First we did have to deal with Teagan not quite understanding the security lane at Phoenix and her backpack going through screening. She threw a very loud tantrum. And she was very upset her shoes were a part of the procedure. She also had a hard time with staying in her seat and would want me or daddy, but never when we were in the same row with her. She fell asleep as we were landing in Atlanta and it took me a good 10 minutes to wake her up, but we waited to be the last getting off, so it worked out. The DVD player stayed charged and Teagan kept it the whole time while the boys played on there DS's. Aislinn slept about 30 mins and they all did terrific for a 3 1/2 hour flight that was delayed about a half hour. We did land late, an hour late to be exact.
Had a interesting delay with our rental, which was totally unrelated to us being late because for some reason I had put a 2pm pick up instead of 1 pm when we'd get it, interesting on that huh? Seems that they didn't have our car, but still had a reservation and couldn't figure out why and after 45 mins of Mike and Caden waiting for a mini-van, they finally gave him a Tahoe. Thankfully, my parents not only came down to bring three carseats for us so we only had to travel with Aislinn's, but they had room in their car for most of our luggage being that the Tahoe is like our truck for cargo room! And it was less space in the 'cargo' area with the 3rd row up if that is at all possible!
So really those were the only glitches to what was an amazing trip. The weather was gorgeous, we got to spend such wonderful time with my family. My dad has lost so much weight that I almost don't recognize him! He says he feels great, and to me he's a skeleton ;-) I asked did he feel great enough to fly to Phoenix? HA HA! He's the same size he was when he entered the military in his teens!
I got to run at the river, one of Mike and I's favorite spots when we lived in our condo for 3 years. They have a river bank restoration project going on so where you once could sit on the bank and let you dogs run around, is completely fenced off and lush with all kinds of plants. That seemed to be the only change that was very apparent to me. The run was so nice too, and a good challenge for me because the back half of the 5 k loop is little hills and I'm so used to running flat ground. It was so beautiful, to be covered in lush landscape with fallen leaves already that have begun to turn. I forgot the Army trains down there as well, so as I started they seemed to be just finishing up and they were looking beat up! I ran the entire loop under a cloudy sky with a very humid yet slightly cool breeze. I miss it! But to back up!
The night we came in I took the zoo to my sister Susan's home to stretch out and catch up, while Mike had a small boys night at his old favorite, Padriacs. The boys got to hold turtles while the girls played with Susan and I. Teagan really loved Isabels playroom that is a corner of the house under the roof. Just small and big enough for little girls! They had so much fun! When it was time to go, it was 9 pm, our AZ dinner time so I stopped for a treat for them at McDonald's. Riordan bit his tongue, hard, eating his french fries, cried so hard and then passed out. Then Teagan passed out and Caden. Aislinn was the only one keeping me company!
Mike then let me get him with three sleeping children at almost 10, how was I going to get them all into our hotel?!. He was hanging out with Adam and Brian and it was so nice to see them both! Wow they look exactly the same and again, homesickness came over me. I was pretty hungry at this point since I did not get a Mickey D's dinner, so I picked up my a favorite meal from Soho, my spinach salad and a filet with horseradish mashed potatoes. It was just as succulent as the last time I ate it 3 years or so ago! It was my choice of last meals for my girls night out going away dinner so long ago.
Friday morning, Susan came to meet Caden and I for breakfast. Then we headed up to my parents house where we hung out for a bit and then took the zoo and cousin Garrett and my sister Jen to Swift Cantrell park. They got to run around for a good bit of time. Back to my parents to pick up laundry that we already had and we headed back to the hotel for a small nap before we met friends down in our lobby.
We got to see our friends Sascha, Allen, and their new son Beck, Susie, Curtis, and their daughter Addison, and my good good friend fondly called Aunt Natalie. DS's and DVD players in full effect for all the children and we got in some good time with everyone. Homesick for sure at this point especially since I ran the river that morning. We did miss my girl Diana, Mark, and Camden. Diana was not feeling well and I so missed seeing her. But completely understand. Hopefully when I'm back in December I can get a quick visit in with her ;-)
Saturday morning my wonderful parents and sister Susan came down for breakfast, which by the way is just killer at the Embassy Suites. Omelets, any eggs actually cooked to order, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles, french toast, hashbrowns, you name it I bet they had it, and not to forget all the danishes, fruit, oatmeal, breads, cereals, and yogurt they also had. My eating habits definitely got side swiped this weekend!
Susan got her dog, Sam, and took us to a part of the river that I had totally forgotten about so the children could throw rocks and try to skip them too ;-) It was such a nice morning, the sun was shining and we actually got hot! We also walked to a platform and threw more rocks. Who knew it would be so tiring for them because walking back, both Teagan and Riordan wanted to be held. Mike had stayed back with Aislinn so she could take a good nap. Mom came with us too, but headed back at the first rock throwing. We had completely worn her out at this point with all the waiting and helping she had done with us since the beginning of the trip at the airport. Such a trooper she was!
So as we headed back, Jen called and said she was coming down with Garrett! YAY! Just in time to ride with us to get lunch, because as the story goes in our family, some one is always hungry! Susan headed home to host a bible study in her home and we headed to the hotel to pick them up to pick up lunch at none other than Chick Fila AND McDonald's again, since Riordan, Teagan, and Caden did not eat theirs the night before because they fell asleep! We hung around the hotel for a bit before heading up to my parents house and to go to Folk Tales from the Rails in Kennesaw.
