All I know is I am more than ready for all the poo All I know is I am more than ready for all the pool and beach vibes! Anyone else?! These @amazonfashion swimsuits got me more excited about the warmer weather. They all fit 👌🏼! Who else is all about Amazon fashion right now? 😎 Check out my reel for more details on how this swimsuits fit! 
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#amazonfinds #amazonfashion #cupshe #swimwear #swimsuitseason
Some’bunny’ is trying to get ahead of the game Some’bunny’ is trying to get ahead of the game for Easter, well a week ahead 😉 #gifted @cattoysofficial is making Easter tons of fun while also optimizing sensory development and encouraging screen free play. You can use the Steel Dump Truck as a basket alternative, filling it with Easter treats! Cat® machines are known for their high quality and these toys are no different! With their lifetime guarantee, you can be comfortable knowing this product is built to last. Make the most of this Easter with Cat® Toys! These are available at Walmart and Target 🐰🐣🛻 
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#CatToys #CatConstructionToys #walmartfinds #targetfinds #easterbasket #easterbasketideas
Hellooooo spring, well more like hellooo to these Hellooooo spring, well more like hellooo to these gluten-free sandwich cookies today! These cookies are so good. The @bobsredmill almond flour gives them that perfect flavor and texture 👌🏼 Check out my IGTV and recipe coming up on the blog! What is y’all’s favorite cookie recipe right now? 
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#cookingwithclaircook #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreecookies
Gluten Free Sandwich Cookies, Spring Inspired. You Gluten Free Sandwich Cookies, Spring Inspired. You don’t have to be on a gluten free diet to enjoys these! These Gluten Free Sandwich Cookies are so good! The added bright blue buttercream filling is the perfect added touch 👌🏼 @bobsredmill #cookingwithclaircook #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfree #walmartfinds #targetfinds #amazonfinds #sandwichcookies #springinspo
We acknowledged World Down Syndrome Day a day late We acknowledged World Down Syndrome Day a day late at school with colorful socks 🧦 ❤️ Yesterday (Sunday) was World Down Syndrome Day. It is celebrated on 3/21 because Down Syndrome occurs when there are 3 copies of the 21st chromosome. Have you ever seen what chromosomes look like? They look like pairs of socks! So to celebrate acceptance while also embracing our differences, we wore colorful, bright socks today. What a beautiful and fun way to start a new week! Hoping you all are ready to rock this week 😘 #worlddownsyndromeday
Happy first day of spring 🌷! So much fun at the Happy first day of spring 🌷! So much fun at the @perkinsrowebr Blogger Closet Sale! Isn’t this balloon wall backdrop amazing?! #showyourrowe 

 Shop my daily looks by following me on the @liketoknow.it  app http://liketk.it/3aW9v 

 #liketkit #LTKSpringSale #LTKunder50 #LTKshoecrush #targetstyle #targetfinds #loftimist #loftsyle #mules #springstyle #forever21 #trenchcoat #whitetanktop #denim #loftjeans
#Ad Spring is practically here as is Spring Break! #Ad Spring is practically here as is Spring Break! I love having a mixture of planned ideas as well as go-with-the-flow. I have rounded up these fun tips and brands that will make the kids spring break fun! Check it out up on the blog ☀️ Are y’all ready for Spring Break? @act4healthykids @bunchoballoons  @zuru.toys  @bdlev @benononsense @freelifoods #Springfun4kidsbbxx #iamnononsense #riseupeatwell #zurutoys #billionsofbubbles #bubblewow #rainbocorns #sparkleheart #socks #eatfreeli #livefreeli
Simple Spring Charcuterie Board. I am more than th Simple Spring Charcuterie Board. I am more than thrilled to share this spring-inspired charcuterie board with y’all! Who else is excited about spring? Check out more about this charcuterie board up on the blog! 
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#spring2021 #cookingwithclaircook #charcuterieboard #charcuterieboards #springisintheair
The first day of spring is coming up, and I am mor The first day of spring is coming up, and I am more than excited about it! I had to put this simple spring charcuterie together because why not?! I have all the details up on the blog and check out my IGTV video ☀️🌷 Who else is excited about spring? 
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#spring2021 #cookingwithclaircook #charcuterieboard #charcuterieboards #springisintheair
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Travel · June 13, 2017

What Can Be Expected From Long Car Rides with Kids

Earlier this month, we took a Cook Family vacation to Lake Lure, North Carolina. This family vacation included my family of 5, my brother in law’s family of 4 and my father in law/mother in law. My father in law made a point to rent a cabin that would accommodate all of us. These Cook Family vacations are always the best: an escape from the busy world to enjoy each other and allow our kids to run around like wild things. The vacation itself was AMAZING! If you have never been to Lake Lure, North Carolina, you need to put it on your list of places to visit (more about this beautiful destination later). That car ride though….NIGHTMARE! All you mommas out there probably can relate. On to this nightmare from the past week…

