Traveling with a toddler

I decided last minute that we should go back to Ohio for Christmas. Because Southwest has INCREDIBLE deals on flights from Philly to Columbus ($98 round trip), we decided to fly. Andrew was very excited, as his last plane trip wasn't too long ago. He told me we would see Grandma and Grandpa and then Memere and Pepere and then we'd go to Te-tucky. He then asked me when the moving truck was coming to get all of our stuff. Through misty eyes I explained to him that we were just VISITING, and that we would come back to PA to live after Christmas. I'm not sure if he ever really got it.

So Andrew was pretty cute traveling. He is just so interested in the planes, etc, it makes it very easy to entertain him. It helped that the Philly airport has this cool interactive kids area sponsored by the local children's museum. We're talking planes to sit in and drive, and a radio tower to stand in...then the two communicate through a speaker system. Radar to play with, an air tunnel to shoot feathers into the air, etc etc. Very cool...and I can't imagine why more airports don't have things like this. It really got a lot of energy out of Andrew so he wasn't too hyper on the plane.

The flight attendant was doing the safety demonstration as usual. He was putting on the life vest to demonstrate how to inflate it, and Andrew asked, "Is that man going to get off the plane and go swimming?"

We got in no problems. Lily was in hog heaven...she was carried around all day, never put in a swing or a bouncer or a crib. She would probably choose to LIVE in the airport if asked. She did hate the drive back to Grandma and Grandpa's...that awful old car seat. Uncle Chad flew into the Columbus airport just hours before us, so Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Chad were waiting for us outside the gates. Jeff and I didn't know all 3 would be there, and we were instantly concerned with how all 7 of us and our luggage were going to fit into the van. I don't think Linda and Paul realized just how much CRAP a family of 4 travels with these days. Okay, maybe it's just our family. But Uncle Chad saved the day! His luggage didn't make it to Columbus, so we had one less huge suitcase to deal with. All made it back to Mt. Vernon no problems.

Of course, after spending Thursday enjoying each other's company, the plague hit. Whatever I had on Monday, Andrew got Thursday night. Grandma woke up the next morning with it coming out both ends, and by late morning, Jeff was out for the count. Chad wisely quarantined himself into his bedroom, and Lily and I hung out and took care of Andrew. Everyone is feeling moderately better today, and neither Paul nor Chad have fallen victim to it yet.

Oh, and I updated my blog version and now can't even view my old blog. So welcome to the new "Moments of Sanity". Hopefully I won't get blocked out as an administrator anytime soon!