Not only did we pack up Christmas and a family of four to go to Alabama for the holiday, we did it in a Ford Fusion overnight. The car is smaller than a Camry with the trunk space of a backpack. We made it down there with more space in the back seat than expected. The way home was another story. We took a play directly from the Llewellyn Holiday Travel Manual* and built a wall of stuff between the seats. The kids thought it was hilarious! They tossed their stuffed animals over. They shouted out random words and phrases (LL: 8 12 60-50-20 WB: Woooooshooooooobooomm 60). They were also so crammed in that they couldn't drop any toys out of reach which made for more enjoyable less reaching around the front seat aimlessly feeling for the dino ride. (Hold that thought- the wall was safer and easier for everyone! Note to car manufacturers, start making cars with child bubbles so they can't drop toys, food, or Magna Doodles. If they spill their drink or crackers they can just slosh around in it for hours. That'll learn'em. Or be fun? Ok, maybe a bad idea.)
Hands down, the walls best advantage was it made the passenger seat almost wide enough for Wade's broad shoulders.
*We are only using simple maneuvers such as the wall of crap divider. More advanced techniques such as "Pack the kids into the car with no exit" strategy have yet to be deployed but are not out of the question for future trips.
