The Griswolds have arrived

The Griswolds have arrived. After two days driving across the South we have finally made it to Alabama. Lynley is ecstatic to be back in the South and, while I believe it is beautiful, I still can't help feeling a little bit like Uncle Daddy. The trip was relatively uneventful. I am happy to say that over the last few months Ainsley has apparently outgrown her habit of the constant jabbering. None the less, she has very definitely grown into the constant questioning. "Are we there yet?" "Are we in Alabama?" "Are we going to see Mimi and Papa?" "Can I have another piece of candy?" "Are we going to the hotel?" "Are we going swimming?" I know, I know. It doesn't seem that bad does it? Well, let me add this twist. It doesn't matter whether you answer her or not. She will continue asking the same question over and over again.. It takes asking a question atleast 20 times to get her to change to a new question. It is completely and utterly odd. As experienced as I am as a loving and caring father it is extremely hard not to get out the duct tape, turn around, and apply liberally.

We brought Lynley's fancy new car. The kids had unlimited movies and music complete with their own headsets. This left Lynley and I to work on important stuff. We decided to take our financial counselor with us. I had secretly purchased David Ramsey's Total Money Makeover and had stored it on my iPhone. I had used the rest of the duct tape to tape Lynley down so she had to listen to it. It was the perfect scenario. Wife listenung to information on spending less money and kids happily watching a movie in the back seat. Well, I was foiled. Every odd minute Lynley complained that Dave Ramsey was too negative and every even minute Ainsley would ask if we were going to a hotel. The best use of the duct tape would have been to tape socks to my ears. Regardless of these obstacles, I kept my cheery attitude amidst all of the misbehavior and whining from my eldest and youngest females. Graham, Sydney, and I travelled just fine and have a new found appreciation for never using credit cards.

Last night left us in Little Rock. Lynley had found a hotel with a heated indoor swimming pool. While I would have enjoyed it more had it not been the host hotel for the Arkansas State PeeWee All Star Championship, the kids seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. I mistakenly decided to sleep on the pullout couch bed and Sydney on the floor. (Nobody wanted to sleep with Ainsley - where spinning like a top and a slap in the face or elbow square between the shoulders is guaranteed every 10 minutes or so.) Next time we will throw Ainsley on the couch and sleep together on her bed. None the less after another 5 or 6 uneventful hours the next morning on the road we made it safely to Alabama.

We are happy to be here. A little wiser but mostly just needing a good night's rest.

Purpose has arrived.