast.
Emilee loves holding Linnea whenever she can.
Ready for breakfast but not ready to wake up yet.
On the way to Grandma and Grandpa Jones house.
Enjoying the nice drive through a blizzard.
After driving almost 11 hours in the snow, we got stuck in our driveway. Thank goodness for neighbors with snow blowers.

My mom had a surgery on her neck the week before Thanksgiving so we went up to South Dakota to see her and my dad for Thanksgiving. It has been a while since we have been up there. I was very happy to find my mom in very good condition considering she had a major surgery one week before. She was doing so good I had to keep reminding the kids that they had to be careful with her.

Ryan and I both worked on Wednesday so we headed up on Thanksgiving Day. We decided to celebrate on Friday instead.
My mom likes to cook but couldn’t, I could cook but don’t like to so we decided to pick the favorites we wanted from a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and nix the rest of it.

My mom, always prepared (even when having a surgery), had made rolls ahead of time, and had the options of a turkey, chicken, roast or ham to choose as the main dish. My mom and I were out voted on the turkey for a ham. We added the rolls, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, a Sam’s Club pumpkin pie (the very best pumpkin pie you can get) and we had a great Thanksgiving feast on Friday. For the rest of our time in South Dakota everyone’s goal was to relax. I think we were very successful at it. We all went to the theater together and watch the new ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’ movie. The kids discovered the 1992 Mighty Ducks movie. I remember loving it when I was younger and watching it many times. We watched the original, second and third movies of that. The boys went and saw the new Harry Potter movie too. My mom and I were able to squeeze in several Christmas Hallmark movies and the adults all watched ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ which I don’t recommend. Among all the couch potatoes watching movies there were many card games of Golf, and Baloney (BS), and various board games going on as well. It was a great long weekend.

We checked the weather several times and were debating on leaving Saturday or Sunday because KC up to Omaha was supposed to get hit with a big blizzard. We decided on leaving later on Sunday when the storm was done. When we woke up Sunday the storm was much bigger and slower so it was supposed to hit in the afternoon, so we left as early as we could to get home instead of waiting. The roads were crystal clear until we got just past Omaha. Then the freeways were closed and everything else. We tried the side roads for a bit but I got tired of that quick so we went back to the freeway and we were able to get on but we drove 30-40 miles the rest of the way home. This made the last usually 2 1/2 hour long trip take more than twice as long so by the time we got home it took us almost 11 hours instead of 6. It was a long day… the kids did great and were able to hold going to the bathroom for new record times. Ryan was pretty grumpy, and I was the driver the last 8 hours so I was tired. We were both a little irritable and we learned our lesson to be better at checking the weather. We told the kids it was a good example for them as to why we don’t drive in bad weather, and it wasn’t mom and dad’s best decision.