a long car trip

Well, we're about to embark on a very long car trip once again. This time, we have a nice comfortable car to bring with us. We are bringing our dog with us too.

I find that a car trip can either be very expensive, or rather cheap. For instance, on our last trip, the drive to Quebec was very expensive, we had loads of unnecessary snacks, and frivolous items, but we were all in very sad moods and I was fine with doing whatever was necessary to help perk the kids up. We did not take our dog, (we were going to a funeral, and staying at a hotel) so we had to pay for boarding. The trip home though, that was very cheap, because we took a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter and that was a our meal for the way home.

Obviously we want to try to be somewhere in the middle. There are a few small indulgences we only allow the kids to have when we go on trips. It makes the car trips special for them, and I know they will remember them always because of the little things. For instance, I do NOT allow the kids to have sugary cereals at home, they are quite content with their little wheat squares, and they know to not even ask. But on trips.. that's a different story! I buy one box of the grossest, most sugar laden cereal out there (this time it's chocolate Lucky Charms) and measure it out into snack size bags. The kids absolutely love it, and feel like they're being spoiled.. all for about $4.00.

My hubby and I also buy cola for long car trips, the caffeine and sugar fix can really pull you through some long boring stretches! But we never buy it for around the house.

For entertainment, we do have a portable dvd player. We use it around the house as well so it has proven to be a great investment. Yesterday I bought them a new video from our local discount store, for about $3.50. Usually I make up little kits with new coloring books, and crayons, but this time I've decided we have enough crayons and such so we'll be printing off coloring and activity pages from their favorite tv show website (perfectly legal.. don't worry!) and assembling a little binder each.

I am hoping for a great trip, and am happy that it hasn't cost much at all. The gas is actually being taken care of for us this time, and we're staying with family the whole time...

Bon voyage a nous!