The Trip

Here are the rest of the details about our trip to California that I forgot yesterday. Hey, what can I say, three kids and a house of cards to keep standing have left my brain fried. My memory isn't what it used to be!
First of all, when we stepped off the plane my "middle child" - and yes, I know how ridiculous it sounds to refer to a twin as the middle child, but she is thirteen VERY important minutes younger (just ask her sister) and if there is truly such a thing as "middle child syndrome" this one has it in spades. Anyway, as soon as her feet hit the ground inside the airport she began to tell us how beautiful California was. Although we were given the option of a rental car by the TV show, my husband and I wisely decided that neither of us had any business driving in LA traffic, especially since we had very little idea where we were or where we were going. Therefore, a wonderful driver from the car service was waiting for us at the airport baggage claim. Judging from my kids' reaction, you'd have thought they sent Justin Beiber to pick us up. I'm not sure, but I'm willing to bet that guy has never gotten that kind of reaction from the people he was sent to pick up.
As we were pulling out of the parking garage, middle child starts again telling him how California was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. Keep in mind, we had been to LAX and the parking garage at this point. Apparently we need to get out more.
When we arrived at the Manhattan Beach Marriott hotel, my kids experienced for them what I think may have been the highlight of their trip. USC and Oregon were playing that weekend in LA, so floating in the hotel fountain was a bright yellow rubber duckie, complete with sunglasses, no doubt placed there by some clever Oregon fan. My sweet little sheltered children thought this was THE most amazing thing they had ever seen in their lives. Talk about feeling like a redneck out of their element. It's like I could hear the hotel staff under their breath going, "Yep. That's got to be an AFV family. Listen to them talk! Those little hillbillies have never seen a rubber duck before!" We had to take pictures of the duck, try to touch the duck, and listen to them talk about the duck during our entire stay. Although I have been accused of exaggerating before, I really think that if you asked them what was the best part of the trip, the rubber duckie would be right there with winning the $10,000. Heck, I'll go out on a limb and say the smug little sucker might win. And no, we didn't steal it, although my kids totally would have if I had allowed it.
 Like any good mother would, when I found out on short notice that we were going to be on national TV, wait, make that worldwide TV (AFV comes on in all kinds of other countries) I immediately went out and bought the kids new clothes. Notice I said the kids. Kirk and I were like, "Well, I can wear this." I think it's a mom thing. Anyway, dad got a new tie, the kids got new clothes, which I have mentioned before were extremely hard to find while abiding by all the rules about what we should and shouldn't wear on camera. The day of the taping, we all got dressed, my stress level completely at the max, and my husband looks at us and says, "Gee, we look like we're going to a funeral." Thanks, Honey. Here I thought we looked sort of chic and all matchy matchy. Perhaps I will let them dress themselves next time. I'm sure a Sponge Bob glow in the dark t-shirt from the school fundraiser and jeans will look awesome on TV! (By the way, I'm only kidding. There's no way in hell I'd let my kids dress themselves to go out in public for an event like that. My OCD would put me in the hospital.)
Anyway, we found out last night that we will go back on January 19th to film the $100,000 show. Naturally, after I have told everyone that I've ever met that we will need them to vote for our video, the show has changed its procedure for selecting the winner. Now the voting will be done at the taping, by a studio audience that is a lot larger than the one from the first show. Too bad the kids have to stay in the green room until the vote is over. No chances to persuade the audience voters at all. Oh, well, I guess whatever happens, happens. We have had an amazing journey thus far, had a lot of fun, and won some money to boot. Life is good.