Aaaaannnnndddd, We're Off!

We left in the late afternoon on Thursday and even though we chose the "freeway" option on our GPS, we traveled 3+ hours of back roads into North Carolina. (We really need to update our GPS maps!) However, the drive was GORGEOUS!!  After all the recent storms which tore through the area, everything seemed brighter and cleaner, the sky bluer and the grass greener.  This only served to intensify my excitement as we drove along singing Caedmon's Call songs as loud as we could!

Abby was barely able to contain herself. She asked us every 20 minutes if we were at the hotel yet.  She called it our apartment and day-dreamed aloud about the layout of the room (and all the snacks we would eat in the room) for nearly 3 hours!

Caed was asleep within 10 minutes of the drive. :)

Once we arrived, Abby settled in quickly with all her animals. She, first, made a bed for them and put them all to sleep. Then she found a place for her suitcase and set out her nightgown and slippers next to the bed. Next, she assigned sleeping places for each of us.  I love how every little detail of the room was exciting to her. From the sliding bathroom door to the glow-in-the-dark light switches...it pleased her very much!

Caed seemed really nervous about the change. I can't blame him. He slept for nearly 3 hours in the car and then awoke to a long hallway with carpeting that makes my  head spin! However, once I gave him a few of his "shoo shoo's", "neigh" (horse) and "ooo! ooo!" (monkey), he began to feel right at home.  So much at home, in fact, that he used the phone while we weren't looking.  As in the story of  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, I think he called Australia. :) We'll wait to see our bill.

Getting the kidlets to bed was no small feat.  I must have answered 500 questions and sang Jesus Loves Me 15 times before they finally dropped off to sleep.

At 6:30 bright and early, Caedmon giggled, popped up from the bed and gave us his best Rooster sound!  Can't help but laugh waking up to that! You can take the boy out of the country, but can't take the country out of the boy!

Abby awoke with "Boy! That was a short night!", and was changing into outfit #1 before 7.

I love experiencing the hotel with the kids. It's all so new and adventurous.  The continental breakfast was merely doughnuts, fruit, yogurt and juice...but Abby thought we were eating breakfast with the Royal family. I'm pretty sure she is convinced this is our castle!

Even Daddy's printer was a source of entertainment. As he printed up 20 copies of the paper he is to present today, both kids sat across from it and watched with great anticipation as each page came out!  It's the small things in life...

And by the way, Dear Hubby's presentation on the Problem of Evil (yeah...he's a philosophy guy) turned out to be a wonderful experience for him!  He even had some guys take him to lunch to discuss some further opportunities! My man amazes me!!