So...we did it.
Over the past week we packed up most of our house including all our clothes, the boys toys, games, pictures, measuring cups and spoons, etc. into 12 big boxes and 8 suitcases and left behind our Texas home which includes dear friends, wonderful schools, all that is familiar and and good to us. It is so surreal being here in London, in our flat listening to the big double decker buses and cars pass by on the very busy street outside our windows. So weird to think that less than 24 hours ago we were sitting in our home, our family room, with our kids asleep in their own beds, preparing for this very big trip and adventure to start.
Todd and I both didn't sleep well last night. We were so anxious for today and all that it would bring. When I got up and got the three boys breakfast, it felt like every other morning, getting out the frying pan, making the toast and eggs and calling the boys down to the kitchen. But as I washed the pans and dishes and put them in the dishwasher knowing that I wouldn't see them for a year it was so, so odd. And surreal. Surreal, but nice. Okay no just kidding, but I had to quote a little Notting Hill since I am in London now after all!
We got everything packed up and my good friend Brooke came over with her trailer so we could haul all these boxes and suitcases to the airport. When we got there we realized that we had seriously 20 pieces of "luggage" and how in the heck were we going to get this so called "luggage" to the ticket counter? Ay. Stress. Luckily, we found this guy who worked for the airline who said that if we "helped him" he would "help us". I know I am using a lot of quotes, but that is exactly what he said. So we agreed to this "arrangement", and he went and got these big pallet carts to load our stuff.
Meanwhile, Todd had to take back the rental car we rented, I had to go wait inside with Tate while the guy brought in all our stuff and stay with our stuff so it wasn't confiscated, and Brooke was watching all the kids in her car. It was while I was waiting inside at the American Airline counter that I realized that:
a) we were SO lucky Brooke took us to the airport, I don't know how we would do it without her!
b) that I needed to snap the below picture because I couldn't believe we were trying to take all of this on our plane and
3) what in the HECK were we going to do when we landed in London and had to deal with claiming all this nonsense and then somehow haul it to the curb for our driver to pick us up. That is when my stress overload went into high gear and I went into Scarlet O'Hara mode and told myself I wouldn't worry about that now, I'd worry about that tomorrow!
Todd finally got back from the rental car place, I said my goodbyes to Brooke, and we started the process of checking in. Believe me when I say, the ticket people looked at us like we were INSANE coming up to the counter. First they totally questioned us and why the heck we had 12 boxes?!? Then they doubted us and measured several boxes to make sure we weren't morons and actually researched how to do this before we left. Also, the other people in line behind us hated our guts. Seriously.
Checking in took almost an hour. Not kidding. I spent this time trying to keep Tate happy and taking pictures of my goof troop boys and the pilot hats my mom gave them.
After getting all checked in we went to the admirals club lounge and hung out for a few hours until our flight. It was nice to relax a little before getting on a 777 heading over the atlantic. Tate loved the space to walk around and try to grab everything he saw. Thatch and Tagg loved the free snacks and drinks.
We boarded our plane at about 7:30pm and because Todd traveled so much and has such high status with American Airlines, we all were upgraded to Business Class. It was so nice. Each of us got a "pod" and each pod had a TV with many different movie choices, noise canceling earphones, and the seats could recline to all these cool positions and could also lay flat. Oh, and they give you a nice thick blanket and practically real pillow, it was divine! I told Todd that this was truly the only way to travel. I think he is now panicked that I want to travel like this all the time. And he should be. Because I do!
We got the boys settled pretty quick, and Tate fell asleep in his pod shortly after. We were served dinner, Thatch and Tagg were playing video games (of course) on their TV's and after dinner I was beat. I shut down and went to sleep. I seriously thought we just might get away with a peaceful restful trip, but I was oh so wrong, and probably jinxed myself. Two hours after falling asleep I woke up to Tate crying a bit and went and picked him up and took him back to my pod. As soon as we sat down I smelled something and found that he had had a blowout and the blowouts just kept coming. Poor kid had a serious case of the ol' diarrhea. Then he decided to add to the misery and throw up a few times soaking Todd and my shirts. Todd had a spare shirt, thank heavens, I did not. So I really smelt lovely for the rest of the trip.
We got Tate back to sleep and just as Todd and I settled down to hopefully catch a few more Z's, Tagg came out of his pod telling me he peed his pants. Are you kidding me?!? First thing I thought was that I was stupid to not pack him some spare underwear and pants, but then again I mean, how could I ever had guessed he would need them?! Ay. I tried to think quickly and made him go to the bathroom and change commando style into his pj's. By this point I am sure every single person in business class on flight 50 loathed us.
