Photo Every Hour: December 21st

7:00 Yes, it's the week before Christmas and yes, my boys are watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving". There are worse problems to have, right?

8:00 Darrell is home since we're starting our Christmas travels today, which means I can enjoy my shower without having to worry about what kind of shenanigans the boys are getting into (or without getting up at the crack of dawn to take it before Darrell leaves for work)

9:00 I swear, we're only going to be gone for six days #travelingwithkids #minivanforthewin

10:00 After a quick stop to pick up a few last Christmas presents, we're on the road. And two of the three promptly fell asleep

11:00 First pit stop of the day

12:00 Look at these fun travel conditions! We had originally planned to leave Sioux Falls around this time, but the weather changed our plans. Thankfully we didn't need nearly as much extra time as we gave ourselves, but better safe than sorry

1:00 Lunch stop (we may or may not know all the restaurants with play places between here and Minneapolis)

2:00 On the road again (and yes, we did spend an hour at McDonalds to let the boys play at stretch their legs)

3:00 Ah, Minneapolis. Thanks for the traffic so we could be sure to slow down and really enjoy our drive through you #not

4:00 At my aunt and uncle's house just outside of Minneapolis. I'm pretty sure William looks forward to going to their house only for the train set, but whatever. It got him excited to get on the road this morning (so excited, in fact, that he wanted us to take two cars so that he didn't have to "waste" time stopping at the toy store) and it made him listen really well whenever it was time to leave our stops (although we did have to convince him to stop in the first place--he kept insisting that we didn't need lunch or didn't need to use the potty because we just needed to get to Tom and Rose's house).

5:00 William may get excited to go to Tom and Rose's for the trains, but I get excited for the food. Rose always spoils us with an extravagant meal whenever we are there (and this is the Rose of the famous sticky rolls, so you know the food is always top-notch)

6:00 Too busy stuffing my face with food to remember to take a picture #sorrynotsorry

7:00 The aftermath #stuffed

8:00 Of course, there's always room for an ice pop

9:00 Bedtime for my boys--and apparently bedtime for these big kids as well. So technically, Tom and Rose are my great aunt and uncle. And these are their grandchildren, which makes them I have no idea what to me. They're family, which is all that matters. Family that I am so grateful to have in my (and my boys') life--I remember when all these kids were born, and now they are in middle school and high school and get to play with my boys like I used to play with them--when they aren't sleeping or on their phones, of course!

10:00 A full day of travel tomorrow to get to Atlanta requires prep the night before, especially when our flight is over lunch time!

11:00 Time for us to head to bed (although I'm certain we don't look as cute sleeping as Connor does!)