My 22 hour flight with 2 boys

We did it.  All our stuff {that we need} made it into the suitcases and now we're here. 

So here is a little window into the world of traveling/moving internationally with two small children.  And if you've been reading my blog long, you know that by small, I mean young, because in no way are my kids small.

We left for LAX at 2:00pm Wednesday afternoon.  Four suitcases, 4 carry-ons, 1 car seat, 1 stroller, 2 kids and a momma, we were ready to go.  Well as ready as we could be.

Trying to sqeeuze orselves into an elevator... We almost made it!

So we kinda have a tradition. We check all our luggage in and walk upstairs have have some food and relax before I have to start my awesome journey. My parents always take me to the airport and it's become kinda a thing of ours.  I think it's funny/super awesome that we travel enough to make it a tradtion.

The funniest {well, funny now, looking back} is when we had to go through security. I have two kids who just said bye to their grandparents and weren't happy about it. Needless to say, I was sad too, I like my parents. So I am struggling to get all my luggage onto the security check thing and Eli makes a run for my parents. After running after him, letting him say bye one more time, and then getting back in line, Tae now wants to say bye again. But Grammy and Papi, who have realized at this point it might not be a great idea to be standing by because the boys will keep running to them, had left. So Tae ran to say bye and they were gone. Ok, one person crying

Finally everything is on the scanner.  Computer is taken out, no one is wearing shoes and it is time to pass through.  I go first with Eli.  BEEP BEEP. Whoops, forgot to take out my cell phone "you have to go through again, ma'am."  I had over my cell phone and walk through again.  Phew, we're good. I put Eli down to wait for Tae.

Tae's turn.  He beeps too.  What they heck?  Oh ya, he took my european cell phone earlier and put it in his pocket to have one too.  Tae, hand me the cell phone.  But as I did this, I put my hand through the security again to grab the phone.  "I'm sorry, ma'am, you're going to have to go through again."

"what??  ugh, okay."  So I walk through again, without Eli, hand over the other phone and get ready to go again.  Wait, why is the alarm going off.  No one is even walking through.  What is going on?

"Ma'am, you're going to have to get your kid.  He is setting off the alarm."  I look down and Eli is stuck between the sensor and the pole crying, trying to get his binkie.  Who knows how his binkie got there, but of course it did.  I literally had to drag Eli out of there.  2 people crying.

BEEP BEEP BEEP.  Yep, I beeped again.  I have NO IDEA what set that beeper off, but I do know that it set me off.  Now we are 3 people crying.  wow, all three of us crying within the first 15 minutes, do we get some kind of award or something??

Then nice security man tells me; "Ma'am, we're going to have to pat you down." 

"That is fine, whatever, I just want to get through." I mumble, between sobs.

"Just let her through, Joe, she's fine."

THANK YOU!! 

Then there was a lovely lady who talked to Tae the entire time after when I was trying to get my things and I think it helped him a bit.  She lied to him and told him she would be flying the plane, but whatever.  He'll never know...

Okay, so we made it.  Between loading up all our stuff to make a bathroom run, to breaking the toilet seat covers in the airplane bathroom, we had some experiences.  But all in all, we got on the plane and got ready for the long flight ahead.  That means snacks...

We had a 4 hour lay over in Madrid.  Guess what they had there...

A full on, free play place!!!!!!!!!  The boys were in heaven.  Eli was cracking up and Tae was loving it.  And guess what, I read a little.  I just can't even tell you how special that was.

And so here we are.  Exhausted and still adjusting, but happy.  Happy to be in France.  Happy to see daddy {who had to leave for a game today, BOO}.  Happy to have a new yard to run around and play in.  Also excited for the new opportunities we have waiting for us this year.

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers, they were appreciated and most definitely helped.