Road to Hana: Perfect (almost)

We took the kids on an 11-hour day trip to Hana yesterday in the car. John and Katie were awesome! Katie and I got car sick in the last hour of the trip, but all-in-all, this day trip was better than anyone could have asked for.

John watched movies, listened to an ipod(which he can say perfectly), played leapsters, and loved to get out of the car and 'hike'. Katie watched a movie on the ipod, and the DVD player, and loved to talk with the adults in the car.

I can't beleive we actually made it all the way to the Seven pools. We had plans to turn around when we thought everyone had enough. We got up at 5:30 a.m. and started with Starbucks and the grocery store. we packed sandwiches for lunch and got "halfway to Hana" by 11:15. Steve, SeAnna, and Bill decided to park on the side of the road and take a 45 minute hike, while the kids and I STAYED IN THE CAR. We played, sang songs, and John pretended to be the "driver" and everyone seemed fine to be left in the car!

John and Katie slept for an hour after lunch. Katie was excited because she has a girl named "hana" in her class this year. She kept asking if we were 'there' yet. She liked the "rain forest" and John was happy to "ride in Uncle's van". I am still in shock that the trip went so well.

There were two moments that seemed like "here we go" moments, but they worked themselves out. They both centered around the DVD player getting stuck and Daddy having to save the day. John kept saying "John's turn" and seemed like it might turn into a meltdown, but Uncle Steve discovered that saying "uh-oh" is fun and joined in. After that, all was well and we made it to swim in the pools past Hana... then we had to make the 3 hour drive home! Katie and I got sick on the side of the road -- but we were both in better spirits once we felt better! :)