Poor kids. We spent Halloween traveling to Portland, Oregon, so Kyle had to Trick-or-treat on the road. We stopped at the mall in Boise, Idaho for Kyle and Eli to get the wiggles out and get some free candy. When we got to the mall, Kyle was eating his favorite treat, cherry tomatoes. It was quite a sight to see all the kids with their orgy of candy, and Kyle with his veggies.
Tag: Camper Van
Moab 2002
Almost one week ago we went to meet Dave’s brother and his wife in Moab, UT. We were all the way to Spanish Fork (about forty minutes south from where we are staying), when from no where, three projectile vomit shots came from Eli’s little mouth. “Dave you need to stop the van. Dave, no really you need to pull over.” I said as I sat paralyzed by the sight of my son and his stuffed moose covered in puke. “Dave, you need to find a place to stop.” “Why?” “Eli is covered in vomit.” I didn’t move except to hold Kyle’s hand. We both sat stunned and watched. “Eli is frowing up Mommy.”
Dave pulled into a gas station, we stripped Eli in the cold night air, and got everything cleaned up. “If he does this again, we are going back.” I said as Dave headed south.
And so our trip began.
We reached the Lazy Lizard, the local youth hostel around 10:30PM to meet Denny and Jacqui. We camped amongst the cabins. It was so warm in the van that I opted not to turn the heat on. Yes, this is foreshadowing… During the night, I was so cold that I couldn’t reach for my sweater. I was so cold that I couldn’t even manage to move my arm to turn on the pre-set heater that was inches closer than my sweater for fear that I might lose my only warm spot. I was so cold I couldn’t move. The boys were bundled well, but getting cold too. Finally about 6:00 A.M. I said, “Dave you need to come down here now. Bring your sleeping bag.” So four across we slept and eventually warmed up.
Jacqui wanted to stay in a hotel the following night. The Lazy Lizard wasn’t quite how they remembered so as Dave and Denny geared up for their bike ride we found a hotel. The boys and I took Dave and Denny to the Porcupine Rim Trail. “Dave, it’s hot, bring lots of water. Dave, remember those guys who died doing the Porcupine Rim Trail. Bring your head lamp. Dave, you need to drink more. Here are some Power Bars. Do you have your cell phone? Do you have your GPS? How long will the ride take? When should I send the search party? I love you.” Dave listened and amused my worry. We hugged and they were off.
Dave met me at the laundry mat several hours later. They were ok and had a great ride. Kyle had been entertaining himself with all the video games. It’s pretty cool when your kids don’t realize that you need to put money in the machines to make them work. Back at the hotel Kyle was a little off. He kept moaning, “Mommy, Mommy Mommmy.” I knew we should head to the bathroom. We almost made it. After throwing up he perked right up. We hesitated, but Dave really wanted to go out to dinner with Denny and Jacqui so we were off. We were barely out of the car at the restaurant when Kyle started screaming again. Dave held him in place so he could throw up in one place. (Sorry if these details are too gross and/or tedious. Parenting you know.) Dave was starving and Kyle seemed ok so after much debate we went into the restaurant. After several false alarms (Kyle was getting the idea, you say that you have to throw up and Daddy will take you outside to play) we had a real one and Kyle and I went to the car. Not five minutes later Dave and Eli came to the car. “You wouldn’t believe what happened. We were just sitting there, Eli looked at me and threw up all over.” We had pushed our limits and it was now time to leave. Kyle continued to throw up through the night. We were so glad that we were at a hotel. We could just go to the front desk all night and ask for more sheets and towels.
It was all worth it: The next day we still managed to take our all terrain double stroller up the mile and a half, 1500 (approx.) vertical feet climb up to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. We would have never made it without Jacqui and Denny’s help. Everyone who past us on the way up commented on how crazy we were. Everyone who past us on the way down said they couldn’t believe we made it up. I thought we were crazy too until I turned the corner and saw the literally breathtaking view.
Although Energy was low, Jacqui came sick with a cold and Eli with a bug which transferred amongst us through the week we really did have a wonderful time. There is nothing like Southern Utah.
Utah: We are Here!
Hello everyone. We arrived in Utah on Oct 3rd (2002). We have been off the internet for days. (It seems like months.) We are posting this entry via a dial-up connection. We are missing our cable modem. Spoiled we have been. [2015 Beth: If only 2002 Beth knew how spoiled we would all become.]
