Christmas Vacation (updated with slideshow)

We drove 16 1/2 hours to Billings (clear roads).

A day and a half later, we drove to 2 1/2 hours to Bozeman (ok roads).

That same day, we drove 3 1/2 hours back to Billings (directly following a snowstorm).

Four days later, we drove 3 1/2 hours to Great Falls (drifting snow gives the illusion of beauty and wonder. Note: illusion).

Four days after that, we drove 2 1/2 hours to Helena (ok roads).

Three days later, we drove 4 hours to Billings (ok roads).

The following day, we drove the 16 1/2 hours back to Albuquerque (roads so bad I prayed for 4 hours straight, and started hallucinating at the end).

FORTY-NINE HOURS spent driving in the vehicle. Three children, approximately 6 bags of clothes, presents, junk food and various "Why on earth did you pack that?" crap, lots of CDs, 2 little DVD player things for the kids, a fabulous new ipod tuner for the stereo (I love my husband for that) and a partridge in a pear tree. I have now listened to more NPR than I care to remember, and we almost got through "Dreams of my Father" on audio cd (thank you for letting us borrow that, Mom). The ride home, we listened to about 2 straight hours of "Honey, Honey" from Mamma Mia to pacify Claire (thank you Jeff, for the DVD, and thank YOU, Teia, for getting Claire hooked).

In between driving, praying, bribing the children with promise of "We'll stop in at the next exit" only to see if they (or their bladders) can wait another 40 minutes, and trying to keep each other from falling asleep behind the wheel, we visited with family, and had a lovely time.

As you can see, I'm full of thanks for the fact we made it through and to those who made it possible (those aforementioned but mostly God). Hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and are having a fabulous new year. Yea for '09!