I spent yesterday gathering my thoughts, resting and trying to catch up on e-mail. I know the reality of the e-mail is that after a trip I never really get caught up. Where did I go this time? I took my two kids, Zoe age 5 and Miles age 4 on a road trip to EVO sponsored by Microsoft Windows. When I was telling people my plans, I heard over and over again, You are a brave woman, translation…YOU ARE CRAZY LADY. I was starting to think maybe I was.
We loaded up the car (Honda CR-V) with enough snacks for an army, enough activity bags for a few pit stops along the way, and pillows for naps and headed off to Park City Utah last Tuesday. I drove from noon until about 8 PM and decided that I was ready to stop. The kids were fantastic. They played really well together on the way down, we talked and I feel closer to my kids now than I did before we left.
I expected fits, I expected to hear “are we there yet”, I expected to hear, “I’m hungry”. What I didn’t expect was all the laughter, jokes and fun games the kids came up with themselves. I didn’t expect my son to look out at the mountains and say, “wow, mom we’re in the mountains, this is the best trip EVER as we were driving through the Snoqualmie Pass. They played so well. They sang songs, they of course fought and took things from each other, but they were also a team and helped each other while I was driving. On the way back we made it from Twin Falls Idaho all they way home in one day and made excellent time. We were home in time to have dinner with my husband. These kids of mine are troopers and I’m ready to go on another road trip. Miles was ready to as soon as we got home, he told his dad let’s go again and you come too.
How did Microsoft Windows Help me along the way? I’m sure you read my how to prepare for a road trip post with Windows right? If not go read it now. Microsoft lent me a new Windows Phone so that I would be able to take outstanding photos and upload them directly to Facebook, Twitter and my SkyDrive. I also downloaded the Skype app onto my phone for face time. I was going to use it for GPS when I got lost, but I never got lost and it’s a good thing because out in the middle of Idaho and Utah my phone had no service. Sigh! My phone did pair well with the Honda CR-V though. I was able to listen to texts and text back while driving which I found really cool. My phone also had a hiccup as I wasn’t able to talk or take in calls through the car until I took out the battery and then repaired it. In the hotel my phone was always at my side as I took more pictures of the kids enjoying all the suites. I even uploaded a video of Miles hammering away creating a Madagascar in the Lowes suite. A friend of mine said she loved seeing the video and I’ve heard from tons of people that they loved keeping up with our road trip through all the photos on Facebook. Technology is an amazing way to keep up with everyone.
I’m so in love with road trips now. Who wants to send me on another one?
Microsoft Windows was my road trip sponsor to EVO. I’m also a Windows Champion.