Do ALL THOSE children belong to YOU?

3 tanks of gas:  $300.00

6 meals at fast food restaurants:  $180.00

800 diet cokes:  $800.00

500 snacks:  $500.00

Detour into New Orleans:  $50.00 and one more hour in the car

30 + hours in Big Red with 6 children:  -$600.00 (Factoring in future trips to the therapist)

12 movies (including multiple playings of RV):  $240.00

A drive through Louisiana:  -$20,000 (factoring in future health related costs and years lost on our lives)

Being asked at a service station on the Louisiana/Texas line "Do ALL THOSE children belong to YOU?":  Priceless

We asked ourselves as we buckled up in Atlanta if this was a good idea and despite our better judgment, hit the road for Texas.  Alabama made us again question whether this road trip was the right move but we kept on truckin.  Once we hit Mississippi we were too far in and turning around was not an option, but it was only lunch time and Texas seemed a short distance away.  Louisiana hit us like a brick wall and we spent most of the six hours crossing Louisiana reviewing the Louisiana Purchase and drafting a letter to congress to reverse the whole thing.  "Don't Breathe In"  was our mantra as we passed refinery after refinery spitting who knows what into the air.  As we neared the end of Louisiana we tried to stop multiple places for a "snack",  Big Boob (Grand Tete), Whiskey Bay, and Rosy Butt, where we finally made our last stop.  We went into the bathroom and the girls flushed every toilet before they figured out that yellow is just the color of the water there.  We needed Grandma Nelson with us to approve bathrooms along the way!

Texas was a breath of fresh air-at least the refineries had pretty lights and we couldn't see the nasty exhaust because of the dark.  We were excited to see Nana and Papa, Uncle Mike and Aunt Gretchen and of course excited to reunite the six chicks!  The Not So Silent but deadly foursome (Jack, Stephen, Sam and Wally) mixed it up too.  Thanks to the cousins for sharing your house, your toys, and your beds.  We can't wait to see you again soon!  Some of our favorite things from the weekend were:

• Maddie's Baptism

• Abby's excellent lay up and Mike's eerily calm coaching!
• Rip stick lessons-without the need for medical attention even
• Jumping on the trampoline
• Jack's directions in the car- if only we all could hold on to the excitement to discover new places!

• Sam's reintroduction every time he came into a room-"Hey it's me Sam.  I just turned four!"
  

• Cousin sleep overs!

• The carrot race- Ava jack and sam raced to finish their "retchables" at lunch on Sunday.  They all came out winners- each getting a popscicle for their efforts.  Bribing your children to eat your vegetables with negative nutrition items- the mark of great parents!