I headed to California a couple weeks ago, just myself and the boys. My husband’s work schedule didn’t allow for the time off and we had a family event to attend so I decided to be brave and go! I must say it was a lot of pre planning on my end to ensure the actual 5-hour drive there wouldn’t be a complete failure.
I made sure to pack snacks for both boys, extra water to fill sippy cups and even purchased two iPad holders for the back seats for some on the road entertainment. I purchased the Ipad holders on Amazon, and they were actually rather inexpensive for the convenience and saved me from some possible on the road melt downs.
If you guys haven’t taken advantage of Netflix’s download and watch on the go feature you are missing out! I made sure to down load some of their favorites before hitting the road and it was a huge relief. Jude was such a huge help being the extra pair of hands I needed. It was really neat to see him take such good care of his little brother. It’s moments like these that moms live for!
I will suggest a couple things, just in case you ever find yourself on a long road trip with your kids:
- Carry the snacks up front with you for easy access- Since Eli is too young to properly eat a snack out of a baggie I brought along a snack cup to fill as needed.
- reusable water bottles
- trash bags
- wipes
- chargers for devices
- Plan fun pit stops
I can’t imagine having gone on this trip with out making some stops on the way. We decided to stop in Palm Springs on our way home from California. The boys loved getting off and walking around the Dino Park located just outside of Palm Springs. We got to capture some pretty neat photos and step into this really neat Dino land.
I drove into Palm Springs for a lunch break and some shopping before hitting the road for the final stretch home. If you’ve never been to Palm Springs I highly suggest eating at Blaze Pizza located in downtown Palm Springs.
It is near a lot of local shopping and other attractions, I wish we had the chance to spend the day there! I found some great deal at the West Elm adjacent to Blaze Pizza. Before taking off we were able to enjoy yummy ice cream and have our last “potty break” before hitting the road back home.
This plan worked out perfectly, the boys were tired enough to nap more than half the way home which left me at peace while making our way back to AZ.
Although we missed Israel and wished he had been with us to share these memories, I loved making these memories with my boys! This trip was so different than our previous trips. I made the plans, I drove the whole time and I cared for my babies with no breaks. As tiring as it sounds it was an amazing adventure I am sure I will never forget.
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