Flight 229 - Atlanta to Shanghai

August 21, 2011 | 5:30 am – we were headed down stairs to load up all of our baggage onto the Westin shuttle service. Aside from a few last goodbyes things went really smooth until we arrived at the airport. Now mind you, I have taken pretty detailed notes on which bags we have, and their purpose – how much weight we are allotted between what number of bags so, I was a bit surprised when we were told we must begin paying for bags – after only 7 had went down the belt. As I was trying to explain why I knew that she was mistaken… “See ma’am I have 4 sets of 3 bags …[she talks over me]… I have 4- 29” bags, 4- 25” bags and 4- 21” bags for carry-on and there is still one 25” bag sitting here [she talks over me again] - by this time Andrew is freaking out. Finally a manager comes and she didn’t really give a hoot either. These 3 women stood there and talked to us like we were completely incompetent and of course if you begin to show any irritation they act like you are going to go psycho in flight and begin saying stuff like “sir, I’m here to help you, no need to get mad” with a condescending tone. Argh! It was crazy. Finally we were allowed to go through- without the baggage fee. What a waste of time… so, good thing we got there early.

Our dads accompanied us to the airport, we all had breakfast together and chatted until it was time to pass through security. The goodbyes were short and sweet and I think it went well except that Colten was not happy to be leaving his Granddaddy behind.

Going through security took more time than we expected and was kind of a mad house going through the xray scaners with 10 bags and 3 kids. On top of all that for some reason Colten did not want to take his shoes off. Once we reached our gate we had about 15 minutes on the clock to spare however, we were rushed onto the plane and told that it was ready to take off right way… again, it was crazy breaking down the stroller, gathering the children and maneuvering 5 carryons and 5 personal items on the plane + a diaper bag that I stuffed into my bag to make it as one.

The seats were comfy and provided much needed space; Economy comfort is well worth the upgrade fee. Another perk was the all you can drink liquor, which I did indulge in between hours 3 & 6 of the flight. Afterwards I tried to sleep. I also attempted to watch Julie & Julia, pretty cute movie but it took me about 7 hours to get through the 2.5 hour movie due to walking laps around the plane with Colten. There were lots of open seats so we were able to sprawl out between 3 rows making it far more comfortable than I would have imagined. I was later told by an American woman I met in the back of the plane that this was the least crowded plane she had ever seen and she had made the trip with her children 3 times.

I thought it was pretty neat that aside from movies, music, television shows, there was a moving map option that let you see exactly where you were in real time and at the end of the flight displayed a summary of flight time, distance, altitude, etc. Overall I thought the flight went really well, our children did wonderful and the accommodations were satisfactory. The movie selection was pretty good- better than I could have imagined. Note: earbuds are provided.

My only complaint was the old white stewardesses – they just seemed so bitter the whole flight and I don’t think they ever cracked a smile. The Asian ladies were pretty nice though.

The Finishing Touches

Even though we spent the last week packing and weighing everything that we intended on taking with us we had to make a few slight changes.

On the way home from Chicago Andrew learned that Delta actually allows up to 52 lbs per bag so of course we had to maximize our allowed weight. So, in our last minute effort, Andrew picked up the calcium vitamins that we had not yet purchased and we began to add a few other things that had been put to the side.

The plan for our last night in Georgia/United States was to load my mom’s (Taurus station wagon) Car and my Dad’s (full size conversion) Van with all of our bags, have a nice family dinner and stay overnight in Atlanta close to the airport since our flight was scheduled so early (09:55). We stopped at Buckner’s Family Restaurant – known for their fried chicken and lazy susan serving style. Nothing like a home cooked southern meal as a proper sendoff to Asia.



We stayed at the Westin Atlanta Airport – the accommodations are decent and because we had stayed there before, we knew that they had an indoor/outdoor pool so the kids took their suits and enjoyed the pool for a few hours. After bath time, we room hopped most of the night but usually ended up in my mama’s room (Granny) because she bought snacks and drinks. So that night Colten stayed in Granddaddy’s room and Drake and Avery stayed in my Mama & Aunt Carrie’s room. Again, Andrew & I barely slept (maybe 1.5 hours) – I think at this point our bodies had started to reject sleep as a necessary function.

Day2 Alpine GA: tiny bubbles

The jacuzzi tub was a hit and a great way for the kids to top off the evening.

Again, Mommy & Daddy had alot of fun and laughs spending time together once the kids went to bed!

Day2 Alpine Ga: Downtown HELEN

Here are a few pictures of our day in Helen after lunch... I just wish I had a picture of the Chocolate Apple Drake and I shared ~ not soon to be forgotten!

