The Trip

Well, incase you hadn't heard, I'm in Canada!  But getting here wasn't as easy as it was supposed to be!  Although I had been planning for weeks, which I guess in the end I'm very glad I did!
I was nervous to fly with three kids by myself, and especially when one of them is 16 months old and doesn't like to sit still.  As a result, I planned and planned for this trip.  I bought and made things, packing their airplane backpacks just right with all the things I thought would keep them busy.  And I bought a flight in the afternoon so that if all went according to plan Owen would nap on the flight for me.  AND!!!  It all worked out.  Perfectly!  Flight was on time, said we had a tail wind so it would be 2.5 hours instead of 3, Owen fell asleep during take off and I had the other two watching Despicable Me on the iPad with their headphones.  Perfect flight... patting myself on the back for planning just right when out of nowhere the captain comes on and says that this weird smell (which I did smell and thought it was Owen's diaper, and then somebody just passing nasty gas) that happened during our accent was a safety concern and we were going to need to make an emergency landing in Vegas to make sure everything is ok.
That was the quietest landing ever.  Everyone was a little nervous, but the captain had sounded calm and nonchalant about it.  When we landed, 3 fire trucks and plenty of police vehicles chased us down to our gate and we immediately had to evacuate the plane.  So that was a bit scary, and very upsetting for me realizing quickly that this was going to turn into a major change in plans and my perfect situation was ruined.
So, it's a long story after that.. but it was a very frustrating and emotional day for me.  Now that it's in hindsight it doesn't feel as bad, but it's taken me a few days to get there.
At first we were just waiting while the fire guys checked things out, and then the maintenance crew.  We landed around 2:15.  At 4ish they finally told us our new take off time was going to be 9.  They gave us meal vouchers and said be back by 8 to see what's going on.  So I asked if there was a place for kids to play...  There was.. then there wasn't, so it ended up being a long unnecessary walk, but honestly, what else did we have to do!  I had Brenna and Mason walking with heavy backpacks, and Owen strapped into an umbrella stroller against his will while I carried a backpack and a diaper bag.  So we got some food and decided to just hang out at the gate since walking wasn't worth it.  So we just wasted hours and hours and hours.  We would ask what's going on and always get a different answer.. looks good, not good... nobody knew.  8 comes and goes, 9 comes and goes, and no updates at all.  finally around 10 they said our flight was going to be cancelled and we were going to hotels for the night.  (my kids go to bed at 7, so lets say I was at a bit of a pickle already here).  So we go to get our bags and then to the line for hotel vouchers... which we were at the end of because we took a lot longer than other to arrive there.  There had been very many friendly fellow passengers helping me along the way with bags and entertaining the kids and so one of them was saving my spot in line while I walked in circles around my two hyper kids who couldn't sit still with my crying baby in his stroller trying to get him to sleep.  I called Jeremy and was just asking him to come get me because I didn't want to wait in line forever then go to a hotel and then come back and then do it all again by myself... I was starting to lose my composure, when I felt a tap on my shoulder.  It was another of the moms flying with kids and she said "listen, the whole line just voted, and you're next in line".  I was so overwhelmed, I literally burst into tears.  I thanked her so many times as she herded my kids and my stuff to the line.  I tried to turn to thank all of the people in line but it was just more crying (and very embarrassing).  So long story... at 11:30 we got into our hotel room, conked the kids all out.  We had to be up by 5:30 though and I couldn't sleep at all.
We came back for our 9 o'clock flight, which in the end was more like 11:30ish, but it did happen, we did take off and land in Calgary.  Owen did sleep the entire time, and I had NEVER been so happy to have reached a destination.  I was running on no sleep, too much stress, and honestly, crazy emotions.  I remember on the flight looking at Owen sleeping so peacefully and getting teary eyed so grateful he was asleep and at how precious he was... I may have been losing it a bit!
I do have to say thank you to all of the people (who I don't know and will never read this) who helped me.  The red head in the green dress who instigated the vote of the line for me and had been helpful to me already a few times... If I could I'd give you a bear hug!  To the lady that talked to me, colored with Mason, did a puzzle with Brenna and walked Owen up and down the hall trying to get him to sleep and her boyfriend who helped when we had to get our bags... you two were a lifesaver and I'm glad to have met you and to have been able to thank you.  To the other mom who was traveling with her family and her dad who let me tag along with them to make sure I made it to the hotel and back to the airport ok since I've never done anything like that on my own before, let alone with 3 kids.  I don't know if I would have made it without your help, and the movies on your lap top.  Thank you so much!  And all of the other people who offered to help or smiled and wished us well.  It was a great group of people to be stuck with and not one of them was rude or negative towards me and my kids.
It seems almost silly now, but I definitely felt like it was a pretty traumatic experience and was so glad to be done with it.  It will be a long time before I try that again... not with a little one at least!

