Spring Break 2K16 Woot Woot!

A few weeks ago Q had his spring break from school.  I was excited to go somewhere warm.  Unfortunately and like always- Q was overwhelmed with work and school and projects and preparing for presentations and working on his dissertation and planting a garden-and being all around the best and most awesome at everything - so he decided to stay home and get stuff done and did not join the rest of us while we traveled to Fabulous Las Vegas & Arizona.

It sounded like a great fun time and it didn't sink in that I would be traveling with two babies, two car seats luggage for three and stroller - by myself - until after we found a great deal and purchased the tickets.

We left at 8pm (bedtime) Monday night and arrived in Las Vegas at about 11(1:00am our time) - The children did fabulous. The security line was empty & the plane was empty! It was so fun to see how excited Poppy was to fly! She played while Pippin (Alexander) slept. Poppy had one potty break and one minor melt down, but then we were fine. We stood I stood (with baby attached to my chest and backpack on my back, pulling huge luggage with car seat attached whilst pushing stroller with other car seat, small backpack, pillow and blankets, and other child) in line for an hour to get a rental car  and both children did pretty good - the nice people standing next to me helped trudge my luggage up every time the line moved. Right about the time I was signing for the car - and the iPad died- Poppy bolted. I sighed a deep sigh and my tired shoulders slumped a little more.  A nice lady jumped out of line and got her for me.  We got our car- it took a while getting the car seats and everything in- so it was after midnight (2am) when we left the airport and arrived and BFF Bailey's house. Then of course we had to stay up and chat and Poppy couldn't sleep while there were so many toys to be played with... we got to bed around 2am. (4am).

The pictures will tell the rest.
 We stayed with Bailey and her cute family for two nights. Poppy really loved playing with Avery and all her awesome toys. I really loved hanging out with Bailey like old times. It was too short for sure.

The next two days we stayed with Donna's sweet family.
Poppy got to participate in one of Donna's preschool classes and their Easter egg hunt - she had so much fun! Another highlight for her was the bounce house and K's Shopkins collection! I adored every minute we spent with this family! The kids have grown so much and are so sweet to Poppy! Donna is so gracious and a ridiculously awesome preschool teacher! I sure do miss them.

After our two days were up, Grandma Pat picked us up and drove us back to Arizona to see family there for the next three days.

We played with Legos and played cards, ate Texas sheet cake and Lil' Sombrero's, enjoyed the sunshine and warm weather and had a wonderful time visiting with family - all the standard things that make our Arizona trips so awesome! Bonus: we swam in Grandma's pool & played ping-pong. We got to see Amber play in an orchestra concert, we got to celebrate Susan's birthday and we had more In n Out & Krispy Kreme!!  Poppy absolutely loved every minute with her cousins!

Time flew by and our trip was over. We flew home in the morning which worked out nice cause Grandma helped me to the gate.  We flew a different airline home so this time it was full.  Pippin had some crying spurts, but nothing too terrible, and Poppy was well entertained with the goodies Grandma Pat had packed for her. We were almost home.
We landed and I walked 10,000 steps (roughly 5 miles) to baggage claim with Baby on chest - Poppy in the stroller. I picked up my large suitcase now fully stuffed and overweight. I picked up both car seats and loaded up to walk to the car Q had left for me.  I wish I would've had someone take my picture. I felt like a donkey.  We walked to the parking lot and behold - we had flown a different airline in a different terminal so the car was not there.

I sighed a deep sigh and my tired shoulders slumped some more.

As I started off to find a way to get me and my crew to the other terminal a nice man saw me struggling to get out of an elevator and offered to help.  He arranged for me to take a handicap shuttle over to the other terminal and walked me to where I needed to be. The shuttle driver dropped me off, and carried all my stuff all the way into the parking lot elevator for me. I found my car. I drove home. We had lunch (4pm). We I collapsed.

It was a great trip - the traveling part was a little tough. We had many opportunities to appreciate the kindness of strangers.  My back hurts a little just remembering it- but I would do it again! We saw so many special people and made some great memories. And the best part of any trip - -

coming home.  :)