Stop the Car I Want to Get Out!

So Saturday my husband and I decided to take a road trip to do some Christmas shopping.

I know, I know. You're all saying, : What the hell were you thinking?" Obviously I wasn't or I never would have agreed to get in the car with him.

But in my own defense we were going to Cabelas and I love this store. The closest one is about 3 hours away and we have been there before so I figured he remembered how to get there. Right?

WRONG!!! Men never remember these things.

We get up early (and I mean really early) and just as we are ready to walk out the door, my husband says, "You did print off directions on how to get there didn't you?"

This should have been my first clue that things were not going to go smoothly but I ignored my inner voice and answered, "No, you didn't ask me to. Do you really need them?"

Hubby: "Probably, I'm not sure I remember how to get there. Print them just in case. "

So good little wife that I am, I did and off we went.

All was well for the first 2 hours of the trip because he knew where he was going. It wasn't until we had to take the exit to go to toward Cabelas that we started to have trouble. I started to read the directions to him but he had seen a billboard that said Take exit 207. SO, as far as he was concerned, that's all we had to do. No need for any directions, just look for exit 207. Where ever the hell that might be.

I then tried to tell him we had to take 35E S for a short jaunt but he strongly argued that we never got off 694.

I said, "the directions say we have to....."

Hubby, " I don't care what the directions say, we stay on 694 all the way."

Me: "Why do you have me print these directions if you aren't going to follow them?"

Hubby: "In case I don't know where I'm going, but I know what I'm doing now."

Me: "OK then. I'll just sit here and not say a word, but if you get lost don't blame me." All the while I am thinking Never again am I reading directions to this man. He can map it out for himself before he leaves.

Of course I was right and we did have to take 35E S for a short period of time but he wouldn't admit a thing.

We finally get to Cabelas, do our shopping ( we did our part that day to stimulate the economy) and the last thing I did before we checked out???

I picked up a Garmin GPS system, tossed it in the cart and said, " Merry Christmas, Honey!"

Let someone else be his guide from now on. He can't argue with a machine or can he???

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

Wow the past five days have been intense with travel, family, food and fun!

Wednesday we packed up the vehicle in the early am and headed out of town for Iowa and Nebraska to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my children. We arrived at my daughters about 5:00 pm, quickly unpacked and called my other daughter to make plans for supper.
It was then off to the Spaghetti Works for supper with the grand kids and to catch up with all their news. When we got back to Tuta's her other house guests were there and we all settled in for the night.

Thursday morning after everyone was up and had breakfast, we started the Thanksgiving dinner preparations. This was my daughters first time hosting the holiday so she was a little excited and had some questions but over all she had most things under control. Carrin and the kids came over about 11:30 and we started putting things together. Once the food flowed everyone dug in and and ate til they couldn't move. Then the pies came out and we ate some more.

Friday,we met my sisters and niece for some after Thanksgiving shopping. We had to pick up stuff for the big Family Thanksgiving we were having on Saturday. Yup that's right, we were doing this all over again on Saturday. Later, we all went out to Mom and Dad's for supper and to hang out. The decibel level in the house is probably well over the legal level when we all get together but we have a great time. There were adults, kids and dogs running around all over the house. The only one not having a good time was Thomas, the cat who was banished to the basement during all this.

Saturday morning we got up and carted the stuff for our big meal to our church. We decided to have it here for two reasons, it was bigger, they had all the stuff we needed to prepare it and we were having a surprise open house for my dad's 80th birthday and this was a great place to have it. It is really fun to work together with family when we do something like this. Everyone is doing what needs to be done and having a good time dong it. It all came together like a well oiled machine. Everyone had way more than enough to eat and then we had lots of time until the open hose so we stalled a little doing dishes, then had pie, then stalled a little more and then finally people started coming. We had put together some pictures from over the years and everyone had a great time and many laughs looking at them and asking: "who is this?"

Sunday morning it was crawl out of bed at the crack of dawn and hit the road for the long trip back home. It takes about 7 1/2 hours not including the stops for gas and meals. We ran into a little snow through all three states (IA, MN, and WI) but the roads were pretty good so travel wasn't bad.

Once we got home we had to go to our grand daughter's birthday party, so it wasn't until after 7:00 pm last night before we finally got the chance to sit down and relax. Toady it's back to work and back to normal. Thank goodness for that. It's nice to visit but nicer to come home.

Over the River and Thru the Fields

To our Daughter's house we go....
The car knows the way
to carry our stuff,
Thru the white and drifted snow OH NO!
Over the river and thru the fields
Oh how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
as over the highway we go.

Over the river and through the fields
to have a first rate day;
Oh hear the sound,
of joy abound,
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!
Over the river and thru the fields,
speed fast my car of gray!
Spring over the ground,
like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

A new twist on an old song I used to sing as a child. Since I am going to Nebraska for Thanksgiving this year for the first time I thought it appropriate that I have a song for the road trip.

We leave tomorrow and will be traveling over 500 miles or approximately 8 hours. We are leaving about 8:oo am and should get to our destination about 5:00 pm. ( potty calls and gas stops included) I usually read or watch a movie while my husband does the driving (he is such a wonderful man). We stop only for gas and to grab a quick bite to eat and then we are back on the road. This is one trip where we don't end up arguing but only because George knows where he is going and doesn't need me to give him directions. Thank God for this because it's one trip we actually enjoy taking together.

Hope every one has a Happy Thanksgiving and I'll see you when I get back! For now I better get packing or I won't be on the road to my daughter's house.