Over the river and through the woods

Last Tuesday evening we welcomed Brian's parents after a long day traveling from Virginia. They arrived safely and on time and were immediately showered with hugs, kisses and requests to play from the boys. So much for relaxing before bed and the long drive to Modesto on Wednesday morning. The plan was for the kids and I to travel down with Dave and Sarah (known to the grandkids as Teddy and Nan) to Modesto while Brian stayed here to work and catch up on rest (easier said than done).
We were able to get on the road right around 10:00 in the morning with Nan, Sam and I in our car and Ben and Teddy in the rental (that's the problem with two kids so close in age...two carseats and no room between them in the back seat). But taking two cars had it's advantages as well. Our car was filled with the usual kid gear but with suitcases spread between two cars there was actually room for our double stroller!!!! No sore back from the Baby Bjorn or the Kelty back pack on this trip!
Ben apparently stayed awake the entire way down the mountain and talked Teddy's ear off while Sam slept until we stopped for a not-so-quick lunch at our favorite fruit stand/grocery store/burger joint called Ikedas in Auburn. And after another couple of hours in the car we arrived at Great Grammy and Grandpa's only to find that Grandpa was out running errands. Ben stood on the outside step on the patio insisting that he was going to wait for Grandpa so he could go out in the garden. Did I mention that Ben didn't sleep at all the second part of the drive either and that Sam screamed for the last 45 minutes?
After a short wait for Grandpa the fun began....