And of coarse I took no pictures... I don't know why I don't think to do it in these situations.  I guess in survival mode I don't remember things like that!

So there you go.  that's long, and I don't expect many to read, but for those who wanted the story and didn't get it!  Phew!  Better luck in all of your travels... and now I need good vacation ideas because we did get a few free flights out of the situation!!!

My Country Tis of Thee and God Save the Queen!

Oh boy, we have been busy and having fun!  I don't take pictures as often as I should though!  But here's what I've got!

So far this summer has been filled with lots... LOTS of swimming!  Mason is a pro now, and Brenna is learning strokes and diving and is really good at diving for rings!  They are little fish and would swim for hours every day if I wanted to!  I don't have pictures of any of that though.  They wear their goggles now and look really cute though!

And how about this little guy?  I could seriously eat him up.  Sometimes he drives me crazy, that much is true, but I was shopping with him and Owen today while Brenna was at an art class, and he was just so funny and cute and it was a lot of fun.  I can't often say that about a shopping trip with kids, so I was really enjoying it.  

This is him ready for his overnight date with Grandma!  A few months ago Grandma had an overnight girls night and Mason was SOOOO sad!  So Grandma was so sweet and took Mason to a play of Shrek and then had him over to sleep.  He was in heaven and did really well and had a blast!  Even though the play was late and he fell asleep for the last little bit.  Fun memories for this little boy!  And since he's the only boy (who's old enough and lives close by) he got 100% of Grandma's attention!  

This time Owen was sad to be left behind... for like 2 minutes until he forgot.  Brenna was very sad though!

So proud of the smily faces she makes on the fridge.  

Seriously?  haha ok, so I think my kids are cute.  I'm hanging on to this baby face as long as humanly possible!

Silly faces... Brenna's new favorite type of pictures!  And she does a pretty good job too!

And that brings us to the 4th of July!  The best day of the year in these kids opinions!  It was actually a really perfect day!  We woke up early to go to our ward's pancake breakfast.. these kids will do anything for pancakes!  We got there right on time too so we could watch the flag ceremony.  I had to mumble a bit through the pledge of allegiance, but I'm getting the hang of it.  I actually got very emotional this 4th.  With the firefighters who died and left so many families behind and the moment of silence we had for them, and also I've been counting my blessings lately, not the least of which is being so free, it's been making me emotional... or maybe it's hormones, who knows!

ANYWAY!  We had a very nice talk with the kids about our freedom and our country, and it was special to me!  (And we included that Canada is the same good-ness and blessed too!)

Then when we came home I did a very patriotic hair-do for Brenna which she rocked all day!  Do you see the star?  It wasn't quite as obvious as I had hoped!

Then we went off to a movie.  Our new tradition since last year.  Apparently it's everybody else's tradition too because the movie was sold out at two times before we could finally get tickets, and we had to sit in the very very front row!  But Despicable Me 2 is cute!

Then home for naps, and then off to the big family dinner!  This is the first time we've done something like this and it was great!  Good food, lots of family, swimming with a water slide, and fireworks!  The kids were seriously in heaven and Brenna told me today that she wishes that the 4th could last forever.. haha silly girl.

Yikes!  Apparently I'm a sissy because having the kids twirling sparklers around was really scary for me, but I guess it's very safe and normal.  Or such is the feeling of everybody!

So, we've been having fun with family bbq's, swimming, summer movie program, Brenna's art class, swimming, and getting ready for Canada!  Which honestly is taking up way too much of my brain time and I think I will be way over prepared, and anyone who knows me will be glad I'm gone!  haha but really we cannot wait, it's hot hear and we miss family!  Can't wait for Canada!  And the day after we get home, Brenna starts school!  I cannot believe it!  My little girl *sniff, sniff*  *yippee!!*  haha it's a mixed emotion, but she is so ready and excited and so I am too!  Coming soon, pictures of her in her school uniform!