Our First Full Family Road Trip

The first time I was really nervous about taking a road trip was our initial family trip to Florida. Hugmonkey, you see, was all of two months old.




 Ironflower was 4 and Lovebug was not quite 3. I was still recovering from the post c-section complications I'd had, so I might not have been in the most energetic frame of mind. Also, it was the first road trip we were taking in the Kia, and much as I loved all the space we had in it, I was nervous. I didn't trust it yet.

Though I was certainly more inclined to trust it as we were able to pile in the portable crib, a vibrating bouncy seat, a triple stroller, a Barbie house, a train set, clothes for two weeks and a case of wine (what? I wasn't pregnant anymore. Actually, the wine was really for my dad, whom we were meeting in Florida).

I have to be honest; it was probably the worst road trip we ever had, as far as the being on the road part. While the Kia itself proved just as reliable and easy to drive as my old car, we had some extenuating circumstances on that particular trip down; Ironflower was sick and Lovebug was terribly unhappy. One day ended with the entire family crying as we pulled into the hotel.

But then we got to Florida.

The beach in Naples. 

And we felt better. 

I swear the whole trip was worth it just to have this picture of all three of them.

Having the Kia there meant it was easy to go to the beach, the zoo and the store with the entire family. And we didn't have to worry about rental car fees or costly gas prices. 

Ironflower fell in love with the beach.

The zoo was so much fun. 

Not the best picture of Lovebug, but I actually don't hate myself in this picture. 

We even had room for the Baby Bjorn. 

Lovebug realized that he didn't totally hate the water. 

By the time we had to head home, I was much, much calmer about the prospect of road tripping with 3 small children. I don't know if it was my calmness, the relaxing time in Florida, or the fact that Hugmonkey was just that much more able to sleep, but the trip home was much more fun. I don't remember any days that ended with all of us in tears, just fun stops in Washington, D.C. and Savannah. 

At the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. 

Ironflower still gets excited when we stop in Savannah. 

This post is sponsored by Kia.