This week we spent traveling up two-thirds of the state of California. We drove over 500 miles each way to spend time with Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and my aunt. We also stopped in beautiful Lompoc, CA (it was approximately half-way and they had an Embassy Suites), and Monterey before heading to our final destination in beautiful Santa Cruz, CA – my hometown.

We thought this trip would be great. We were really looking forward to a road trip with the babies. Our first vacation with our little ones would be so much fun, right? Well, no. Not really. I mean, we did have a very nice time visiting with family and friends. But rest and relaxation were definitely not on the agenda. Why? Well, we learned that chasing two 17-month-olds in unfamiliar, un-baby-proofed hotel rooms and childhood homes is frickin’ exhausting!

At no point did we ever feel relaxed. No, instead we chased TheMonk and Swee’Pea around trying to prevent injury and death. The sad part is we didn’t really achieve that goal either. Especially with TheMonk. The poor guy certainly ended the week a little worse for wear but should recover in time to wreak havoc on us this weekend. Here is a summary of the injuries.

TheMonk
1) Large scrape on back from falling against the door hinge at the Embassy Suites.
2) Small pinch mark on right side from squirming when being buckled into his stroller – the buckle got him good.
3) Stomach ailment from eating garlic fries for the first time.
4) Fat lip from pushing his new toy that Grandmother gave him around on the slick linoleum floor resulting in the toy flipping up into his face and cutting his bottom lip on his tooth.
5) Bumps on the back of his head from slipping on the same linoleum floor (think patches of ice, indoors).
6) Big bruise on this forehead from tripping on the carpet and flying head first into the corner of two walls.

Bri
No injuries to report – unless you count the eczema that has suddenly appeared on her little face.

There’s no truth to the rumor that Swee’Pea contributed to these injuries.