Plane Rides and Buggy Sightings

A couple weeks back Grayden and I (Jen) took a weekend trip to Ohio for some family time. My great Uncle Larry and Aunt Jo Ellen from California were going to be in town and a Doyle reunion was in the works. Because we've been traveling so much we've had little time to get the house worked on, so Rob stayed home and invited his Dad and Grandpa to help do some handy man work. I was really hesitant to make the 9 1/2 hour drive to Ohio with Grayden by myself. (Just the thought of stopping at a rest area for a potty break brought pictures to my mind of myself on the toilet and Grayden crawling under the stall and being grabbed by some lunatic woman...I could just see how it would all unfold. The chaotic trip to Ohio) Anyway, because of my crazy anxiety disorder, I decided it would be easier for Grayden and I to fly. I made the flight for the late in the evening and to fly back early in the am. I thought Grayden would do better if it was close to his sleeping times. The whole airport experience with a child was a little terrifying to me- again my anxiousness was sinking in and I was just afraid that he would have terrible earaches just like Rob or that he would want to run up and down the aisle way. We got to the airport, checked our carseat and suitcase, and said our goodbyes to Rob. And then it was just me. In the airport alone. I got in the line for security. I was holding Grayden, the diaper bag and pushing the stroller. As we got closer, I started to close the stroller to put it on the conveyer belt (I think that's what it's called, correct?) Holding a child who wants to get down and trying to close a stroller is a bit of a task, but I mastered it pretty easily. Just as I fhad finished getting everything on the belt (sandels, diaper bag, stroller), the nice security man looked at Grayden and said" Ma'am you will need to take off his shoes too, please." I looked at him appalled. I didn't say anything, but with one hand started untying his shoes, which let me explain; we have to double knot his shoes to a perfect science so he can't take them off. It takes me forever to get his shoes off somedays...and this was one of those days. I was holding up the line trying to untie my 15 month old's shoes!! Are you kidding me? He's not even two! Do you think he has a knife hidden in those shoes? Ridiculous. After much effort and the nice security man finally offering to help untie them, we got his shoes untied and made our way through the metal detector. We made it through, with no problems. I start to get my things, when the next nice security woman approaches me to tell me she needs to check Grayden's sippy cups, which was to be expected. As I struggle to get the stroller out and open, place my screaming son into the stroller, get my sippy cups back, and move out of the way, a buisness man walks by laughing hysterically at me and says "they made you take off his shoes??" I shoke my head yes...and he continued on laughing like a mad man. I was glad I wasn't the only one who thought it was silly.

The actual flight was good- Grayden had his 15 month shots that morning and was pretty worn out, so he fell asleep as soon as we got on the plane. The flight back was similiar... And overall I was relieved. We made it through our first airport and plane ride.

We had a great visit with family. We spent Friday in Dover, Ohio and went to Amish Country for the day. Grayden enjoyed some fabulous amish food (grilled cheese, creamed corn, and yeast rolls...), saw some horse and buggys, went to the petting zoo at the flea market and enjoyed his own ice cream cone. Saturday we cooked out at my Uncle Chas and Aunt Lori's house. Grayden got to spend time with several of my family and we had a great time. Overall, the hectic airport experience was worth it...


Here are some pictures from Amish Country and our Reunion:



Grayden with his Great Uncle Charles (they matched!)



My cousin Meagan and I trying on hats.


Uncle Brian, Grayden, Jen, and Gr'ma


Loves ice cream!! (This was a free kids scoop!)

At the petting zoo.

Part of the family at the reunion.



Grayden and his second cousin Zachary in the pool.