Road Trip!!

So every good Warrior Poet needs an induction into the Road Trip experience...especially if he is to be prepared for college. So that's what we did - hit the open road, with one destination in mind and open eyes to rest of our discoveries as they come.

I know what you're thinking: "Road Trips must have a soundtrack!" Of course. I explained and they loved the concept. Here's the playlist we wailed out to:

1. Jump Around (House of Pain) - this was our "Primary" (played everytime you get back in the car...or need a charge up.)
2. Walk This Way (Run DMC) - Taatjes asked for this to be elected, so we made this "Secondary".
3. Mrs. Robinson (Simon & Garfunkel), Free Fallin' (Tom Petty) - yes, I taught them to sing it Jerry McGuire style, Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler), Rock Me Gently (Ron Dante), & Jesus is Alright (DC Talk remake).

• Wisconsin - a totally different state. This seemed huge. :)

• Where else, but to the cheese mecca - the Mars Cheese Castle. All the best Wisconsin has to offer. Super fresh. Few things make me more proud than my sons' penchant for free samples...every last one. Even fewer things are funnier than a 4 year old boy telling the worker, "this one tastes aged." on a 5 yr old cheddar. The hype was probably bigger than reality, but it's all in how you sell it. They're pretty sure it was the coolest place ever.

• We asked people at the Cheese Castle something else fun to do...and they said they Jelly Belly Tour. "To the car, gentlemen." (I had heard about this and that it wasn't actually that fun, but we were here and Road Trips don't discriminate.) Turns out you could put a kid in a jail cell and as long as you talk about, show them, and give them jelly beans - it's the best place ever. I almost fell asleep as they drove us around the warehouse (yeah) and we watched videos on how they made them, but they end it with your own bag of free samples - so awesome. We then hit up the store and challenged each other to guess flavors (all free samples). booger, ear wax, and pencil shavings were the favorites. Everything is harder now that Trey can read - never thought I'd be barking at my son "stop reading".

• Pouring rain - Michelle probably would have thought to bring an umbrella on a day that called for all rain. Nothing the football hold, dragging, and yelling about being melting jelly beans can't solve. Teague also points out to me that "Mom puts on my puffy coat because it has a hood."
• While I'm on the topic: Michelle also reminds me about bringing diapers - that probably would have pre-empted a 6/7 hour road trip without a new diaper for Teague. No issues occurred, but I did make the note about 5 hours in. (Have I ever told you about the hiking incident and large leaves....another time.)
• Last stop - a quick 2 lane change to get off an exit (safely) after we see a whole yard of military helicopters. Turns out it's a military museum - jeeps, hummers, tanks, helis, planes. Does it get any more Warrior than this? Hilarious to watch and "older" gentleman try to explain advanced military concepts, when they just want to tell him about their friend, Aidan's dad going back to fight the bad guys (in iraq).

What a great day! Best road trip ever - no one got pulled over, no break downs, plenty of adventure, great soundtrack, great wingmen, full bags of jelly beans. We ended with a stop at the hobby shop in preparation for thursday's endeavor.

Lamenting that it's already Tuesday. Have I said what an incredible life I have?!