Going home

Before we headed home 

the Grandparents wanted 

to have a little celebration 

for G's birthday. 

He had a bit of a rough time 

at the Grandparent's house during the trip.

So he was a little upset.

But he quickly warmed up 

when he realized there were presents!

Opening presents!

The audience 

(C is never too far from his Aunt "Menly!")

 This little guy was lucky enough 

to get some presents too!!

Then it was time for 

candles and cake!

Happy Birthday little guy!! 

We can't believe soon after we 

got home he started school!

Speaking of going home! 

Because of the stress 

and the uncertainty of flying standby 

Mommy wanted to book flights to head home. 

But we couldn't use all our saved up points on the same flight 

so we would have to be split up on separate flights. 

So we decided to brave it!

We made it out of Salt Lake and 

on to Long Beach.

We were told that was going 

to be the most difficult flight to get us on.

Apparently, a lot of people fly out of 

Salt lake via buddy pass/standby 

so it can sometimes be a bit tricky! 

Well we made it there and 

hung around the "terminal" AGAIN!

This time there were two adults 

so it wasn't as bad as flying out. 

We were flying the red eye home 

so we had to wait a while 

before we would know if we made it on. 

Once again they called our names 

we went up to the counter 

and we were told we were all getting on!! 

We were ECSTATIC!! 

But oh wait.... 

don't get too excited! 

We all got on and 

even though we were all spread out over the plane 

we were able to get 3 seats in an "L" shape together. 

So G sat in the middle right behind C.

 C sat with mommy and 

daddy was off by himself.... 

OR SO WE THOUGHT!! 

APPARENTLY 

you can just show up seconds before your flight leaves, 

go through security, hold up the plane, and get on!

SECONDS! 

Even AFTER we had all boarded 

with our boarding passes and were 

SITTING IN OUR SEATS!

We pleaded with the flight attendant to 

Please let C ride on our lap to free up 

a seat for daddy.

(She was NOT nice or very understanding!)

So there we were. 

We either all had to get off or leave one of us behind! 

So daddy lovingly said he'd get off 

knowing that it meant a LONG night sleeping 

in the airport and then a LONG day 

around Long Beach to catch the red eye the next night. 

Mommy was upset and wanted to make 

a scene and have everyone get off 

but she decided to hold it in and say a little prayer.

After we took off 

Mommy had G come sit up with her and 

she held C on her lap and the boys slept.

(Yeah, did you notice something....

C slept/rode on mommy's lap the whole way home! 

It must have been nice to have an open seat 

in the row behind them where daddy could have been sitting!)

Mommy tried to sleep but couldn't sleep much.

When we got home G was looking 

a little tired and a bit whiny but mommy kept pushing 

him along to get to our ride who was circling the airport. 

Well....

to top off the trip G threw up all over the ground! 

Mommy then went to tell someone that he threw up

and she was sorry, when he said he needed the potty. 

He clearly WAS NOT feeling well!! 

We quickly found a bathroom 

and changed as many clothes as we had spares for.

Mommy then cleaned everything up 

and made our way to our ride!

Sweet Justin (Tiffany's husband) 

was waiting for us with our car. 

Mommy made a trip back 

to get all the bags and car seats from 

baggage claim.

We felt TERRIBLE making 

him get up so early 

and waiting for us as he circled 

the airport and then 

to have to drive us home smelling like puke!

(Thanks AGAIN!)

Daddy made the best of his day! 

He was lucky enough that is boss 

understood and he worked from Long Beach for the day. 

They even said all his food for that day was covered!! 

Such nice people!!

So daddy worked for part of the day

(Different time zones)

and had time to spare. 

He knows how much mommy loves 

picture frames so he headed off to the beach 

to find one for her.

At the Marina

There he is!! 

Such a trooper! 

He made it on to the flight that 

night and we were there waiting to pick him 

up the next morning! 

After everyone got home 

we all slept/took naps/"belaxed"

for the next couple of days!

WE MADE IT! 

Whoofers!

Like we mentioned before 

we ARE grateful for the sacrifices 

many made for us to fly standby. 

But we will PROBABLY 

("Never say never")

NOT 

fly standby again with our family! 

It DIDN'T save us any money after 

we paid for the taxes/fees for the buddy passes 

and for daddy's flight to get from Long Beach 

to Salt Lake city so in the long run it was just 

a bunch of stress/emotional roller coasters! 

Don't get us wrong because 

we would TOTALLY do it all 

again to be there for the beautiful wedding!! 

(Congratulations again Mr. and Mrs. We LOVE you guys!!!)

We just now know flying 

standby (with small children in tow)

is not for us!!

Even though the boys were AMAZING 

it's just NOT for us!

BUT at least we can say Mommy 

and the little boys made it all the way 

across the country and back 

by themselves!