525,600 Minutes

Okay, it's probably more like 960 minutes. Or 1080 minutes, according to my mom. All I know is that it seems like an eternity, and it's scaring the hell out of me.

A road-trip to Prince Edward Island.

My parents have rented a cottage near the beach for the last week of August, and we're going along for a vacation, and to split the cost. My parents, myself and the boys will be driving out, and Mr Earth will fly out for the long weekend. I'm VERY much looking forward to staying in PEI for a whole week. Very exciting! What I am NOT looking forward to is the 16 to 18 hour drive that it will take to get there.

With a three-year old.

And a baby who currently HATES all car trips, even if they only last for five minutes.

We're going to be taking it slowly - making the trip over 3 days - and taking lots of breaks. We're also going to be playing musical seats, so that I'm not the only person who has to entertain the crowd in the back seat. But still. Sixteen, possibly eighteen, hours. I've already entered retail therapy, and the trip hasn't even started.

Mr Earth has kindly bought two books at my request: When Dinosaurs Came with Everything and Wild About Books. I'm looking for a copy of If I Built a Car, but it is as elusive as the Bumble. Apparently, these books are great for reading aloud, and cover the topics that the Boy loves best: cars, dinosaurs and animals.

This afternoon, I went to The Store Which Shall Not Be Named to look for some cheap, packable toys. I spent $50, and what I came back with will probably only keep them occupied for about 5 minutes.

In short, I'm screwed.

Here's what I got:

1. A BPA-free teething ring: We have about a gazillion teething paraphernalia, and I can't stop buying them. It's a problem. This one is colourful and has cute little bugs on them. In my defense, the Little Guy is a teething fiend these days, and GOD FORBID that you offer him a teething option that he doesn't want to play with. He will give you the Evil Eye. And then scream.
2. Stacking Cups: Yeah, this was stupid. Technically, we already have stacking cups, but one of the cups is missing. Do you know how hard it is to stack cups when a cup is missing?? Plenty hard. Plus, it annoys the hell out of me. My OCD rears it's ugly head. I can't sleep. It's bad, folks. These cups also link to form a caterpillar, and can double as bath/sand toys.
3. Two Small Disney Cars: The Boy already has four of these, and really likes them. This one has a firetruck in the set, and that should win me some brownie points. Plus, the cars are really small, so not a bother to bring along. Heck, I'll even throw in the cars he already has. I'm that nice.
4. Eight Chunky Sesame Street characters: I'd never seen these before, and they were 2 for $5! I was hoping that these would be the magical crossover toy - The Boy wants whatever the Little Guy has and vice versa. They should work for creative play with the Boy, and are large enough (and wooden, not plastic!) for the Little Guy to mouth. (Yes, technically, I could have just gotten two, but then it would bother me that I don't have all the characters. I have a soft spot for all things Sesame Street. Especially the Grouch. He's my homeboy.)
5. A Disney Cars book: It was cheap, and the Boy will love it. I, decidely, will not.
6. A rubber-ducky in a fireman's suit: Okay, I had no earthly reason to buy this. I saw someone in line with it last time I was at the store and just really wanted it. Seems I have a rubber-ducky problem too. And hey - it is a bath toy! And it tells you if the water is too hot! It's useful, dammit!
7. A sunhat for the Little Guy: Not a toy at all. BUT, it has cute little bees on it - how could I resist? I'm having a hard time finding a hat that has good sun protection (this has a wide brim), and doesn't fall in his eyes (seems to fit). Did I mention it's cute?
8. Phone and Keys: These have buttons on them that make sounds and play music. It will drive me nuts, I'm sure, but it was $5 dollars for the set, and it will stop the Little Guy from stealing the real things and spitting up on them. The Boy, hopefully, will want to play with them too.

Phew! Apparently, when I go shopping, I should leave my ovaries at home.

If anyone has suggestions as to how to keep a 3 year-old and a 9 month-old occupied from Toronto to PEI, and back again, please let me know. Or I may just not come back.