On the road again...

Because we didn't drive enough in the last few weeks we decided to hop in the car for one last road trip to NY! The kids and I wanted to go visit my big brother & his family who live just outside of NYC. Visiting them would complete the "cousin" cycle! Plus-we needed a little break from our little apartment in the "no kid" zone of DC. So the plan was hatched and we decided that we would travel on Sunday after church because not many people would be traveling that day!! (Hind sight...traveling on Sunday...not a good thing!)

So after church the kids and I piled into the car loaded up our suitcases again and off we went for our 4.5 hour drive! Everything was going great. We crossed over this amazing bridge called the Delaware Memorial Bridge going from Delaware into New Jersey. We traveled on the New Jersey Turnpike, passed Newark Airport, and finally we arrived at NYC. It was dark by the time we made it and I was surprised to look out into the skyline and see the Empire State Bldg and the Chrysler Bldg! I was also excited to cross the George Washington Bridge until...red brake lights in front of me. I basically drove right into a parking lot. I have never in my life been in such a crazy mass of cars going everywhere and anywhere driven by a bunch of crazies. This is the only time that I have felt like I was from Idaho. This is also the only time that I have been soooo tempted to scream out obscenities at other drivers! (hand gestures were also a temptation!) It was the most stressful, frustrating, spit out my window in disgust two hours of my life! In fact the up coming birth of my 4th baby will be more enjoyable!!

But...we finally made it at 11pm Sunday night! And all the traffic mess was well worth it! We had a great time with the Dan Feldman cousins!

• We swam in their neighbors pool for hours!
• Aunt Jenn introduced us to Silly Bands!
• We went to the beach and found lots of hermit crabs, built a sand castle, and swam in the ocean!
• The kids enjoyed sleeping in the attic with all the cousins.
• We (the kids) jumped on their trampoline for hours.

We had a blast! It was a great little trip for us! Thanks to Aunt Jenn for housing us, feeding us, and entertaining us for a few days! The "cherry on top" came when I made it home in 5 hours, paid $15 less in tolls, and crossed the Tappan Zee bridge instead of the GWB! My driving experience was a night and day experience! Coming home was a breath of fresh air! My going there was my worst nightmare! In fact I am just going to list a few things that I have learned from my experience!

1. Traveling thru NYC on a Sunday evening is pure insanity. I was told after my journey by a local New Yorker that Sunday is the WORST day to travel on! I will remember that for the future!

2. Now that I have driven in NYC in traffic I can do anything! In fact driving in DC is a piece of cake! I am not sure why I was so worried about it!

3. New Yorkers don't believe in blinkers, waiting in line, or following the basic rules of driving! I attempted to be courteous and was burned when my blinker was ignored by everyone!! And I believe that there were 50 cars that cut in line right in front of me when I was right at the exit. I guess they were too important to wait in line huh???

4. I need an EZ Pass! The cash lanes are horrific! I haven't spent that much cash in years!

5. I loath the GWB!

So I know this is a long post but I hope you have felt my pain and experienced my joys from our little road trip to NY!

Finding familiar in an UN-familiar place

Well we knew eventually that our road trip would end! And it did on July 7th. We arrived in D.C. and it was good to finally get to our destination. Since May 25th we have been on a dot to dot across the USA. Visiting friends and relatives along the way. We really had a blast and were surprised that it was a really amazing trip. The kids had so much fun visiting with Grandparents and cousins and getting to see where Dad grew up!

Now we are settled in temporary housing until we make our final move into our home for the next 2 years. We currently are residing in downtown D.C. right between DuPont Circle and George Washington University. It really is an amazing feeling being here. We drive across the Arlington Memorial Bridge quite a lot and we see the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Memorial everyday. We have yet to ride the Metro but I am sure that will be in the near future!

Today (or I guess yesterday since I am writing this at 5am...couldn't sleep so why not blog!) was a big day for everyone. Shane started work and I navigated my way around the D.C. area in the car! Driving here is a bit scary! We have a GPS system (a must) but sometimes the roads are tricky and so many stinkin' round-abouts with multiple lanes, lights, exits, etc. that finding a place can take quite a few "recalculating" responses from the sweet lady on my GPS!

So the kids and I set out to find a grocery/general merchandise store...kinda like the Super Wal-Mart that is just down the road from where we used to live in WA. Well no Super Wal-Mart in the D.C. area (thanks to Kiki for checking for me) but I did find a Target that had a Fresh Market! So off we went!

I think I navigated the streets pretty well. Recalculated a few times but I was always redirected and eventually I saw that familiar red TARGET sign! As I walked in with my 3 kids and a big huge belly I felt like I could really pull this off! Hey if I can find Target I can do anything right!?

As I walked the aisles of Target I got this overwhelming feeling of security and peace! I was home! It was amazing! I loved every minute there and relished in the joys of feeling like I belonged...well kinda. Me and my 3 kids & 1 on the way stick out just a bit. "which one of these is not like the other...) I have a blinking arrow pointing right at me!

So whenever I get homesick I know I can walk the aisles of Target and find peace! I may need to go weekly...daily...multiple times...until I get the swing of east coast livin'!

Tomorrows agenda...take 3 kids to a lap pool in the building while everyone else is hard at work! I am pretty sure they are the only kids here! (I am also pretty sure that this pool is not intended to entertain 3 water lovin' kids but...)

So wish us luck on our next adventure!