top 10

 

Warning this post is wordy!

Top ten things to do for a trip with the kiddies

10. Set multiple alarms so you wake up on time. (this we did but my mom’s alarm woke me up so mine was useless)

9. Try to schedule potty training so that you are not doing it on top of the trip (Katie actually did a really great job she only had 1 accident)

8. Finish up last minute things the night before. (we were delayed slightly because Rick’s brother Steve was finishing his thank you notes for interviewing for med school. Good luck Steve we hope you get accepted!)

7. Pack a breakfast. (That way when the attendant at subway takes her sweet time making your order you don’t have to worry about it)

6. Remember that the attendants checking in the rental car will take the trash. (my mom spent 5 mins cleaning out the trash and finding a garbage can)

5. Have your documents ready.(I was over prepared. I brought Katie’s and Brady’s birth certificates but only needed Brady’s in the end)

4. Make sure that your bags are under weight. (That way you don’t have to worry when you heaviest bag weighs 48 lbs but make sure that your carry-on has way too much in it because you never know when 10 diapers won’t be enough)

3. Remember to separate your liquids through security. (That way security won’t have to double check your bag when they see juice and a bottle inside)

2. Wear good slip on shoes (shoes that tie take way too much time but flip flops are not sturdy enough if you need to run for you plane)

And the number 1 thing to do for a big trip is

……….Verify that your airport is in eastern time and not central so you are not late for your flight when you have a 2 year old and a 6 week old in tow.

Oh did I mention that we missed our flight to Utah by 5 minutes. Our bags made the flight but we did not. In fact they closed the door as we got to the ticket counter. Running with an infant carrier is a great workout.

We were stuck at Louisville airport for 6 hours. We found ways to keep Katie entertained. She watched movies, read books and ate snacks. Her favorite thing to do was watch the airplanes land and take off. After we waited the time at the airport we found out that we were not going to be able to make the flight we were waiting for and I started to cry when they said I was going to have to spend the night at the airport with the kids. Luckily my mom was there and got us on a flight to Chicago that night.

In Chicago the USO was wonderful. They had the computers where Rick’s brother Steve emailed his professors to say he was going to miss his exam. They had food for all of us and even gave me diapers for Brady! They were so nice.

Steve’s girlfriend got us a killer rate for the Hilton in Chicago so we spent the night and caught the flight to SLC in the morning.

I was grateful to the small miracles that occurred:Brady was a happy baby and played on the plane and slept at the airport, I had packed Katie’s PJ’s in my carryon which was just what she needed to go to bed in an unfamiliar place, I wasn’t alone with the kids (I don’t think I would have survived without Steve and my mom), the wonderful people at the USO, and a great ticket agent in Chicago that upon seeing my children booked me on a flight rather than putting us on standby.

All in all a pretty interesting trip for Brady’s first flight.