Goodbye Pacific Northwest, Hello Virginia

We made it to frigid Virginia, where we're staying warm against 0 degree weather (what's with this winter???) and recovering from a trying trans-continental flight. I won't mention the airline, but I'm quite convinced they were 'United' against us the whole way! =) First, imagine trying to check in 10 50-lb bags, 3 car seats, and a stroller while also managing 5 carry-ons and the 3 kids... at the check-in kiosk where we had to do the work ourselves, then pay for each piece of luggage (despite being within our weight and bag allowance!) and then carrying them all over for x-ray screening, all while being scolded for blocking the 2-way traffic with our things. Sigh.

Then we were told at the security gate that we were specially selected for "some extra attention and assistance". Great, we thought. We could use it!!! Little did we know what that really meant is we were selected for full security screening, with pat-downs, some bizarre puffer machine that felt like it was going to blow our clothes right off us, and detailed searching of each of the carry-ons. Thank goodness we got to the airport 3 hours early!

I thought things were looking up when the only coffee shop past security DID have the sprinkle doughnuts I had promised the kids in exchange for good behavior (I had thought there was a bakery where we could eat, but it was on the other side of security, and I wasn't about to go back through!). But then the airlines again mounted an offense against us, and denied us early boarding. The man actually said, "We don't pre-board children here" and sent us all away. Annoying! And then they had the audacity to repeatedly complain over the PA system that too many of us were standing in the isle and blocking traffic, trying to get our kids, our bags, and ourselves stowed. And Isaac, while he was SO good and pleasant despite his first cold, had 2 diaper blow-outs, and the planes had no changing tables. The poor business man who got stuck beside us as we struggled through clean-up balancing it all on our laps!

But then again, we managed 3 kids on 2 flights with no tears (from them or from us!), Isaac had no trouble with the air pressure changes, all 13 of our checked items arrived, and we had only a 20 minute delay in Chicago despite our plane having mechanical difficulties (being Chicago, they had another plane sitting around for us to use!). We're enjoying Chad's family, and they're loving on the grand kids. So I guess there isn't that much to complain about after all. Plus, we have a whole 2 1/2 months to recover before we do it all again!