Well...two weekends in a row the kids were loaded up in the car for a road trip. This time we went to Josh's Mom's house, which is 6 hours away!!! She was having a bike ride fund raiser for her charity Refuge International.

I didn't realize that it would make for a pretty easy trip leaving at 6:00pm. I certainly didn't intend to leave so late, but it really takes forever to get everyone going in the same direction. My Mom rode with me, and Josh went on ahead of us in his truck so he could haul the BBQ trailer up there (he was cooking for the event). As soon as we got in the car, my Mom started telling me she was hungry and wanted to stop, but I made it clear that as long as the kids were content, we were pushing forward no matter what. She pouted a little but then miraculously produced a stash of emergency bananas! :) We made it to the other side of Austin before needing to stop, and ended up having this Utopian experience at a McDonald's of all places. They had a brand new indoor playplace, and no other kids were there. Anna and Wallace ran around like banshees (Wallace carrying around a chicken nugget to nibble on the whole time). I let them run for over half an hour before we decided we better get back on the road, and then after just a little bit of crying, Wallace fell asleep for the rest of the ride. It was amazing! He's the difficult one in the car right now. I don't think it's his fault...just his age.

Stock image....No...I don't let him ride down the highway like this!

We arrived crazy late! 1:30am. The kids weren't phased though...just me. "/ The next morning we all got up and started prepping for Saturday's race! Which means Josh works very hard to get the BBQ trailer ready, Granny holds the baby, and I take a bunch of pictures :) I helped Josh out some too, when Wallace was napping.

The kids played and played and played all weekend long.

A rare moment when Wallace wasn't in lock down in the pack on my back.

Tanner was super helpful getting the meat prepped!  Kipper was a little late arriving, so Josh was really grateful for the help! — Tanner was super helpful getting the meat prepped! Kipper was a little late arriving, so Josh was really grateful for the help!

OMG!  How cute are they! It's rare to catch them all just being calm.... — OMG! How cute are they! It's rare to catch them all just being calm....

Sarah's kids are all about bunny ears and funny faces!

Anna got up there too, but geez, it's so high it scared the crap out of me!  So, it didn't last long... Oh, and it took her forever to put those gloves on all by herself. — Anna got up there too, but geez, it's so high it scared the crap out of me! So, it didn't last long... Oh, and it took her forever to put those gloves on all by herself.

So, Anna is totally in love with Kipper....this is the exact moment she caught sight of him walking up!  Haha! — So, Anna is totally in love with Kipper....this is the exact moment she caught sight of him walking up! Haha!

The next morning the riders arrived!! Let's just say...there was a LOT of spandex!

And quite a bit of standing around talking and waiting...

This man was so nice!  He rocked Meredith on the porch for the longest time.  :) — This man was so nice! He rocked Meredith on the porch for the longest time. :)

Then it was time to go to the starting line!

This guy was super focused!  I dig his helmet! — This guy was super focused! I dig his helmet!

Bike gear seems to make everyone super photogenic!

Anyway...then they were off, and it was back to chasing kids for me.

Had to get some pics of Wallace while he had a chance to get out of the pack for a little while at the farm house!  :) — Had to get some pics of Wallace while he had a chance to get out of the pack for a little while at the farm house! :)

When we got back, my buddy Jen texted to ask if I happened to have a pic of all three kids for a photo thing she's putting together for her son. *gasp!* I totally didn't! How did that happen? Meredith's been here 6 weeks! There's been plenty of time to try...

So I tried....

This is going to take some practice....   "/ — This is going to take some practice.... "/