Day2 Alpine GA: YUM!

We have found it! BBQ Heaven - this place had THE BEST ribs we have ever eaten

 we all agreed.. even Colten 

 

Day2 Alpine GA: Now we know where babies come from...

Babyland General Hospital, of course!

After about 2.5 hours, a live birth and a few small heartattacks from the cost of some of these "babies" , Avery adopted a little girl and named her "Violet" (although the name has changed about 10 times at this point).

Time for lunch!

Happy Birthday to Me !!

Thanks to my loving family we will be taking a long awaited trip to Helen, Ga as a gift to me - YAY!!!

We are going to stay in a beautiful cabin and I have a massage scheduled first thing Saturday morning at Mandala Wellness Retreat and Spa!

What Luck!

In November I purchased us all a picture outfit so that we could take our holiday/winter pictures... it never happened; until Saturday.

My sister, Wendi, invited us to go to the Forsythia festival in Forsyth, GA. While getting ready, I looked in the closet and was just fed up with looking at these clothes that we had not worn and with Spring coming, maybe never would. So, we wore them.
It was cold, windy and rainy but the kids got to ride a pony and eat some good food and on the way out we saw a photography vendor. We took our first '5' family pictures - what luck!

Southern Snow

So the snow finally caught up to us! The weather man said it would snow... we didn't believe it. We debated everyone that said it would... we couldn't fathom it. My dad said "everyone is at Kroger getting milk and bread" --- For What?!
We had a trip planned all week to visit with Andrew's cousin and his family and nothing could deter us. We have snow tires on our 4x4 truck for pete's sake-- we just left Maryland where we went on about our business in more than a foot of snow for weeks.
Then the snow fell... Big Deal! We packed the truck and left for Savannah.
Everyone in Macon was excited. On our way to the interstate we passed a house and 3 kids had already built this huge snowman... there was only about a half inch of snow on the ground!!! I say, it was pretty amazing what they had done in such a short amount of time.
Ok, so we're traveling down I-16W and I SWEAR I thought we were at warp speed! These huge fluffy snowflakes were falling, millions at a time, and then we realized something we hadn't back at the house... we are in Georgia; these folks do not know how to act when it is snowing.
We saw a snow plow on the opposite side of the interstate plowing. Well, it was plowing nothing because the snow was melting when it hit the asphalt but, the truck was dragging the plow across the road and it was sparking like nothing else! I dont even know if most counties here have salt/sand trucks... I am thinking not.
So, it was a super crazy drive, steady snow the whole way, we couldn't believe it. When we reached Savannah, Andrew's cousin's kids were outside playing in the snow (keep in mind, even though it was falling steady, there is still only enough snow on the ground to cover up the grass). But, again, people were loving it.
It stopped sometime in the middle of the night and was completely melted by morning but, I say I will never forget the night it snowed in Georgia... let's hope it's not a new trend.

Blizzard 2010

All weekend long I have heard "I can't believe we missed this!" Well, me either... but boy am I glad of it. Many of our friends (and several hundred thousand others) were without power all weekend and I believe that has continued into today. It looks to be a bright, sunny day here in Ga so I'm glad that we missed "Snowmaggedon" and the "Snopocalypse"...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it... rain?

In the first four years of living in the DC Metro area, the accululation of snow in inches could be counted on both hands. We wished and wished every year that the sleds we bought in 2004 would be put to good use. Of course, when the snow fell, the next day the sun would just melt it and it would ice over. But this year would be different; and do you know why it's different?

Last March we sold all 3 of our sleds in a yard sale, this fall we didn't purchase snow suits or boots like we had in the last few years and we began preparing for our move to Georgia. In early November, in Hagerstown, MD., we got around 16" of snow. It continued to snow several times throughout December and January.

Now that we are in Georgia, early February, it is again snowing in DC. 16"-20" is called for but lucky us, we are not missing out on this storm front at all. It is raining cats and dogs here!

Today was Avery's first day of Pre-K (in the FREE state lottery funded program) and boy was it hard (for me) to get up and out in this mess. Avery was raring to go though. She woke up with no problem. She got dressed, got her "purple cat" for show and tell and was ready -- she did her lipstick on the way. When pulling back into the yard to pick up Drake for school I almost got stuck because the ground is soaked and so soft... it looks like I went mud bogging in the front yard. Hey Daddy, sorry about the grass!

I am trying my best to fight the urge to crawl back in bed with Andrew and Colten... we were suppose to scout gyms today for our "big change". Uh Oh! now the baby needs nursing and I know once I lay next to him I am in trouble...

rain, rain, go away!