We're exhausted, sweaty, and a little frazzled. But we made it!
We left the house 3 hours before our flight and still could have used more time. Getting through security was a circus! They make you take the sleeping babies out of their carriers and hold them as you walk through the security gate. So I ended up holding both babies while Scarlett held onto my leg and Jake dismantled our gear and sent it through the xray machine. There I was - 2 babies and 1 toddler - limping though the metal detector (since Scarlett had my leg in a kung fu master grip) and what do you know... we set off the alarm! The TSA officer asked if I had any metal... ???? um, I was wearing sweatpants (aka, my normal attire) and was at a loss for what cause it to go off. The binky holders!!! I unclipped them (without dropping any children) and gave them to Jake. We sailed through with no offending alarms! Then I turned to the officer and asked "do the binky's have to go through the *disgusted face* xray machine?" He agreed that would be gross and asked Jake to just hand him the binkies. The officer took hold of the straps and kept them at arm's length away - like they were a stinky diaper or something! haha! Obviously he doesn't have kids. And after watching us, he probably won't.
We finally made it though security and reassembled our caravan. Jake and I then ducked into a family bathroom with the girls. We were a sticky, sweaty mess. We used paper towels to make cold compresses to cool us off. Seriously - my face was bright red!
We finally got to our gate. We grabbed some food and I nursed the babies before boarding. When it was almost time to board we started rearranging our stuff and packing up the stroller and carseats to gate check. There was a super nice gentleman on our flight that came over and helped us onto the plane. He said he misses his grandkids and thought we could use the help - he was right.
Scarlett loved the shuttle ride, the train ride, and the thought of riding on the airplane. But once we actually got on the plane she broke down into a full on tantrum!!! We had the only little kids on the plane so it was painfully obvious that the noise was coming from our little family... but everyone seemed super understanding (they were all probably just grateful that they weren't in our shoes). Jake and I are not allowed to book our tickets on the same row. Apparently there can only be 1 infant in arms per row. There are 4 oxygen masks above the 3 seats and they won't let you have more people than masks. I guess I am glad they're safe, but it was real inconvenient. Luckily he was sitting right next to me across the aisle. But I was worried about the poor soul who would get stuck in the window seat next to Scarlett (who at this time was on the ground screaming). Luckily it was a young dad of 3 boys who wasn't phased at all. Eventually I had to scoop Scarlett into her seat and constrain her with the seat belt while she cried so we wouldn't get kicked off the plane. But once we took off with the loud jet engines she calmed right down (yay jet engines!) I think she was just overwhelmed and scared of the new and strange environment.
We left the house 3 hours before our flight and still could have used more time. Getting through security was a circus! They make you take the sleeping babies out of their carriers and hold them as you walk through the security gate. So I ended up holding both babies while Scarlett held onto my leg and Jake dismantled our gear and sent it through the xray machine. There I was - 2 babies and 1 toddler - limping though the metal detector (since Scarlett had my leg in a kung fu master grip) and what do you know... we set off the alarm! The TSA officer asked if I had any metal... ???? um, I was wearing sweatpants (aka, my normal attire) and was at a loss for what cause it to go off. The binky holders!!! I unclipped them (without dropping any children) and gave them to Jake. We sailed through with no offending alarms! Then I turned to the officer and asked "do the binky's have to go through the *disgusted face* xray machine?" He agreed that would be gross and asked Jake to just hand him the binkies. The officer took hold of the straps and kept them at arm's length away - like they were a stinky diaper or something! haha! Obviously he doesn't have kids. And after watching us, he probably won't.
We finally got to our gate. We grabbed some food and I nursed the babies before boarding. When it was almost time to board we started rearranging our stuff and packing up the stroller and carseats to gate check. There was a super nice gentleman on our flight that came over and helped us onto the plane. He said he misses his grandkids and thought we could use the help - he was right.
Scarlett loved the shuttle ride, the train ride, and the thought of riding on the airplane. But once we actually got on the plane she broke down into a full on tantrum!!! We had the only little kids on the plane so it was painfully obvious that the noise was coming from our little family... but everyone seemed super understanding (they were all probably just grateful that they weren't in our shoes). Jake and I are not allowed to book our tickets on the same row. Apparently there can only be 1 infant in arms per row. There are 4 oxygen masks above the 3 seats and they won't let you have more people than masks. I guess I am glad they're safe, but it was real inconvenient. Luckily he was sitting right next to me across the aisle. But I was worried about the poor soul who would get stuck in the window seat next to Scarlett (who at this time was on the ground screaming). Luckily it was a young dad of 3 boys who wasn't phased at all. Eventually I had to scoop Scarlett into her seat and constrain her with the seat belt while she cried so we wouldn't get kicked off the plane. But once we took off with the loud jet engines she calmed right down (yay jet engines!) I think she was just overwhelmed and scared of the new and strange environment.
The best surprise was my dad was waiting for us when we landed at our gate! He just got off a different plane for a business trip! He and Jake got our bags and loaded the car while I changed the babies and nursed them. All in all, not too bad all things considered. At least we don't have triplets *knock on wood.*
Less then 48 hours after arriving Jake boarded another plane and headed back to Michigan for a few weeks of work and peace and quiet. I bought him a bunch of peanut butter treats to enjoy while I'm away. :-)
3 comments:
Love it. I still can't believe you made it in one piece. What a crazy adventure. But I'm glad that you made it so we got to see each other!
Oh traveling with littles is such a pain! But it sounds like it went very well, thought it probably didn't feel like it at the time. :-)
Cute pics!
I'm stressed just reading about this experience. Whew! Glad you made it alive! And, that there were nice people. There were basically ZERO nice people when I flew with my 3 alone which was so annoying to me. Sounded like you were surrounded by great people. Maybe because you were flying to UT and I wasn't, haha.
Post a Comment