Day 1

First day. I have been dreading this day! Another vacation with kids makes me think back to last year. I really hope that it would be better. Anyway I did not get started packing until late this morning. I let Mari have my suitcase earlier this week when she started packing. She started off with two small suitcases. I decided to let her have mine since she would be able pack everything. I told her that I would just borrow one from my dad or get one from Wal-Mart. So, about 10am this morning I started pulling out clothes that I would need on the trip and laying them out on the bed. Then I got distracted and started cleaning a little. Then worked finding some more clothes. Finally about 12:30 I decided I need to go do some errands. Went to the bank for money for the trip. Then went to TrueValue to get a couple of keys made of the house for dad so he could check on the house. Then USCellular for new phone battery. Then finally to WalMart. Did not find any suitcases I liked so headed over to parents house to borrow dads and to drop of the keys.

After quick stop at parents got home about 2pm to find everyone waiting on me. So, I finished packing. Since I had most of my stuff laid out it only took about 15 minutes to finalize everything. This surprised Mari. Mari had the explorer packed but my stuff. She is pretty excited to get on the road. Took the dogs out one last time. Then hit the road.

Mari talked my youngest brother in staying at our house to house sit and manage the zoo (2 beagles and 3 cats). On the road. Hope all goes well with him and the dogs and cats and the house is still standing when we get back.

Stopped McDonald's in Bethany, MO for lupper (lunch and supper). Started getting a little sleepy about 8 mile north of the Kearney exit. Stopped and let Mari finish driving. Boy I like GPS. Took us straight to the hotel. Made it to the Econolodge next to the airport about 6:30pm. Got two rooms. Mari and I have one and Carolyn (Mari's mom), David and Marissa in the other. Got settled in and decided to find some ice cream for dessert/snack. Found a Wendy's nearby. Marissa already being her grouchy self. She just had to stop at a gas station to buy some minutes for her mobile phone. She just has to talk to Jessie her boy friend. She got whinny because she could not get her phone to take the code for the minutes she just bought. David helped her out. Just a sarcastic thanks. Made it back to our separate rooms. Thank you. Well tomorrow we have to be up by 3:30am to get a ride on the shuttle to airport. We fly out to Kansas City to Atlanta at 5:30. Then on to San Juan. We will stay in San Juan Saturday and board the boat on Sunday.