We landed in London at around 10:00am. Getting our stuff packed up, along with our three boys off the plane and to the baggage claim all running on about 3 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours was nothing short of a small feet. Some of the highlights were:
- landing and standing up and looking into Tagg's pod and realizing he wasn't there and seriously freaking out. I had scenes from that Jodie Foster movie that I never saw where she lost her daughter on a plane. After I absolutly spazzed out for a minute Tagg come waltzing out of the bathroom minding his own business, like nothing happened. Yeah, he was in the bathroom the whole landing and we didn't know it. Good one. I guess there is a negative about the pods.
-trying to control two boys with backpacks, 3 rolling carry ons, one massive car seat, a huge bag that I carried with baby and boy things, 1 purse, 1 suit carry thingy for Todd's suits, and trying to gather all this stuff and manage to get off the plane and some guy behind me has the nerve to speak up and say, "do you mind if I just sneak past you?" And me saying in a very tired, grumpy and sassy tone, "uhhh I guess I don't!, are you kidding me?!?"
-forgetting to grab our stroller right when we came out of the plane and then having to wrangle all three boys while Todd swam up the stream of people coming off the plane to go back and get it.
- walking through a very busy Heathrow with our three boys and all our carry ons in tow. I soon learned that it was best for me to be the caboose and have Todd at the head, followed by Thatcher and Tagg and me at the end pushing Tate. This way I could shout things like, "walk faster, walk slower, or stop playing and focus on walking!"
When we got to the passport stamping place the line was HUGE. Tagg started to freak out being so tired and I kinda wanted to join him. After a few seconds in line a sweet lady who works for the airport came over to me and moved the partition for us and said that with three kids who looked so tired, we shouldn't have to wait like everyone else, and let us jump to the front of the line! I seriously wanted to hug her, and I almost did but then decided against it. Such a tender mercy in a stressful moment.
When we finally reached baggage claim, we realized that like always tomorrow was here and it was past time to worry about how we were going to get all this luggage where it needed to be. This is when I realized how grateful I was for a quick thinking- problem solving husband and Todd went into problem solving managing high gear and he made it work. Again, he found some guys with the "I'll help you, you help me" thing going on and he helped us load all our stuff. Somehow we then made it through customs, probably because we looked like a circus act coming through and they took pity on us.
We made it to the outside curb and waited waaaaaay too long for our driver. He finally came and we were off. 45 minutes and two kids sleeping in the minibus later, we arrived at our new flat (pictures to come soon!). It seemed to meet everyone's approval and the only thing that didn't meet mine was the smell. Yikes. It smelled like a musty grandmas house. Needless to say one of the first things we bought was a big can of febreze and I have been using it liberally.
We dropped everything and went to lunch at a cute little Italian place since we were all starving for breakfast? lunch? dinner?, we had no idea, our body clocks were so messed up! While we were at lunch we successfully got our first hairy eyeball looks from this older british couple sitting next to us. Yes! In America we believe children should be able to be seen and heard I guess and that didn't fit their fancy! Tate did have a complete meltdown, poor tired baby, and we got more dirty looks. I wanted to explain our situation to this snooty tooty couple , but thought it might just fall on deaf ears, so decided to just give this couple a big smile.
We came home and have now all crashed. Thatcher has been sleeping for the last 5 hours and Tate, Todd and I just woke up from a 3 hour nap. Jet lag is real and it isn't fun, we will see what these kiddos do over the next few days.
I am just grateful we are here safe and sound and together. Growing up I moved a lot and my parents would always tell us kids that it didn't matter where we would go in the world as long as we were together. That is how I feel, especially tonight. We are here and even this stinky flat will soon feel like home because we are here all together. We are excited for the adventures we will have over the next year, and happy that we get to make some fun memories and feel blessed that we have this opportunity. So tonight I will sleep a good restful jet lagged sleep and we begin our new life in London tomorrow.
Although our paths crossed only once years ago (2006) in Malta while we were serving as missionaries and you came back to visit, we have really enjoyed reading your blog and FB posts about your dear family! So, so happy you get this opportunity! Those Brits will come to LOVE your styles and smiles! Enjoy every minute! And, by the way, your blog header and footer are GREAT!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that you survived such a harrowing flight! I can't wait until you're settled and start saying mobile and brilliant.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! What an adventure! Glad that you and your 20 pieces of luggage made it there safely! You are hilarious, by the way. I was laughing the whole time I was reading this! Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are blogging about your trip! Glad you made it there safely.
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