The morning of our departure started out pretty normal. Kids were running around like wild animals, throwing toys all over the previously clean house. I am one of those ‘clean before we leave’ folks-love to come home to a clean house. My son even went to the extent of unpacking one of his bags. Geez. I finally decide it was safe to load them all up in the car, more so to keep them restrained while I pack the car. As I packed the last bag, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief! (Note: Daddy is usually here to assist in all this packing, but he was out of town for work during this fiasco. We were picking him up along our way.) I felt pretty accomplished to have loaded up an entire car with luggage and 3 kids 😉 Now onto the real task at hand, traveling in a cramped car with 3 small kids: a 6 year old, a 4 year old and a 9 month old. I made sure to have all necessary ammunition ready for when the kids started to lose their cool: fully charged iPads, washable colors/markers and coloring books, reading books, and a thousand DVDs (really not that many, but enough to make our journey). Oh, and plenty of snacks!

The car ride started out great, older 2 kids contently watched 2 DVDs all the way through without any fighting or complaining. My 9 month old slept. Then the madness began. My older 2 are now completely bored, yelling “How much longer?! We are ready to get out of the car!” Chloe, 9 month old, is not immune to all the screaming. She is up and decides to chime in, her car seat is just not comfy any more either. I start going through the emergency backups. First the iPads. Limiting screen time is usually a biggie for me…but for these type of situations, I throw that out the window. The iPads maintain the peace for a little while until one is mad that they do not have the same game as the other. They always have the volume turned up to its max so the neighboring cars can participate in whatever app they are playing at that very moment. Now for the app dilemma. It is impossible to download new games to their iPads going down the interstate. They do not understand this concept because they know more than I do majority of the time (cue eye roll).

 My daughter is the master of aggravating. She knows exactly what to do to push my son’s buttons at any given time. So of course she uses this opportunity to her advantage. She begins to say things like “I have this app and you don’t. This game is so much fun, Brady.” How does my son react? You got it. He begins to scream hysterically. I would love to start screaming hysterically, but do my best to keep my cool. Don’t want the neighboring cars to worry about the wellbeing of every passenger in my car and everyone else driving near by. 

The car ride to Lake Lure, North Carolina was approximately 10 hours from our house. Ever single minute felt like a lifetime during the chaotic moments. I thought the fighting was the worst of it all until we hit the mountains. Being from Louisiana, we are not use to anything more than a mere hill. Hills that you can safely ride your bike up and down without worrying about your bike taking off from underneath you. My daughter didn’t do well with all the twists and turns of these mountains. As we went around several twists and turns, she finally had enough and got car sick. Car sick right into her lap. We found a safe spot to pull over and had to do a quick wardrobe change. All of us are now desperate to reach our destination. The car is full of exhaustion, aggravation, comfortableness, and the smell of Wet Wipes and lavender hand sanitizer. As we approached our final destination, we were nothing but ready to jump out of the car!

The disastrous car ride was well worth all that North Carolina had to offer. We did everything you could imagine possible while there: sifting for gem stones, pontoon boat riding, hiking up to Hickory Nut waterfall near Chimney Rock, walking to all the cute shops, stopping by to see the beautiful flower garden bridge and visiting Biltmore Estates. The kids were even able to have a relaxing day at a pool/lazy river. I truly enjoyed all that we did and there is nothing else like those views. 

Luckily, the car ride home wasn’t as disastrous. A few meltdowns over wanting to get out of the car, but more quietness. I believe they were a tad bit worn out from our fun and eventful family vacation. If you are contemplating taking a long car ride with small children, know that you can do it! Pack all emergency backups and mentally prepare yourself of the nightmare that may and can occur. Remind yourself through each curdling scream and fight, it will all be worth it once you reach that destination.

In: Travel · Tagged: boredom, car rides, kids, mom life, motherhood, traveling, trips, vacation

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Comments

  1. Lyndsey says

    June 14, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    Your pictures are beautiful and looks like the destination was just as beautiful. I am glad you at least got to enjoy the trip. I can totally relate to this post we just travel to TX 6 hour drive and oh man. I have 2 and that was fun enough. My 3 year has learned to ask if we are there yet. Oh the joys of motherhood but once we were there it was enjoyable.

    • [email protected] says

      June 14, 2017 at 8:26 pm

      Oh yes! So worth it once you get there ? Definitely one of the joys of motherhood!

  2. Jenn says

    June 14, 2017 at 11:10 pm

    Looks like it ended up being a fun trip! This was a great post, and I loved your pictures. Makes me want to visit

    • [email protected] says

      June 15, 2017 at 1:27 am

      Thank you! Very much surprised on how great of a family vacation it was 🙂

  3. hanna says

    June 15, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    For some reason my kids do so much better on long car rides than planes! So we usually drive instead!

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