There I got to meet up with my dear friend Meredith from High School, although she attended a different one it was as if she was there because I saw her practically everyday for my senior year. She and I worked together at Gadzook's and hung out quite a bit with another friend, Kristen, who now lives in Connecticut. We got to meet her son Kaine, who is absolutely beautiful and looks just like her! He was such a great help with the zoo and wanting to push the stroller, get balloons, jump in the bouncers with and so much more! While she and I were catching up another friend from HS walked up! Joey! He has three girls and we got to meet his two youngest. So beautiful! It was so neat to see them both and so surreal! Kaine took a picture of us, so I'm waiting for it to show up on FB so I can share it ;-) What a hoot!
We had such a great time, but soon enough it was time to move on to our next venture. Garrett's baseball game which he plays where Jen and I did growing up, Kenworth Park! Teagan and Aislinn fell asleep in the car. So Mike, again, stayed in the car with the girls. Riordan was so tired and hungry and just crabby. I switched with Mike so he could watch some of the game. Riordan played on the playground and then the girls both woke up. So I took all three back to the game and Riordan and Teagan were screaming and crying. We had to call it a night sadly. Susan was there with Isabel and said she would bring Caden back to the hotel and he was so happy about that. He and Isabel are 6 months apart and quite funny together. Miss them getting the chance to grow up together.
Sunday was a day of rest for us. We slept in, all of us! Mom and Dad came down to have breakfast with us again. So sweet! When they were leaving, Jen and Garrett came down and we hit Cumberland Mall. WOW! I was so impressed with the mall. It was quite run down when we left three years ago and now it had a beautiful facelift and some great additions of stores! I ate so badly! Had a cookie slice from the cookie counter and then nachos from Taco Bell! I was ready to become bulimic at that point! LOL Mike stayed back, again, to get Aislinn to take a nap. She did not! I laid down with her and she woke up after 30 mins! YIKES! We were to be at Nicolas's roller hockey game, then Susan's for diner, and she had no rest.
We packed her up anyway and went! I was a bit grouchy at this point, but how could I be when my baby had less sleep than I at this point. The game was great. Nic is the goalie and is so impressive! Both he and Michael are so tall and lean, they look like little men to me, not the babies anymore that I once cuddled, but thankfully they still have lots of hugs for me! After the game, which was at one of the many churches on Northside, we headed to Sue's house for a homemade spaghetti and meatball dinner with an All Cousin's Birthday celebration with Susan's chocolate cake and a pinata to boot! My friend Natalie came over as well with garlic bread, and now I'm seriously considering fasting for the week after all the rich and yummy food! I couldn't stop eating!
The kids all played outside in the backyard, jumped on the trampoline, a lot of swinging and then after cake and pinata, Susan brought our bottle rockets and sparklers! So much fun, until one of the boys decided to start a fire in a contained pine straw area. Hmmm, got put out quickly and we winded down for the night. Teagan fell off a chair and hit her head. A combination of the whole night and being tired she threw up in the neighbors yard. Hey, it's not a party until someone pukes, right?!
The rest of our night was me packing us up in the hotel. The next morning I got up early and got everyone breakfast for the room. Mom and Dad came down to follow us to the airport, to carry luggage and get the three carseats they had brought us! WHICH by the way, one of them was a loaner from our dear friend Angela! Thank you so much Angela!! And thanks for the directions! It worked perfectly!
We needed gas, so we stopped at the corner BP station and wouldn't you know, we ran into someone I know! My sister's friend Diane was there getting gas. I used to cut both of her boys hair as well! What a treat! We caught up quickly and then we were on our way to the airport. Airtran rocked with getting our bags at the curb, while Mike moved the carseats to mom's car. We already had our boarding passes, thanks to mom again who printed them up at home. Mike then took the car back, and Mom and Dad left with endearing hugs and goodbye's. I took the four zoo members to the security lane, which because of the holiday was not backed up one bit! Waited for Mike and we were on our way back home.
On the airplane, as we were lifting off into the air, I said, let's say good bye to Atlanta and to our family. Caden took one sad look at me and started to cry. He was already missing his GA family. It was so sweet and heartbreaking all at the same time. He cried enough tears for me too.
Riordan got sick on the airplane from drinking his coke too fast. He told me he was sick, and I said here's an airbag for you. He didn't want to at first, but when I explained we wouldn't have time to get to the bathroom, he used it. I was so impressed with him! He got it ALL in there, yelled out 'chin' at the end, so I could wipe it, and was done! Not a spot anywhere! And no need for HAZMAT! If you've ever been around some one losing their lunch on an airplane, they bring out all kinds of stuff for cleaning. It didn't even stink due to it was coke and just had gone down ;0). And all four of the zoo members had major bathroom issues, which they all did great with and no stage fright! Okay TMI but if you've ever traveled with children and gone to the bathroom it's a huge deal. It's cold, little, and loud in the bathrooms.
We were so impressed and proud of our little guys! They put up with a lot, sleep not much, and played hard every day with their cousins. They were such great travelers and totally didn't scare us into never doing it again. It won't be anytime soon, but it won't leave a negative in our memory. Now the 3 1/2 hour to 4 hour trip was about all we could do on a plane. Batteries died on the movies and DS's, and their attention span was done at about 2 1/2 hours. We had a lot of 'when are were there' and 'I want the plane to land.' Riordan, Teagan, and Aislinn slept for a bit on the way back which helped, but they were all at different times! Would have been a nice break if it were at the same time and maybe they would have slept longer, because I'm sure they each woke each other up. All in all it was a good trip.
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