Teaching and Learning Moments

The night before leaving on our big trip, I could hardly sleep. We have all been really looking forward to this trip as a family. Our "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" Odyssey was beginning in Hingham the following day with TWO train rides (Hingham to South Station then South Station to Chicago). I tossed and turned with excitement about our adventures. As a parent, I am always looking for "teaching moments" and I knew there would be plenty--history, geography, importance of being patient. What I didn't know is that they would begin the following morning with Michael "teaching" Emma how to make flatuent noises with her hand and her armpit! Which she was happy to demonstrate for most of the morning! Not exactly what I had in mind. . .

Train trip pictures:






And so here we are, in the midwest two days and nine states later. We rode in trains for over 24 hours, sat in Train Stations for a few more hours. Drove in a car through beautiful Illinois and Wisconsin counties for another 4 hours and here are a few of the things we've learned so far:

- Microwave train food really isn't all that bad.
- Children can truly sleep just about anywhere at any time.
- GPS is not always the most reliable method to get you from point A to B in the shortest amount of time/distance.
- On a related note, Chicago has a LOT of different neighborhoods.
- Teaching manners to your kids truly pays off in dividends!
- Asking for restaurant suggestions from a local (and a stranger) will often yield the best meal of the trip.
- Never underestimate the power of car games (license plate states, the alphabet game, car bingo).
- iPods rock!
- It's never a mistake to check in on old friends, even if it's just for a few hours.
- Hotels with swimming pools are not a luxury, but a necessity.
- Time alone (even if it's for 15 minutes) makes for a happier Mom.

Today we visited with our friends the Doyles (Michael's old Navy buddy) in Wisconsin and the girls played with their little girl. So precious!



We are off tomorrow for a quick trip to Green Bay for Michael to pay homage to Lambert Field, and then off to Minnesota to visit with our dearly missed friends the Malloys. This part of our trip is a complete and total surprise to the girls on both the Tolley and Malloy end. Should be an incredible reunion! Personally, I can't wait!