July!!!!

I am finally posting about my wonderful trip to Utah in July!!  I took so many photos that I had to download the first half of our trip onto my Mom's computer.  I had to have her mail them to me and then life got busy with school starting etc.  I  finally have organized them all and am ready to start!  Here goes nothin!

Our plane ride to Utah was not without its own particular brand of adventure.  We started off on a good footing, on time, bags checked and UNDER weight!  Everyone was excited!  We got to our gate and we were told that our flight was delayed for two hours!  What am I supposed to do with four little kids in an airport for two hours!  We decided to go and get some "breakfast." We had crusty, airport style Cinnamon rolls and a bagel - Yum!  Thanks to the airlines that now charge for baggage, we resorted to packing all of the kids in their own individual carry-on bags.
      I had quite the entourage, each pulling their carry-ons behind them, with me at the helm, pushing a stroller and pulling a carry on bag of my own.  What Fun!  Just prior to our Cinnamon rolls we had ventured into the "Inmotion" store to rent a DVD player. This was an INTEGRAL part of my plan to "manage" the kids while we were on the plane.  With great difficulty we got to the check out counter only to find out that my debit card had been cancelled (thanks James) and that they DO NOT accept credit cards!  My plans foiled!!!  What am I going to do without a DVD player! 
    
Back at the table, sticky mess all over my hands, Claire's water spilled all over the floor, I hear "CARTER to SALT LAKE CITY . . . PLEASE REPORT TO THE TERMINAL FOR DEPARTURE!"

      I don't even know how I heard it over the whining and crying and "Adam ate my last bite!"  I went into a panic.  I quickly shot out of my chair but my legs were going every which way.  I grabbed for the stroller and my bag, then the chair only to slip and fall right on my rear!  The next thing I know I am carrying more than my share of the bags as well as the rest of our "breakfast" and RUNNING toward to terminal.  It turned out that our crew had reported to our gate sooner than expected and the entire plane was boarded.  The airlines refused to let us pre-assign our seats and they had us scattered all over the plane.  The people around me were less than willing to be accommodating but in the end I don't think that any of them wanted to sit by my three year old.  Some people! 

     Audrey ended up in front of me, Rachel and Adam on each side, and Claire on my lap.  This is going to be a fun three hours!  Audrey turned into a sixteen year old before my eyes with her independence and her ipod.  She handled herself with maturity beyond her years.  Rachel and Adam did well playing together and kept the fighting to a minimum.  They colored and shared snacks.  Adam had to be reminded over and over again that the "Captain" was going to get upset with him if he did not keep his seatbelt on.  In his mind the idea of any kind of "Captain" was enough to keep that seatbelt fastened tight. 
Claire was Claire, and  on a plane, Claire is not a good thing!  Lots of screaming and absolute refusal to go to sleep.  It was one of those "just get through it" kind of things.  We topped off our experience with turbulence that you would not have believed.  Rachel had her head in her knees, bracing for impact, bawling her eyes out and shaking dramatically while Adam went in and out of "Weeee!!  Weeee! This is fun!"  Claire was still for the first time during the flight.  A kind woman a couple of rows in front of us had taken to comforting Audrey although she was frozen still with an equal amount of fear and "big girl" pride.  We finally touched down and not a minute too soon.  Adam shook hands with his new hero, the Captain, and we were off to baggage claim.  I somehow managed to DRAG all of our luggage out to the curb.  Unfortunately in my frantic attempt to get to the gate I forgot to let my Mom know that we had taken off.  She did her best to estimate our arrival but let's just say that there was a bit of a wait. 

                                                                       Waiting for Grammy

                                                                             Patient Audrey

                                                                        Getting Comfortable

                                                                                  Claire!

                                                                      Weeeee! (Boys are nuts)

                                                                         She's Here!!!

Let the month long vacation begin!