Home sweet home!

While we always enjoy our trips away, it's always nice to be back home too. We had a great time socializing with family, Max enjoyed playing with his cousins, Daryl and his brother got to hang out a bit and my SIL and I had plenty to talk about too.

Our bus trip:
The way down to IL went well. I didnt know what to expect, but when there was a seat toward the front of the bus with a small table and three seats left, we jumped at the opportunity. It worked well, because Max could color, eat, play cars, etc. He was to short to look out the window, but we did let him stand up once in a while to look out the window to look ofr cows.

Our trip back didn't start out so well. We arrived at the drop off location about an hour earlier than suggested (which worked out well, Max got to see some trains and run off some energy). We walked over to our drop off point around 4:30 and waited, and waited and waited (in the heat, no place to sit down, in 80+ degree scorching sun). The bus was supposed to arrive at :455, at 5:20, Daryl called the Customer Service number and they told us the bus was late, and would be arriving around 5:30. 5:30, came and went, another person waiting with us, called and they said, the bus was 6 minutes away. We all know how long 6 minutes can be in traffic, but surprisingly, the bus did arrive within a short amount of time. We boarded the bus, me frantically searching for at least two seats together so one of us could sit with Max. No such luck, in my frantic state I yelled to Daryl and said, "there aren't two seats together" (there was no way, Max was sitting on a lap for 6 hours...and I did buy him a seat). Thankfully, a very nice gentleman said he would move so we could have the two seats together....THANK YOU!
After getting situated, the trip went smoothly, Max cooperated, we kept him busy with stickers, food, coloring, and looking out the window (we sat on the upper level of the double decker bus on the way back). Thankfully, Daryl got Max to fall asleep for about two hours on the way back, it was dark and late and we both knew he was exhausted...much needed rest, for all of us.

Here are our tips for riding the megabus
***Book your trip as far in advance as possible, the earlier out, the cheaper the tickets will be....some people did actually get a ticket for $1.50 one way (LUCKY THEM)!!!
***Don't take the late afternoon bus. If you can, stay the extra night and leave in the morning departure. Don't want you waiting around like we did.

Are you wondering if I will ride the bus again?! Maybe! if it were just Daryl and I, absolutely! If my kids were older, say 5 or older, than I might, but I can't imagine taking a newborn because you can't bring the car seat on the bus. All in all, Daryl and I are proud of Max for being well behaved and he did really well. 5.5 hours on a bus (or any vehicle) is a long trip.

PICS TO COME