Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Home Again, Home Again

We are settling back into our Pennsylvania way of life. We left for the Seattle airport at 12:00 p.m. (PST) and arrived home at 2:00 a.m. (EST). It was a long day as this trip was our first cross country adventure that included layovers. We managed just fine and had the car seats strapped to strollers etc. like pros. We did get a many looks but after scanning the airport and planes for traveling families, we seemed to have it pretty easy. Our girls were superstars yet again and even had the routine down of letting daddy board first with car seats and carry-ons while we waited at the gate.

It felt like we were walking down the red carpet when boarding. I followed my three girls. Savannah was all smiles, Lila would stop at every third person and give them an unintelligible earful all while Adeline brought up the rear with her waves (two inches from people's faces - each aisle person that is). The passengers thought they were something else and one was even nice enough to seek us out after the flight and tell us how good our girls were for the long flight. Luckily, Lila and Savannah slept a good portion of the first flight while Adeline was asleep before the second flight ever made it off the ground.

I remember flying with baby Savannah and know how much more difficult flying could be. Thank goodness these girls are good travelers!!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Beautiful Northwest

One of those beautiful Seattle (actually Gig Harbor) days that makes you say, "I could live here." Two seconds later you remind yourself that clouds are plentiful and rain dominates the weather forecast. However, when it is beautiful, there is no better place to be.


No pictures by the water's edge because it was just too risky. The boat house had to do.




Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Flying the Nest Too Soon

We are currently at my parent's house and Savannah and I are staying in my old bedroom. In this bedroom there is a collage of my graduation pictures. I have caught Savannah eying them each night. Last night, she burst into tears after I had tucked her in and left the room. I ran downstairs as I was confident she had hurt herself. Hurt herself she did. I just wasn't expecting a broken heart. She told me she was so sad because she was thinking about when she grows up and leaves me. I was floored. To be honest, I almost started crying myself. I told her we could always be together and that she never has to leave me.

Fast forward to tonight. Savannah starts crying when standing in front of the same pictures. We replay the above conversation but this time she adds, "I am sad because I think I might want to leave you when I grow up." It is like she has realized that part of growing up means flying the nest. As much as the thought breaks my heart, I think it hurts her even more. I tried to calm her and told her that we could live next door if she feels the need to leave me. It didn't really work but lessened her anxiety to some degree.

Alex says that he remembers the day he realized that all people die, including himself. I guess that really freaked him out pretty bad for a few days. He thinks this is pretty similar. I don't know, but what I wish is that it would no longer be the center of her thoughts.

I think it was an ah-hah moment for both of us. Is this child really going to leave someday? She is the light of my life and I can't bare even thinking of it.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Napping?

A couple of days before we left on our trip we were very focused on napping the girls. Adeline had other ideas. She was having such a "nap party" in her room that daddy moved her to our sitting room crib. Alex went to check on her and this is what he found. I guess I should be happy about the pretend play she was doing with her kitty.

There is text in the middle of the video because I left my video software at home and am dependent on a watermarked version.

We Made It



We made it in all of our glory. I won't bore you with too many details but I do want to note that Adeline kept her sats up and didn't have any trouble flying. Such a difference from last year when we were dealing with nonstop vomiting and plummeting sats. We looked like your average family on the plane this year. Well, I take that back. I think most people took one look at me walking down the aisle with my three girls and assumed they were in for a noisy flight. I am so proud to report that there were no tears, meltdowns or time out of the car seat. The twins were perfect for both flights which totaled seven plus hours. Savannah on the other hand was a sick little girl with a rising fever and painful congestion. I felt terrible for her as the misery was very apparent in her eyes. Unfortunately, Savannah threw up in the car after getting off the plane and Adeline followed in her footsteps once arriving at Grandma and Grandpas.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Wish Us Luck


Our family will be sleeping in the friendly skies tonight. . . or at least trying to.