"Snack 'Em Up!": Our Summer Vacation, Part I

This is a term Matt and I toss around when we're heading out somewhere and know we will have virtually no way of meeting the varied dietary requirements of our little family while on the road. So we "snack 'em up" with a diaper bag laden with fruits and veggies, animal crackers (they make gluten free ones, believe it or not!) and of course, fruit leather. We have been snacking 'em up a lot these days. So far, just this month......
Things started off with a bang. And a Ka-thunk-thunk-thunk. Pthhhhhht. And a "I think the car is on fire! Get the kids out!" Followed by a late-night tow, a day-long delay and a $1500 car repair to get our "cheap" road trip vacation to Calgary rolling. We finally got on the road and made the obligatory early-morning-roadtrip stop at McD's for Egg McMuffins (who doesn't do that?) and the car started choking again as we rolled through the pick-up window. Somehow Matt steered our sputtering vehicle a few more blocks down the road to the mechanic and we waited in the lobby with half naked kids (it was early and they were pulled out of bed in pj tops and diapers expecting a long car ride) for FOUR HOURS while we waited for the shop to open and for them to replace a few more crucial parts. FOUR. HOURS. And did I mention that Sarah had diarrhea? For the 12th day in a row? Probably not. But I'm sure whoever empties the trash at Ford is well aware.
Does this look like a fun place to entertain two little ones for FOUR HOURS? I didn't think so either. (Note the un-touched oj and bag of Egg McMuffin meals on the table. The kids dug into the hash browns - the only gf offering on the morning menu - but mostly just ate the paper liner. It didn't really bother them. Now that I know they're ok with eating paper I may put a little less effort into my "snack 'em up" bag.)

So the day got off to a much later start than planned, but by lunchtime we were on the road for real. Happily, the rest of the day was pretty uneventful. We skipped a bunch of "shake your sillies out" stops we had planned for the kids in favor of plowing through the trip and arriving in Calgary for the night. They were champs through it all. But by 8:30pm, it was time for a real break.
We stopped at a lodge in Rogers Pass for some dinner, and got to share our meal with some unexpected company:

Weird.
We finished our dinner, changed the kids back into their jammies, inadvertently left Liam's beloved "flashy shoes" somewhere on the premises, and carried on.
We rolled into the neighborhood around 2:30am. 3:30 if you consider the time change. But we weren't really there yet....because we were at the wrong house. Parked right out front. Had a stretch. Started getting ready to make a speedy transfer of sleeping kids into their waiting beds. Fortunately Matt realized our mistake before he turned the front door handle, but we were this close to committing a B&E. Back in the car for a few more circles around the neighborhood in search of our real destination and FINALLY....we had arrived. Let the vacation begin!
Next time....queue the horses! It's Stampede parade day!