Ten Degrees of Road Trips...

There are many reasons why I love myself a good road trip.   I sort of feel like it isn't even necessary to delve into this... but this is a blog after all, so delving is what I do.  Thus... I present to you, the ten tops of a Southern Utah road trip.  

Road trips make me realize that I should totally be a yogi.  I mean, I can lock my thighs around the head rest of the passenger seat in the car while I do the downward dog to the back seat to hand deliver juice and snacks to whiny passengers all while remaining somewhat zen just to turn around and repeat about two dozen times.

Road trips make me so so grateful for awesome places to get away on the cheap.  Thanks to my Mom and Dad for letting us set up camp in the desert at their beautiful new home.  It was so comfortable and convenient and hello... Pool, Park, Popsicles.  Need I say more?

 Ahhh... a New Friend...

And I quote... "Oh Yord, I can't get the hose, Mom!"

Thank you, Mater, from Pixar's Cars.  We have a new favorite saying around here...

Road trips clearly illustrate that I should probably be on Dual Survivor with Cody Lundeen because, I mean, I can jimmy rig a portable DVD player to the baby back pack for comfy movie viewing for all aaannnnd make a handy cooler out of a couple of frozen steaks, my cosmetics bag and a Ziplock.  Don't ask.

Road trips make me love my gypsy husband who feels most alive exploring new things even if the newness is only through the eyes of the little folks in our entourage.  They are little traveling soldiers thanks to their darling daddy-o and his burning need to shake up the day-to-day.  And, like their Daddy-o they've each started to demonstrate their own little traveling OCD tendencies.  That's a whole other post for another day.  :)

Road trips almost always present the opportunity for swimming.  And swimming almost always presents the opportunity for post swimming naps.  There is simply no better variety of sleep.

Road trips to "Grandma's cactus house" create one of life's most natural seasonal makeovers....   Hair that is two shades lighter from the bleaching rays of the desert sun and skin that is two shades darker with a touch of pink.  And let's be honest... everyone looks better with a little tan. 

Every time we go to St. George on a road trip someone sees Jesus.  True story.  Last time it was Dax Man that spotted him in the gas station (ok, ok, a Jesus look alike) and this time it was Kaelster who saw the Christus at the Temple Visitor's Center and waved like his life depended on it as he burst out, "BYE, Jesus!  See Ya Later!  I yike your car!"  Maybe my motley crew feels closest to the Man Upstairs down in red rock country?  And FYI, Jesus drive an orange Charger.  Cool.

Road trips to St. George will now ALWAYS involve a trip to Swig.  I swear, I didn't know about all the hype this little gem was creating... but call me a doubter no more, friends.  The dirty Dr. Pepper is a serious treat.  That is all.

Road trips make me realize that I want a million more kids and no more all at once. My babies shriek with delight at all the things that new vistas bring to them like presents on Christmas morning.  They are happy together... dancing and laughing and telling stories about their silliest of all antics.  And of course, there are moments of the other extreme - the kind that sleep deprivation and exhaustion bring on... but who wants to talk about those?  "Me neither."  OK, then... moving on.

Road trips make coming home sweet.  As if you've gotten a new set of eyes and the way you look at this place that you spend your days and nights changes... it's almost like looking at the world through rose colored specs... 

All thanks to a little thing known as, (hands over your hearts) "A Road trip."