Going West is Best
So we're here and I feel like death, so if I make lots of spelling and grammar errors, please excuse me.
The flights were awesomely awesome. I cannot say enough about the good people of Delta Airlines. I may have to write them an effusively nice and pleasant e-mail complimenting the niceness of their people and the fact that their airplane bathrooms remained clean and sweet-smelling for the entire intercontinental flight.
Backtrack to Saturday...details are on Gen's blog as well. We had a great time. I am still impressed that we managed to get everyone organized and lured up to the Cities. We spent the afternoon at the Minnesota Children's Museum and the evening at the Holidazzle Parade in downtown Minneapolis. Could it have been any better? Not really. One part of the day in downtown St. Paul, the other in downtown Minneapolis, with my best buddy and a few other little people. We even somehow managed to drive past Como Conservatory...on our anniversary. Awwww...
Anyway, up early to snow on Sunday morning. We loaded up the car and after the Rachel-Gen SuperQuick & Painless (patent pending) goodbye, I drove us over to the airport, dropped off the van and got checked in with the help of a couple of very kind people who noticed me struggling with the luggage cart and dragging the stroller, all while trying not to run Josiah over with it. What is it about preschoolers and being right in the way? He's lucky not to have any broken toes, I tell you.
The flight attendant from Minneapolis to Atlanta could not have been nicer. She let Annika play with her safety demonstration faux seatbelt and air mask. And now that Annika can also read the words "Delta" and "Exit", I think we can slap some French tips on her nails and send her out for her first job.
On the flight to Stuttgart, we got the first middle row of seats...no one in front of us. Nothing but the TV, which I thought would be awesome until it was 3:00 a.m. and the super-bright TV was keeping me from sleeping. But the leg room and proximity to the bathrooms was awesome. Mental note--choose row 13 on the Airbus. Seems unlucky, but it was not.
So here we are, and my house is intact, if not perfectly, sparkly clean. I can get over it. I had a chance to vacuum everything quickly while the boys were out and am feeling much better. Hans, Steve and Josiah went to Garmisch today for an overnight. We girls were meant to go as well, but I certainly didn't want to be stuck on a three-hour car ride with Little Miss Crabby and as I am Big Mrs. Crabby today too, I thought it maybe better that we stay home, lay on the couch and watch "Mamma Mia".
Hopefully sleeping will go a little better tonight. Annika was out by 6:00 last night, Josiah by about 7:30 and I fell asleep at 9:00, only to be woken countless times by little folks who couldn't sleep between 1:00 and 3:00. Finally everyone got back to sleep (including poor Grandpa) and I woke up to Hans' smiling face at 10:00 a.m. I'm guessing that tonight will be a little better, maybe the kids will get to sleep at a normal time and wake a little later (earlier?) in the morning...and that it will get better day by day.
Being home is nice, though. Very nice.
The flights were awesomely awesome. I cannot say enough about the good people of Delta Airlines. I may have to write them an effusively nice and pleasant e-mail complimenting the niceness of their people and the fact that their airplane bathrooms remained clean and sweet-smelling for the entire intercontinental flight.
Backtrack to Saturday...details are on Gen's blog as well. We had a great time. I am still impressed that we managed to get everyone organized and lured up to the Cities. We spent the afternoon at the Minnesota Children's Museum and the evening at the Holidazzle Parade in downtown Minneapolis. Could it have been any better? Not really. One part of the day in downtown St. Paul, the other in downtown Minneapolis, with my best buddy and a few other little people. We even somehow managed to drive past Como Conservatory...on our anniversary. Awwww...
Anyway, up early to snow on Sunday morning. We loaded up the car and after the Rachel-Gen SuperQuick & Painless (patent pending) goodbye, I drove us over to the airport, dropped off the van and got checked in with the help of a couple of very kind people who noticed me struggling with the luggage cart and dragging the stroller, all while trying not to run Josiah over with it. What is it about preschoolers and being right in the way? He's lucky not to have any broken toes, I tell you.
The flight attendant from Minneapolis to Atlanta could not have been nicer. She let Annika play with her safety demonstration faux seatbelt and air mask. And now that Annika can also read the words "Delta" and "Exit", I think we can slap some French tips on her nails and send her out for her first job.
On the flight to Stuttgart, we got the first middle row of seats...no one in front of us. Nothing but the TV, which I thought would be awesome until it was 3:00 a.m. and the super-bright TV was keeping me from sleeping. But the leg room and proximity to the bathrooms was awesome. Mental note--choose row 13 on the Airbus. Seems unlucky, but it was not.
So here we are, and my house is intact, if not perfectly, sparkly clean. I can get over it. I had a chance to vacuum everything quickly while the boys were out and am feeling much better. Hans, Steve and Josiah went to Garmisch today for an overnight. We girls were meant to go as well, but I certainly didn't want to be stuck on a three-hour car ride with Little Miss Crabby and as I am Big Mrs. Crabby today too, I thought it maybe better that we stay home, lay on the couch and watch "Mamma Mia".
Hopefully sleeping will go a little better tonight. Annika was out by 6:00 last night, Josiah by about 7:30 and I fell asleep at 9:00, only to be woken countless times by little folks who couldn't sleep between 1:00 and 3:00. Finally everyone got back to sleep (including poor Grandpa) and I woke up to Hans' smiling face at 10:00 a.m. I'm guessing that tonight will be a little better, maybe the kids will get to sleep at a normal time and wake a little later (earlier?) in the morning...and that it will get better day by day.
Being home is nice, though. Very nice.
Comments
Enjoy your day with Annika, Rachel. She is a honey. I hope the guys enjoy their time, too.