I've officially lost it, oh yes I have

Steve's block leave started this weekend. (!!!) So naturally we decided to spend it taking a road trip with our two under two. Driving time alone (no stops included), we estimate it will take us about 29 hours round trip. With stops, I foresee us being contained in a very tiny cavern for approximately 33 hours total. This might stress a normal person out, but fortunately (unfortunately?), we are not too normal.

Being the ultimate list maker that I am, I have decided to deal with this massive road trip by making multiple lists about multiple things. (It makes me feel like I have control over something.) What goes in the cooler, what goes in the snack bag, which toiletries we need to take, which foods Sam will need, sippy cups, pump parts, shoes, diapers (we're going disposable by-the-way, so you can all breathe a big sigh of relief for my MIL- she will not have to deal with my requests for putting poop in her washing machine).

Now, I happen to think that Sam is a very good trip-taker/car-rider. He seems easily amused by watching cars pass and having books read to him. But my parents' house is only 7-8 hours away (and we really don't travel anywhere else). I knew I would need to bust out the big guns for this trip. So I did the only logical thing one can do in a situation like this. I went to the Dollar Tree. I came out $40 poorer, but I knew that it was a very sound investment. Behold, the haul.

I LOVE DOLLAR TREE, Y'ALL.

Lots of new cardboard books, chalk, foam goop, glow sticks, glow wands, window clings, more books, magnets, a slinky, balloons, pipe cleaners, puzzles, etch-a-sketch, a giant shoe with laces for "practice", kaleidoscope, toy cars, a shape sorter, and SNACKS COMIN' OUT THE WAZOO.

While I think that I have enough things to keep him occupied, I'm really counting on the newness factor of these toys to hold his attention for longer than a toy usually would. Also, I will be sitting pretty in the back seat for the duration of the trip, so I'm hoping I can talk a few of them up, point out some things in the books, and then sit back and drink some wine. (What? Did you think the cooler was for milk and snacks? No one would even GET a snack from the cooler if I was losing my mind, so the wine qualifies as an "essential.") While it would be ideal to keep at least half of the toys for the return trip, I am prepared to raid an unsuspecting Pennsylvania dollar store if I need to. (That part was actually really fun, not gonna lie.)

In order to keep all of his new favorite things (positive thinking!) from ending up in that tiny, annoying space between the seat and the door, I found this tray online and am hoping that it lives up to the hype.

We ran all of our last-minute errands today, so tomorrow is dedicated to cleaning the house and packing everything into the truck before we head out. Am I forgetting anything? Any tips from you people who take crazy-long car trips with toddlers? (I'm really not concerned about Molly. As long as she's got milk, and someone smiling at her sweet little face, she's golden.) Obviously we're going to stop every 2-3 hours to let Sam run around and burn off energy, but any other tips you have would be very much appreciated. (Unless your tip is to show him a movie, in which case, better keep that tip to yourself. He has no interest in tv and I'm holding onto that as long as I possibly can!!)

Also, you should PRAY FOR US. PRAY VERY VERY HARD. And send wine too. If Once we make it back home, mama's gonna need a big drink, I do believe.

And because y'all can never get enough pictures of cheeks, here ya go.