MI-->UT: Flying to Utah

So we are back from our Utah trip.  I have lots of photos I still need to comb through (over 3000 - yikes!!!  I'm out of control with a camera!  And a lot of them are photos that other people took and gave to me.)  So ya, I've been avoiding my blog.  I'm going to try my best to catch up before September.  But no promises.

After we found out that my Grandpa Seaver passed away I spent several hours arranging a flight home.  In the wee hours of the morning Delta finally called me back and they moved around our tickets for that week.  I was worried that we wouldn't get seats together but apparently they "lock" the two back rows for families needing to travel together.  So we were set.

I spent the next 3 days scrambling to get everything ready.  I said goodbye to 3 great friends since they were moving away from MI while I was in UT.  I cleaned/organized/packed/shopped/stressed.  And in between I practiced the piano for the funeral.  Needless to say I was a bit frazzled.  Luckily I have some truly amazing friends and they stepped in to help me get everything ready.  One friend sent her son to play with the girls while I did laundry and packed.  Scarlett was in HEAVEN having a "big kid" jump with her.  We also hired him to mow our lawn and feed our fish while we were away.

I bought the girls electric toothbrushes so they would stop using mine.  They take their oral hygiene pretty seriously (Dr. Fjeldsted would be proud!).

The morning of our flight Scarlett was up at 4am - she was just sooooo excited!  I told her she could lay in her bed and play on the iPad.  At like 6:30am I heard her get out of bed and she went in the twirls room and woke them up!!!!  Oh my goodness that girl was driving me crazy.  Thankfully the twirls went back to sleep.  But chatty Scarlett prevented mommy from getting any more sleep that day.

My friend Rachel drove with us in our van to the airport and dropped us off curbside.  We also check our bags right there.  It's our favorite way to travel.  While we were driving to the airport Scarlett yelled "I see the airport!  I have special eyes."  It's so funny cause Jake and I will quote that special eyes commercial all the time (watch it here), but I don't think Scarlett has heard us, just a coincidence!  So funny!

Since Jake was flying home earlier than the rest of us, his ticket was on a different itinerary.  Normally that would be no problem.  Except when all the girls and I got TSA precheck one our itinerary and routed to a different security line across the room from Jake.  I had a mini-panic attack at this very inconvenient "convenience".  After a few deep breaths and reassuring looks from Jake I turned to my short line and quickly assessed the situation.  Bags stay closed, fluids left inside, shoes on feet.  I started sending our stuff down the conveyor belt then I took the twirls out of the stroller.  I made a 4 link human chain as the TSA staff took my stroller though a special gate.  I sent each girl through the metal detector as best as I could, though they were unwilling to let go of my hand.  Once we were through the twirls were anxious for me to hold them and Scarlett kept clinging to my leg (no crying, just nervous at the unfamiliar environment).  I did my best to grab all our gear while my arms were full of people.  I made a big pile on the floor then bounced the twirls to help them calm down while we waited for the TSA people to check our stroller thoroughly for explosive residue (cause clearly we fit the terrorist profile).  While he was wiping it down I was singing to the girls.  I can't remember my song exactly but it was something like this: "we're almost done.  Mom needs to potty.  We need some water.  Mom's really sweaty" you get the idea.  I was just in my own little world and it wasn't until the TSA guy brought me the stroller and said "I like your song" that I realized what I was saying *awkward*.  I buckled the twirls and loaded our gear in the stroller.  I finished just as Jake moseyed on over from his very boring 7 minutes without us.  I was bright red and sticky.  Soooo thankful for that "lucky" precheck! *sarcasm font*  

All through the airport Scarlett had to tell people about her upcoming journey: "I'm going to sleep on the airplane" or "bye!  I'm going to miss you!  I'm going on the airplane today."  haha!  

(yes, I've clipped the twirls' leashes to the stroller so they can't run away.  Cause we're classy like that.)

On the plane I had Jaide and Scarlett next to me.  Jake and Siena were just across the aisle.  Fortunately for us, no one came and sat next to Siena!  We found out that the little girl sitting in front of Siena was named Jade!  All 3 girls did amazing!  I think it helps that they all LOVE airplanes.

We drugged them with Benadryl before boarding but the medicine and the 7pm take off time were no match for the pure excitement of riding on an airplane or the joy they felt by opening and closing the windows on our row over and over and over and over.  At one point I somehow ended up with all the kids on my 3 seats while Jake enjoyed sprawling out.

James and Hailey picked us up in Utah.  The girls didn't fall asleep until we were driving home - hours past their rigid bed time.  We were barely on the freeway when they all passed out.  Scarlett's poor head kept rolling around like a rag doll.  Aunt Hailey to the rescue!  She held her head up for the rest of the drive.