The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Days 11-13

On August 4, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn Travel8 Comments

“Do you want to stay or leave?”

It’s a question with no right answer, but it comes up often in our marriage.

Several weeks ago, my husband and I decided to make our last overnight stop a short stay in Mississippi with his family. But our daughter’s diagnosis of hand, foot, and mouth in Colorado changed everything.

We desperately needed a day outside of the car.

But, if we stayed longer than originally planned, could we drive from Mississippi to Georgia in one day in time to make our kids’ preschool open house at 7 p.m. the next day?

This would be the challenge on the final leg of our journey.

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The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Day 10

On August 2, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn TravelLeave a comment

“It’s going to be uncomfortable.”

My husband’s pre-road trip words were more than a warning – they were an imminent truth.

And by Day 10, hand, foot, and mouth disease had led to collective sleepless malaise. We were also running out of clean clothes.

But our daughter gave us the best reason to hold on and not grow weary.

It was her second birthday.

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The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Day 9

On August 1, 2017August 2, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn Travel5 Comments

Chocolate cake for breakfast.

Is there any other way to celebrate your four-year-old’s birthday on the road?

For months, my excitement had been building for this special day. My husband and I even purchased two books a month ago and wrapped them for our little guy.

And as we stood singing “Happy Birthday” off-key at 7 a.m., I couldn’t shake a feeling.

Today will be memorable for all.

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The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Day 8

On July 30, 2017July 30, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn Travel7 Comments

We aren’t rich enough to be here.

It’s an insecurity that crept in throughout our visit to Aspen, Colorado – arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world. The Land Rovers, lavish jewelry, and perfect complexions are hard to ignore.

But there is something significant that everyone who frequents Aspen has in common. They love recreation and the natural world.

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The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Day 7

On July 29, 2017August 2, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn Travel7 Comments

“Two boys and one girl is my ideal.”

I couldn’t help but eavesdrop. You don’t see two grown men discussing fertility over dinner very often.

But such was the case last night.

Meanwhile, my husband and I were body-blocking our children from leaping to their death from the open second floor window.

Ah, dinner in Snowmass Village, Colorado.

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The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Day 6

On July 28, 2017August 2, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn Travel4 Comments

I think the greatest fear on a road trip with small children is that you will somehow scar them for life.

They’ll get abducted.

They’ll see locals smoking weed.

Or Mom and Dad will have a complete meltdown – potentially in public.

The last one, I’ll admit, is the closest to reality.

But I’m happy to report that none of the above have occurred on our cross-country road trip.

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The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Day 5

On July 27, 2017August 2, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn Travel8 Comments

“I think it’s going to rain more!”

We should have listened to our oldest backseat driver. Eerie foreshadowing.

But my husband and I wanted to execute at least one idyllic family picnic during our trek across the country. And what better spot than Rocky Mountain National Park?

Except, of course, we knew the storm was coming.

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The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Day 4

On July 26, 2017July 26, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn TravelLeave a comment

When you get married, you don’t consider all the things that can go wrong – the things that WILL go awry.

In many ways, Karen Carpenter was right: You’ve only just begun.

And little did I know that – just before our eighth anniversary – my husband would be driving me up a steep mountain road in the pouring rain with two excitable children in the backseat…thousands of miles from home.

Thanks, Expedia.

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The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Day 3

On July 25, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn Travel2 Comments

Some moments take your very breath. Most often they are unplanned.

Such was Day Three’s first adventure.

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The Great American Family Road Trip [2017]: Day 2

On July 24, 2017August 2, 2017 By Lauren FortenberryIn TravelLeave a comment

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Human beings are funny creatures. Even at 10 p.m. on vacation, I found myself running on a treadmill last night.

In my defense, we spent most of our second day on the road in the car. Again.

But in the 20 minutes I spent exercising alone, I enjoyed the kind of reflection that comes when you don’t hear a child breathing (i.e. whining) for the first time all day.

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