AND... We're Off …

I have really been having mixed emotions with this move. I've not been the least bit excited. It feels daunting and stressful. I've never been one to think I could pack up my family and move overseas! Yes, R and I thought about it a few years back but throw a baby in the mix and that changes everything!!!!!!  I've shed a lot of tears, I've had a lot of anxiety, and I've prayed A LOT!

I kept telling R. I wanted to start packing on Sunday or Monday before we left on Wednesday. Did that happen? Of course not!

Tuesday we woke up to not a single bag packed.  ...Sigh! I also told R. I really wanted his help to pack up because it was really the last thing I wanted to do. In fact the very thought of packing made me want to scream!  It ended up taking all day.  He didn't even help that much.

Wednesday We got up, got the last items packed up and loaded the luggage all 7 checked bags and 6 carry-on's. Yes, you read that right! We have tons of luggage!

Ironically enough as we were pulling out of the driveway headed to the airport "I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane" was the song on the radio! 

Checking in to our flight in Oklahoma City went pretty smoothly. It took a little time with all the checked luggage we had, but we had an awesome person helping us at the counter! She was really on top of her game and patient! When traveling on orders it can make things interesting.

Getting through security took some time. We had 2 computers to pull out of the bag, 6 carryons 1 car seat plus taking off our shoes and our liquid bags. Then they had to swab my hands because I was wearing Boss Man. 

Our flight out of Oklahoma City went well. Boss Man slept the whole flight, THANK YOU nap time! We were 30 min. late landing though. Which meant we had to seriously hustle to catch our connecting flight to Seattle. I do mean SERIOUSLY hustle!!! We de-boarded the plane as soon as we could. Boss Man threw a few noonies on the floor before he fell asleep. I didn't have time to find them before we got off the plane.

We landed in Minneapolis at gate A22 (one of the very end gates), We had to get to G3 and didn't have time to wait for the tram. We also had to wait for our gate checked bags which took time we didn't have!

We took off running Reed with the car seat strapped to one of the carryons one of the diaper bags strapped into the car seat and the laptop bag. I was wearing Boss Man on my back with one of the diaper bags and the other rolling carryon.  I KNOW I was a sight running through the airport. I ran until I thought my legs were going to give out, (I managed to hyper extend my knee getting off one of those moving walking belts.) I would walk as fast as I could then would run some more! People were looking at me like that lady is not going to catch her flight. 

Let me tell you, where there's a will there's a way (and the grace of God on our side) because by the time I made it to the counter at gate G3 They were well on their way in the boarding process BUT I MADE IT! Reed was lagging behind a little and waved me on so I made it to the counter shortly before he did. While we made it to the gate, we still had to get our boarding passes because they didn't give them to us in Oklahoma City. 

A couple of very nice people told us to hop in line ahead of them so we did! We were a site while trying to get to our seats. …. Row 32 second from last. R. is doing his best to hold the car seat up above everyone's head and I've got loads of bags myself. I'm just apologizing as I walk down the isle. “excuse us, I'm so sorry” etc. 

I had time to change Boss Man's diaper and asked the flight attendant if it was possible to get 2 glasses of water. By the time I got seated R. was working out seat arrangement with someone else who graciously switch R. seats, giving R. his isle seat taking a middle instead. ... He should be glad he did because Little Man didn't go to sleep until the last 30 minutes.  We both sat down with a HUGE sigh! Whew! We made it!

We were the very last people off that flight. Boss man threw noonies, books, socks and shoes among a few toys in the floor. We had to gather everything which included locating a missing shoe. The flight attendants helped us get half our stuff off the plane. I apologized profusely for 1. all of our stuff and 2. for taking so long. 

I am thankful they were so patient and thankful they ignored half our bags not being under the seat for take off and landing.  

And... We're Off... Take 2 coming soon!