Tuesday afternoon we got back to the hotel from Harry Potter world and spent some time just hanging out with my parents watching them pack and get ready for an early departure tomorrow.
We had dinner in the food court for the last time, spent some time in the gift shop, and then went to bed early around 8:30.
We met my parents early the next morning to have breakfast in the food court to use our last quick service credits.
My parents had their flight to catch and were using Magic Express again ( I don't think I talked about that before... if you stay onsite the Magic Express buses come to the airport to pick you up and even get your luggage for you from the baggage claim so all you have to do is check in at the magic express area. They deliver it to your room for you a few hours after your arrival. Then on your way home they take your luggage from you and check it in for you as well so you don't have to worry about it. This is all free.)
I like to pack the car when we have so much stuff so Doug stayed with the girls while I packed up and took load after load out to the car. It took forever.
As soon as I was finished Abi and I left Doug and Maddy to go use the rest of our snack credits. We had about 12 left on our card that we didn't want to waste so we went into the food court and stocked up on milk for Maddy, rice kispie Mickey Mouse heads, and a snack for the road.
Abi had brought along her big glowing balloon because we didn't want to bring it home. She was pretty sad when we told her we weren't going to be taking it and , in retrospect, we probably could have made it work but this was a big balloon.
She had decided to give it to another little girl. She found one and gave it to her but the mom made her give it back. So, when we were in the food court she found two women with two little girls and asked them if she could give their girls the balloon. They had just arrived and were thrilled. It was really nice to watch Abi do something like that and see how it made the other children feel. We had a really nice conversation afterward about how doing things for others makes you feel good too.
Then we filled up our soda mugs and traded her last pin with a lady at the front desk for a Minnie 'nerd' pin.
It was time to go.
We were happy to be going home but it really was so sad to drive under that big sign on the way out.
Each girl got their snack: Maddy had a rice krispie treat....
Abi had some Chip and Dale pretzels...
We rarely stopped on the ride. We were trying to make up time spent at the hotel by getting to Atlanta as fast as we could so we could spend some more time with my cousin Lora.
The girls were great and played nicely, napped, and snacked.
Abi recieved a Georgia line prize
We stopped at a Steak and Shake for lunch because one of Doug's friends had told him that it was the greatest place in the world. We kept seeing them so we thought we would try it out....
We were not impressed. It was pretty funny.
The day took a turn for the crazy as we approached Atlanta. We were pretty close to Lora's house and we kept seeing signs warning of ice. Then we began to see wrecks and cars off the road everywhere. We had slowed way down and then hit the traffic which was basically bumper to bumper... everyone going slow to avoid dying and avoiding the accidents that were all over the place. It took us over 3 hours to go the last 20 miles to her house.
We were texting back and forth so she could keep track of where we were and make sure we were still safe.
I have never seen so many accidents and cars off the road in my life.
Finally we got to a point when the traffic let up and we arrived at our exit. There weren't many cars on the smaller road to her house but there were cars pulled off everywhere. In one spot I counted 11 cars. It was really scary and crazy.
We finally go to their house around ten. The girls were asleep but woke up going into the house so we let them play for a little while and we talked to Lora and Jeff. Finally we got the girls to bed.
Doug woke me up at 6am saying that it was much warmer outside and he felt safe leaving so I got up to get everyone ready. We left by about 6:45am.
We accidentally left Maddy's Hello Kitty doll there but Lora was wonderful and mailed it to us a week later. Thanks Lora!
We got McDonalds for breakfast and ate in the car. This would be our pattern for the day. We only left the car for the occasional bathroom stop. We wanted to get past this crazy weather and get home!
As we drove through Tennessee we saw the waterfalls were gone. This is how they looked this time...
We also saw a semi truck that had completely taken out the side of the road barrier keeping you from going over the cliff. It looked like he had driven up on it and rode it for a few hundred yards. It was a crazy accident.
Maddy has a little milk beard...
We ate lunch in the car as well and kept the girls occupied on this long drive with music, their toys, and playing games on Doug's phone...
Abi got her last prize in Indiana- mermaid stickers. She was asleep for Illinois and Wisconsin so I saved those for another time!
It was cold along the way but the weather stayed good for the rest of the trip and then started snowing harder when we got home.
It was so great to be home and the girls had fun playing for a little while before bed.
Next up: some fun extras and final thoughts
5 comments:
So glad you made it safely home. Your kids look like they actually enjoyed the ride home. What's your secret?!?
You didn't like Steak-N-Shake? I suppose it's one of those things where when you grew up with it and have fond memories of spending time there, then you think it's one of the best places that ever existed. Growing up in Indiana where their company is based, I guess I'm one of those people who regard Steak-N-Shake highly and have such meaningful memories there. Many late nights with giggling friends.... Those shoe-string fries and chocolate shake could cheer me up any day:)
I'm sure most people have similar places deep in their hearts. However, if others went there based on "the best place ever" referral, then they'd probably not think it nearly as great as the referrer. I know I've been on the other end many times and leave thinking why does this person think this dump is fabulous....I just don't get it...LOL.
Jen- I think the girls just have road tripper blood in them because of me! :) Abi has always been good in the car. She surprised my parents on a road trip when she was two because she would be all hyper and crazy outside of the car and we'd get her in the car seat and she'd quiet down and play nicely for hours.
Madeline doesn't enjoy it as much but she still does really well.
You know there might be a difference between the Indiana and the deep south Steak and shakes... you never know. It wasn't that it was bad but the waiter was weird and it wasn't very clean. Maybe we'll have to give it another chance someday.
So glad you guys made it to Lora's safely...and then home! It is so scary driving in weather like that and having the roads so dangerous!
As I have said before...Thanks for the memories! This was an awesome trip and one I am so glad we did together!!
Something so sad about those last few moments of vacation. It is always good to get back to your own bed and life, but those carefree days of vacation are the BEST! It looks like you made enough memories to last a lifetime though. I am seriously wanting to go to Disneyworld, RIGHT NOW. Thanks for virtually taking us all along.
Oh, and I don't get Steak and Shake either. It was one of the first places we went when we moved here after hearing rave reviews, and to me it was just a burger and fries...not terrible, but nothing special. My kids like the car lunch trays and shakes though so we have gone a couple times.
Oh, and what do you think about White Castle? Another one that was hyped up and we think it is disgusting! I like Culver's though and that is the one I had never heard of, so go figure?
Julie- White Castle = blech!
I think Culver's is okay but we've only been once and I wasn't blown away. I think we'll try it again sometime.
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