Stateside
Yesterday afternoon I spent a great deal of money that we don't quite have yet and booked our tickets back to the U.S. of A for a visit.
It's not any time soon, but if I didn't book and pay for the tickets yesterday it would cost us both arms and a leg as opposed to the mere single arm and leg it's costing us now. We'll be there from 15 June to 17 July; that is to say we'll be in LA on the 15th and leaving LA on the 17th. I don't have the rest of the trip booked yet.
That sounds kinda silly, but we have a rough plan of spending half the time in Massachusetts - mainly on the Cape with Mother and Father Hermit and some time closer to Boston to see my rellies and friends - and half the time in New Mexico with Momma Mooselet and Shepster, with maybe a side trip out to the Grand Canyon (depends if we can grow another arm to pay for it). My brother Gabe commented over on Facebook when I posted the news that he might fly out to NM as well when we're there.
So why the Air Pacific plane? Well that's how we're flying, through Fiji. They had the best deal that I couldn't pass up, even if it means a 5 hour layover. When you're flying 5 people you'll cop that amount of time to save well over $1k. Besides, there are worse places to layover than Fiji.
Finally, who's coming? All of us minus Miss Thing - she's there now, after all, and has been back more often than I have. If anyone has any tips on how to survive the long trip with Clive, I'd be appreciative. A large rubber mallet doesn't count.
I'll give people the details on where I am when I have the specific dates so we can try and see each other, if you want. I can't make any promises except for family - grandparents need to see their grandchildren, especially Clive who has never meet his grandparens - but I will do my best.
So stock up on peanut butter cups, we're coming back!!!!!
10 Witty Remarks:
re: Clive - have a new, little toy for every hour or two you are on the plane. Does he like Matchbox/Hotwheels cars? Also, miniature characters from TV shows he likes or little, plastic animals. Does he like to flip thru books? Have plenty of liquids and snacks he likes to eat. Bring his car seat into the cabin, especially if he's used to falling asleep in it while in the car. Let him carry his own mini backpack for his new found treasures. And as I learned this last trip, a change of clothes for him in your carry on should any misfortune happen. :-)
I'll be thinking of y'all as you make your long trip back to the States.
Oh ya, Hermit's parents have a booster seat for the car in the garage for a child 3+ yrs old and holds up to 80 lbs.
We can't wait to get you here. We do have the RV and assumng that the Hermit could drive it, you would be welcome to borrow it for a trip to the Grand Canyon. It's 28 feet but it might work for a short period.
We are enjoying Miss Thing. She is a very undemanding guest.
Let us know when you get dates worked out and we'll figure things out.
How to handle Clive? Benedryl!
Matt and I usually plan a trip around June, we're thinking of West Coast to see some friends. It would be nice to see if we can stop at NM to see everyone after all these years.
Miss Thing undemanding - sounds different to being home!! Too much spoiling I'll bet!
Great news on the trip, Mooselet. Wish we could come and see where you all come from. If we win lotto we'll pop in!
Clive will be older by then so should be ok. We haven't done a long haul flight with kids, only a few hours so I have no flight advice. We have done many many many long haul drives and we always survive. I'm talking days in the car here, not just an hour or two. We used to play Eye Spy with colours then moved on to the letters. We still play it, even our last trip in September. We don't have a lot of gadgets like the plane so that should make it easier. Lots of family chatting time :)
Good luck and it will be worth it.
Yep....a stopover in Fiji is not what I'd call hard to take! Although hope it's not like our trip to Vanuatu....in stinking heat and a non-air conditioned airport, I can still see that fan in the high ceiling desperately trying to swirl hot air down to us!
And won't you be going back all 'Aussie-like' and calling it peanut paste now??? Lol!
The Trip Fairy packs all sorts of new things for long car and plane trips -- books, toys, stickers, candy.
When the girls were Clive's age, they loved magnet boards and would play with them for hours. I also would buy party packs of Play Doh and let them smoosh clay on the seatback tray. (It cleans up easily.) I've found that a bag of colored pipe cleaners is endlessly amusing. Oh, and barf bag puppets -- just pack a couple of crayons to do the art.
Great ideas there, Jen!
Our youngest is 10 and the early years are a blurr!
A month in the States sounds like a great time. If you get near Baltimore let me know, but I think I'm in Europe for two of those weeks.
My family is coming over here this year, thank goodness. I don't even want to think about dragging two young kids back to the States, nevermind the cost. God, Australia is far away.
How exciting for you! Didn't you once say you had family up here in MN? In the unlikely scenario that you do come here you absolutely must let me know. It's not optional.
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