Road Trip 2007
Quick Photo Links
Langhorne Marriot
Sesame Place
Durham Bulls Game
NC Museum of Life and Science
Garrett & Hope wedding
Itinerary
Sunday June 24 : Depart Weymouth at 2pm.
Katie managed to nap 1 hour of this leg of our journey. Sydney & Mary were wonderfully behaved and excited about our trip.
Mommy filled a large bin full of travel entertainment and stowed it between their 2 seats - it kept them very busy.
Arrived at Marriot Residence Inn in Langhorne, PA at 7:30pm
This hotel is only 1 year old and very clean and nice and has free wireless so the grown-ups were happy to make use of their laptops.
Some pics from around the hotel.
Monday June 25 : The day was overcast and promised rain, but it was 80+ degrees out, so what harm could a little rain do?
We arrived at Sesame Place about 15 minutes before its opening at 10am, and scored a great parking spot right next to the picnic area and entrance.
We hit the dry rides and shows. Sydneys fave was Abby Cadabbys magic show and the climbing nets. Mary loved everything and Katie loved the characters. Here are our pictures.
And since a whole day at an amusement park just isn't enough excitement, we enjoyed the hotel's indoor pool after dinner.
Tuesday June 26 : Back again to Sesame Place, but now it is jam-packed with people and about 95 degrees out!
Luckily, we planned this day for the water rides. We have no pictures because we did not want to get the camera wet or leave it in the stroller, but we had loads of fun!
Both days we packed a picnic lunch and ate at the picnic area which worked out well for us.
Katie and I caught the Big Bird Beach show while Bill & the older girls hit the lazy river. Katie loves Big Bird and ran right up to the stage when kids were invited to get up and dance!
Wednesday June 27 : 8 hours in the car, 3 children under 5, 0 moments of sleep
Despite the fact, that these kids refuse to sleep in the car, they were very well behaved and the trip went smoothly.
We checked into the Durham Marriot Residence Inn only to realize that we had actually stayed there before with Storm on a road trip to Virginia Beach.
We made the mistake of trying to go out to a sit-down dinner at Maggiano's only to have all the kids break down on us. We fled the restaurant(after having mushroom raviolis, of course) and obtained some awesome ice cream which soothed all tempers.
Bill went out to greet the bride and groom in their new home after we got the kids all setlled in.
Thursday June 28 : The 90+ weather still holds, so we enjoy a refreshing morning in the pool.
I even manage to squeeze in a workout in a closet sized room with 3 machines.
To make up the dinner fiasco to the kids, I promise them fast food and a playground.
I track down the McDonalds website which has all the locations listed complete with playground info.
So, we drive across town to the nearest McDonalds with a playground - only it doesn't have a playground.
We eat in disappointment and I promise to find a playground somewhere.
After lunch, Bill heads out for the wedding rehearsal and the girls and I spend some quiet time at the hotel.
We meet Bill and the Loves and Hyneses for a Durham Bulls minor league baseball game!
We only managed a couple pictures there.
The girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we had a nice relaxing evening with Hope and Garrett and their parents.
Friday June 29 : We visited the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science
Which, among other things, houses an Insectarium and a Butterfly House.
We absolutely loved this place! Sydney wanted to move all her friends and relatives down to NC to be near this museum.
Here are our pictures from the museum.
Bill headed out to the welcome reception at Garrett and Hope's house to be followed by the bachelor party.
The girls and I had a pajama party complete with painting our nails in preparation for the wedding.
Saturday June 30 : I take the girls out to Waffle House for breakfast to allow Bill to get some rest.
On the way, I notice that the local Chick-Fil-A has a playground, small, but it counts - yay - we can go tomorrow!
Bill heads out to the wedding site with Garrett and we girls lunch and get ourselves ready.
The day is beautiful, again 90+ and we make it to the wedding with about 15 minutes to spare, even after a 10 minute unsuccessful search for Mary's other sandal which some little nameless one has swiped and dropped somewhere in the hotel suite.
The wedding was awesome! We had such a great time. Here are some pictures, but we were having too much fun to take many.
It did rain, but well into the reception with plenty of time for people to seek cover. Though, some (namely 3 little Clogstons and a Cosmo)) chose to revel in it. A total stranger told me that I was a cool Mom for allowing them to have their fun, which I countered, -how could I not?-
Sunday July 1 : We meet the families for a lovely brunch courtesy of the Hynes family.
We spend some time in the pool and relax. then, we head to Chick-Fil-A for dinner - as promised to the girls.
Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays so that ll employees can spend time with their families.
The quest for a playground ensues. We turn to the South Point Mall (which houses the Maggianos - recent scene of much strife).
We finally hit pay dirt with a great sports-themed indoor playground which is totally mobbed with tons of over the you-must-be-smaller-than-this limit kids. The girls loved it. And that, is what it's all about.
We met at the Love nest for a wonderful BBQ hosted by the Love family (Garrett's parents). Great food and company as usual.
Monday July 2 : One long day of travel.
We left Durham about 10:30am and arrived in Weymouth just before midnight.
The girls were all wonderful - they must be getting used to the road trip mentality. And we must give high props to the Virginia welcome rest area which has a children's playground - great place to stop for a picnic lunch.
We give ourselves high props for timing the trip just right to avoid rush hour at all major cities (engineers!). We absolutely cruised through NYC.
Our only bone of contention is CT which was our problem on the way down as well. CT - please, please widen your roads (but not while we are traveling on them!)
Wonder of wonders, the girls did sleep on this leg, but only after we cleared stop and go road construction in New Haven around 9:30pm.
FYI (and maybe this is too much sharing) but we had only one throw-up incident this trip and it was exactly where Sydney threw-up when we were returning from Sesame Place 3 years ago, so maybe NY and CT need to smooth out their border!.