Home sweet home

We have travelled a little over 6000 mile in a week... what a cool thing to say!

The jet lag (which is NOT just being sleepy) is a bummer, though... and oh, my goodness, laundry...

Our first flight took the girls and I (Tommy got to hand with my parents; he wanted to see the Amish in Shipshewanna with them) from DCA to MSP (Katie: awwwww, but I though we were going to Seattle, first. Me: We are, honey, but we have to change planes in Minneapolis to get there. Katie: Change? We have to jump? Do we get a parachute? Me: no... we are landing and changing planes on the ground. Katie: Ground? Are we crashing?)... I could go on, but you get the idea. My baby was very nervous...

Danielle was just chillin' enjoying the flight, rolling her eyes slightly, but being helpful, speaking in that higher pitched soft voice, "It's ok...".

Second flight... TVs in the seat backs! Yea! Much better once we took off because Katie and Danielle were a little distracted. This does make for better travel.

So, we land in Seattle, and we are all sooooo excited, and it's wonderful and exciting to see our best friends Amy, Emily (hello, growth spurt), and Anna (so brave!!!). We get to see the Space Needle (Katie and Anna will. not. go. up... so Amy, Danielle and I do- thanks, Em for watching the little ones), and flying fish at Pikes Place Market, and beautiful flowers...

We got to spend four days in and around Bainbridge Island! Some amazing authors live out this way, and it's cool to be able to see places that they write about. We did not venture to Forks because it would have been a 6 hour minimum round trip car ride, plus Katie was scared of the vampires lurking around out there... BUT... we got to see the Grand Forest, go horseback riding with Emily, we got to visit Poulsbo (a viking town... must google what the vikings were doing in Washington), and we got to see Fey Bainbridge park, Fort Ward and Winslow... beautiful... wonderful... fantastic.

Then, time to head back East...

Katie: ANOTHER plane?! Me: yes, honey, how are we supposed to get back, we didn't bring a car. Katie: Can't you get one?! Me: no.

So, we took the ferry (all by ourselves - thanks to Keith for arranging his guy to transport us from ferry to airport-AND he had Scooby Doo on for the kids!), got to the airport, and flew to Minneapolis. Then we rented a car (Katie: a car? do we get to keep it? ME: no.) and drove 2 hours to Alexandria for our family reunion. whew... Where we got to meet up with Tom-Tom (who had the most fabulous of vacations sans sisters and parents with MY parents... de-toxing will occur next week) and my mom and dad.

I LOVE that we are having reunions. My dad is the youngest of seven farm kids from North Dakota. You can't get a better history lesson than that. Plus, we got to play at the lake all day Saturday, and eat fantastic cook -out food, and enjoy my Aunt Shirley's kuche (koo soft k sound uh), which is actually my Grandma's kuche (imagine rich, sweet coffee cake)... so cool. Family rocks!

We drove back to Minneapolis via a cool town called Stillwater. I really like Stillwater. I will always make that a part of any Minnesota trip. We stayed in Danielle's favorite hotel, The Country Inn and Suites (Danielle: can we stay at the Country Inn? me: yes, that's where we are staying. Danielle: YAAAAAAYYYY!!!!)

Our final day... that's right... THE MALL OF AMERICA!!!!!!!!! I love, love, love to shop!!!!! If there is a store you can think of, it's at the Mall of America... sometimes there is more than one! Plus, they have the coolest legos on display! Plus we got to see Blue and the Avatar... IN the mall. Plus, they have The American Girl Doll store (swoon)... The only problem with visiting that mall for one day is... well, just that... you need at least four days to see the whole mall... but it was still fun.

So, then we turned in our rental car and returned to the airport with Tommy, this time...

(Katie: What?!! ANOTHER plane??!? Tommy: Is this really safe, I mean, can't we all die, I mean what about falling? Do you know the statistics on safety in airplanes? (flapping occurring) Danielle: Everyone needs to take a chill pill, flying is the safest way to travel (rolling eyes), and everyone needs to help poor mom out, grab your bags, stay together!!! Me: in through the nose, out through the mouth, in the pink, out the blue... yes, another plane... but it's the last one. Katie: I wanted to keep that car! I will miss that car!!! Me: no... )

Delta was awesome, by the way, letting us pre-board. Tommy: Are we first class VIPs? Me: no, we're autistic... and anxious.

Danielle takes the window, with her ipod, Katie covers her head with her blankie, in the middle, and I sit in the aisle across from Tommy and his ground hog (who has a seat to himself), flapping away... Thanks to Joe at Delta:)

Upon landing...

Tommy: My ears won't pop! Are you sure this is OK? Do you promise they will go back to normal!? Me: yes. Danielle: It goes back to normal in a few days, Tommy. Me: or hours, don't freak out about it, try yawning. Random passenger: It equalizes after you land. Tommy: aaah (flapping)... do you promise? do you, huh?

Seriously, though... Praise God for making this all happen so smoothly and safely. Thanks to Him for my wonderful family and friends, our histories, our desire to share with one another, helpful daughters that try so hard to make things a bit easier on me, and hard workers that allow me to share with my children such an amazing experience... Thanks to God for the talents of amazing people who have made travelling 6000 miles in one week possible.