I thought I might start this blog just in case we decide to take a trip this summer.   There are a lot of 'what ifs' that will determine if we will be able to actually take a trip.

We decided to take Neil across Florida to see Monster Jam! and also see some of my relatives that live over that way.   It shouldn't be a big deal, we took them to the OBX this summer and that was like 10 hours and they were like 6 months younger.




We had gotten in Jess' parents' car and headed up 75 and were ready to pull off on to 31 I think.  We had planned for both boys to sleep during the three hour or so ride.  Yes three...Jess thought it was "like two."  The problem with this plan was that Malcolm had just woken up from a two and a half hour nap.  As we pull off 75 and on to the other road Malcolm gets more fussy.  He's already pissed that he is on the seat because he wants to crawl around.  He's cranking out and we get to the light.  He stops crying and I turn to Jess and say, "WTF? Do we have the only child who doesn't like a moving car?"  With that the light turns green, we start moving, he starts crying and it starts raining. I turn to Jess and say, "Maybe a big giant fist can come out of the air and punch me in the balls too."  She says that that can be arranged.

Out of nowhere, Neil starts yelling, as only a three year old can when being woken from a deep sleep by the shrill cry of his 8 month old brother "I have to pee, I have to pee, I have to pee."

Not in the nuts, but pretty close.

I cut across a bunch of traffic, his desperation is getting louder and he's getting more upset and I get him out, shorts down and we're peeing.  He's peeing, I'm not.  I get him back in the car and explain that we have a long ride and he should try to go back to sleep.  Through his sleepy eyes, he smiles and says, "Ok, Daddy."

We get moving again and Malcolm starts crying.  This goes on and off for at least 40 minutes, with Neil getting pissed off and saying, "Tell Malcolm to stop that!"  Yeah, good luck with that.  And for the record, you're three, you can't be that fed up with your little brother yet.

So, Europe with a three and a half year old and a 15 month old...not a problem, right?  Not with these two…




I mean, look at these two - so well behaved, they play nice together, and most of all, they're absolutely adorable.


Oh wait, I forgot about the jealousy….






Yes, clearly this is going to be a good idea.