Taking Off

We are airbone.

Packed the car, locked the house, drove to Sparty, ate BBQ, kissed the kids...

Waited at the airport for hours.... Apparently you are not allowed to fuel a flight if there is lightning within 5 miles. Which there was from 4pm to about 6:30pm, and our flight was scheduled at 5:40. We finally pushed back at 7:15pm.

Finally in the air on the way to Philly. Once we land, we've got 7.3 minutes to go from Terminal F to Terminal A (yes, the farthest possible distance) in order to catch our flight to Edinburgh. And that's assuming of course that we "make up some time in the air.." as they always say.

And despite the stress and crazily inept airport people and the possible delay, we are together and we are having fun.

Seriously. Fun.

I think the last time Doc and I were on a flight together was Costa Rica 2008. Now THAT was a trip. Hopefully Scotland 2014 will live up to the hype. Come to think of it, CR 2008 pre-dates the Waltzing Matilda Blog.

For now at least, this vacation holds all the hope and promise of a new morning, with none of the reality that accompanies the daily grind. We get to be together, all three kids entrusted to the loving and experienced arms of Bud & Nana, and we get to take some time off.

Preflight checklist

1) Pack clothes, shoes, PJs, diapers, wipes, medications, hairbows, undies, toothbrushes, books, lovies, blankets, and toys after only 14 separate negotiations on who got to wear what to which place on which day with which coordinating thing.  The entire semester of inorganic chemistry was easier than that task. Still, CHECK!

2) Clean out the fridge tossing the perishables and emptying all the trash cans while trying to keep Tank from stealing the 6m old green lasanga and running around the house trying to open the container for "JUST ONE BITE, MOMMY!"...CHECK!

3) Packing myself into two carryon bags that couldn't hold the entirity of my behind itself much less 8 days worth of travel needs.  Booya CHECK!

4) Preparing the house for our abscence with blind closures, checking all door and window locks and that the alarm is on.  Arguing over which lights make it look like we're more home.  Clearly two upper story lights are more suggestive that someone is home at 3am when typically all the lights are off when we actually are at that hour. We pray for dumb burglers.  CHECK!

5) Getting Dean Dog to appropriate daycare for the week (at least there is one family member that just does what we ask him too...unless that involves not rolling in poop in order to transfer it onto my very nice carput or leg). CHECK

6) Travel 3 hours to Sparkleton for Nana and Bud to be our saving grace while we jaunt off to catch our 5 o'clock (albeit tremendously delayed) plane to Edinburgh. Thank you thank you thank you CHECK!

7)Leaving these sweet children for the week, though it must be done, has been intensely difficult for me. But when everyone is happily enamored with Nana's treats and play schedule so much that they narely bat an eye when it is time for us to leave, then I know they are in the right place while we are gone. CHECK!

Ohm and 8) Awesome family picture .. .  CHECK!