The road trip.

I love road trips but I hate the hours leading up to departure. I like to leave the house clean, the dishes done and the bed made (hopefully with clean sheets). Add this to getting the kids packed, the dog packed, and me packed and of course there's the last load of clothes that need to be put in the dryer then folded. On top of that, there's this deadline we put on ourselves which no matter how on top of it I think I am, we are always an hour past that magical time. Then as my husband is loading the car (which I feel like I will need to repack because I KNOW I can get another cubic yard for the dog who is now resigned to the very back of the car without access to the window) we will have to wrangle the cats who will be determined to hide inside when we want them outside or vice versa. The babies will poop. The dog will be excited and jumping all over everyone because she knows SOMETHING is going on and if she's lucky, she will be a participant. It just stresses me out. Then the miracle happens, we are loaded in the car, doors are shut, engine is running and we pull out of the driveway after doing the last minute gear check - babies, dog, cell phone, hubbies cell phone, ipod with updated podcasts and playlists, chargers for everything, advil, cheerios, lights off, air up, doors locked...CHECK!! Suddenly, the stress is gone. We are on the road. The world is ahead of us. We are happy. Hmmm.... French fries anyone?