Day One
Our trip across the country was everything we thought it would be and of course much much more. We left Northern Virginia about 3:30 PM on September 26. We decided to take the Mid states route and with John Denver playing in the background we headed towards West Virginia. (No, not really. Playing John Denver just created a nice visual: “West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley.”).
Our first night was spent alongside a row of trucks at and obscure way-side rest of sorts. Dave decided to park away from the big trucks so we wouldn’t be run over during the night. Due to hurricane Lili blowing up from Alabama and the buckets of rain pooring down on us we decided not to pop the camper, so Dave and I got the kids settled. Eli slept in his car seat and Kyle slept next to us on the bottom bed, (smaller than a double larger than a twin). And eventually Eli joined the three of us.
A few hours later we were awoken by bright lights and the noise of unloading, and lots of forwards and reverses from the trucks outside our windows. The kids were asleep, I pretended not to notice and Dave anxiously anticipated the departure of these trucks. You see earlier, when we were on the road, I made it known that I was happy to sleep in the camper, but that I wanted to be in a nice quiet camp site or rest stop. Because West Virginia does not allow overnight parking at their rest-stops and because Dave and I could not keep our eyes open any longer, we ended up here amongst the forlorn trucks who had to do the same.
Shortly after the trucks had finished their job, about 6:30AM I was awoken by my cute Kyle.
“Mommy, it’s light. We don’t have to sleep. Let’s get some breaks fass.”
As I tried to get a grip, Dave took Kyle for a walk. Directly outside our van, I mean directly two feet, (if that), from our van was parked, was a portion of a very mangled semi. Next to that mangled portion there was more and on it went. Across the way, next to the towing company’s building were rows and rows of plastic wrap, huge plastic wrap, the wrap salvaged from the semi. Unknown to us was that we were parked in a towing lot. What they were doing during the night was towing the many parts of the wrecked semi we drove past on our way to our over night stay.
Dave came back to the van to get ready and I took Kyle over to the local eatery across the dirt parking area. As Kyle and I were walking a way a man from the towing yard came toward the van. He stopped Dave. Dave told me that the man wanted to kindly let him know that where we were parked had made it a bit difficult for them to do there work during the night.
After some good down home West Virginia pancakes, eggs and I think Dave had sausage, we were on the road again.
The boys were great through all of this. Eli slept like a dream in his seat even though his teething eventually woke him up. Kyle kept us going with his bright vivacious personality.
I will continue our tail soon.
Face Plants
Two weeks ago we took the kids to feed the ducks at Lake Anne. Lake Anne is set around a 1970’s planned community. Consequently there are lots of heavy geometric cement seventies art and architecture. Kyle was fascinated with the fountains and sculptures and wanted to climb on everything. So he did. He climbed to the top and shouted, “Mommy, I am on top of the world. I am on top of the world.”
As the night was winding down we passed the “on top of the world” sculpture. Kyle wanted to climb again. Dave had him, I had Eli. After a few minutes of climbing, I said, “Let’s go,” and Kyle headed down my side of the sculpture. Kyle was coming fast and I couldn’t reach him so I said, “be careful.” As the words came out of my mouth Kyle was pivoting and pivoted himself off of the sculpture. I helplessly watched him fall and “smack.” It was so loud. Kyle landed on his face. There was lots of blood, loose and chipped teeth. He kept saying, “Mommy I need you.”
A frantic ride to the ER, including lots of blood and screaming, some lost car keys, and a pair of irrational parents set the situation up right for a direct entry to see the Dr. (no wait in the ER waiting room). Kyle was ok. The Dr. said landing on his face was a good thing. His face acted as a crumple zone. Just a “head injury” they said. “what?” That’s what they called it. In essence he had a concussion and a very swollen and banged up mouth.
Fast Forward.
This past weekend: Wolf Gap Camping Ground on the border of Virginia and West Virginia. Dusk. First night as a family sleeping in the Eurovan.
After four face plants, more blood, and many tears we had to enforce the time-out ultimatum. “Kyle walk, don’t run. If you run, you will have to go to time out in the stroller. Yes, strapped into the stroller.” He persisted so we reminded him about the hospital. He was with his friends, Quinn and Max. Nothing could stop him. Thankfully, we all survived. What to do with our exuberant little two year old boy?
How to Pack?
We have less than three weeks until we hit the road. Less than three weeks until we are out of our house. We have been packing and packing and then I look around the house and it seems as if nothing has changed. What have we packed? How are we going to pack all of our stuff? How are we going to fit everything into our moving van? HELP! I am paralyzed.