The Watts Family: 2010

So we knew going into the day that it was going to be bad. We had 7 hours of travel ahead of us to get us home from Nana & poppies house in North Carolina back to our humble abode in Utah. But Alora had just been diagnosed with pneumonia, Carter with an ear infection, and I had what felt like the start of the flu.

Sooo.....when you are expecting the worst, then it doesn't seem that bad right? WRONG!!!

Here is the how the day shaped up:

2:22:Original fly time from NC to MN. Check in only to discover the flight will be delayed in MN due to snow and we wouldn't make connecting flight to SLC. OK, no biggie, still smiles. Re-book to a 2:45 flight to GA. Change gates. (3 kids-2 sick, 2 adults-1 pregnant and wearing heals no less (fashion first, right??), 1 carry on per person-that's 5 if you lost count, 1 lap top bag, 1 giant diaper bag, and 1 toddler car seat**) Get on new plane for GA.

(**=reference #1)

"Oh, look kids!! It's snowing here!!! How fun! It NEVER snows in North Carolina. How pretty!"

Well, that '...never snows in North Carolina part?' part? So true. We sit on runway waiting for runway to clear and the plane to be de-iced. An hour goes by....ah-oh! the plane is out of gas! Back to the terminal to re-fuel. Another hour passes. Ah-oh, the plane sat too long and has to be de-iced again. Ah-oh again! the de-icer machine is broken and has to have a mechanic come look at it. It's ok, still smiles! we went through every single coloring book, sticker book, leap frog toy, snack in the bag, and we haven't left NC yet! Oh boy.

Finally!! We are off! Hooray and off to GA we go.

5:40pm: Arrive in GA. We were supposed to have 2 and a half hr lay-over so we could eat dinner, have potty breaks, change diapers, ect. BUT since we were 2 hours late, we had to RUNRUNRUN to the next flight. (see reference #1) Do not stop for food, do not stop for potty, do not stop to change that 40 lb pee leaking diaper! The next gate is 2 escalators, 1 walking side walk and 1 concourse train ride later. Phew! Made it just in time! (they had already made the last boarding call!) Get on plane in a big heap, but, hey, at least we made it. Get to runway...hear the captain say we are #2 for take off...wait to "blast off!" and wait, and wait, and wait....hear captain say there is a small problem with the fuel line, but its no biggie, a crew is right on that and we will be off in no time! One hour later still on runway. no smiles anymore. mommy's head cold is full blown migraine. crying children, and "NO! I don't want to color!!!"

Captain: "So sorry, but it looks like we will have to taxi back to the terminal and change planes."

Gather up sick and crying kids, gather up 7 bags, gather up car seat, and head back in to another plane.

Sometime after 8PM: Get on 4 hr 18 min flight from GA to SLC.

Spent. Don't even care if the people next to us changed seats 'because of the smell of the bathroom" Can't do a single thing for my inconsolable baby sitting next to me. Listen to Richie complain that he 'just wanted a chicken sandwich, why can't I just have a chicken sandwich??' Carter on my lap trying to sleep because he is so tired, but doesn't have room to lay down. Mommy's migraine that is now off the charts.

8:15-12:30am: Enter the longest flight/4 hours of my life.

1am: Hooray! We made it to Salt Lake! Let's get our luggage and just go home. Waiting, waiting...does it usually take this long to get our luggage? Ohhh, of course our luggage is lost. The line to the lost luggage office was really long, so we went to our car first. (which, btw, my parents had so graciously dropped of in short term parking earlier that day) Get all kids and luggage in car and head back to lost luggage counter. IT'S CLOSED!! What, do they close shop at 2:00AM??? So Rich's hustles around the airport to find out what can be done about our lost luggage. My silent prayers for mercy back at the car must have been heard, because some gentleman opened up the lost luggage office and vwaaa-laaaa!!! There sits our luggage. HALLELUJAH!!

3:00am: Get home and crash.

8:00am: wake up to baby with diarrea and a 5 year old that thinks he's going to throw up. Oh, and I think that migraine has actually gotten worse.

Alas...the end of my story. We are home, we are safe, we are not all healthy, but if we can get through yesterday, we can get through anything!!!

DECEMBER!!!

Richie and Carter were helping Dad shovel the snow, which brought on a game of sword-fighting between Richie and Carter. This "game" however, resulted in.....