Gatlinburg 09

God willing, today we are driving home from Gatlinburg. (I'm writing this post from home before we leave for our trip and scheduling it for the Friday we come home.)

I'm sure by this point in our trip I can't wait to get home:) even though I'm sure I've enjoyed myself. I bet I can't wait to sleep in my own bed and can't wait to post all the pictures I've taken. But before we left a lot of planning went into making our drive fun and manageable....... (let's pray it worked:)I know this picture looks like a dollar store exploded on our table. :) Basically it did. I've been collecting dollar toys, activities, crafts, books and coloring books secretly for our girls for a few months now. We have a 10 + hour drive to reach our destination. 10 hours ......6 people ..... one mini van:). I thought putting some effort and money into our road time would be worth it.

Here's what I did... As I said I collected dollar items for several months from Walmart, Target and Micheal's. (Michael's has awesome dollar stuff!!!) 15 different things for each of my girls (yes that makes 60 things!!!!). I kept it all a secret so they will be surprised with what they get. Then I bought small packs of snacks. (These are big treats for our girls because I normally don't buy these kind of snacks.)
My plan is to give them each an activity, coloring book, book, or toy with a snack each hour. (Well almost each hour,I have 7 gifts and snacks for each way and 1 to begin the trip with.) I organized it by placing an item in a grocery bag for each girl and a snack and then I labeled the bag with the #'s 1-7. I did this for the way there and the way back. Then I placed all those bags in a grocery bag. The green and red bags on our table are full of plastic bags that are labeled and filled with the items.

Each girl has a small lap desk (we already had these) that they can use to color or do activities on. I have the ones on the table ready to give them before we leave. I also have extra snacks and some juice I plan to pack in a cooler. I'm praying this helps to keep the complaining, fighting and crying to a minimum.But I know that kids are kids and I don't expect a perfect ride:). Lot's of praying before and during should help too.

To keep it organized I am bringing a tote bag (that we already have) for each girl to fill with the items they will be getting. I'm also going to reward the children who keeps their areas clean with some candy. I will give them a bag for garbage and expect them to put garbage in there and their items in the tote when not using it:). For myself, I am going to put the bag for the ride home in our stow and go in the floor until I need it.

Some other fun ideas I got from friends...like interviewing my kids, playing the license plate game, singing songs and listening to stories on tape. I have 5 books on tape I got from the library, kids CD's we already owned and I made some games from a website called...momsminivan.com. The Bingo game above is from there. You can print it out for free, place it in a ziplock bag and use dry erase markers to check off the items you find, then erase it and use it again. I plan to give lollipops to the winner of the games.

I'm sooo excited right now to leave on our trip....since I haven't left yet:)! This is the nicest and furthest vacation Eric and I have ever taken our girls on. We are sooo thankful to be able to do this trip!

Here's a pic of where we are staying.
It's in the Smokey Mountains! See why I'm sooo excited. Can't wait to share how our trip went.