Friday and #300

When the alarm chirped at 3:30 I got up, dressed, brushed my teeth, finished packing and took my suitcase downstairs.  I had left my shoes by the refrigerator to remind me to get the sandwiches I'd made for us, so I took out the bag of food and put on my shoes, remembering to tie them loosely so they could be removed easily to pass through security.  E closed up her bag, we put a hoodie on es, who had slept in her tank top and leggings, carried the rest of our gear downstairs and loaded the car. Cynthia drove us through the darkness to the airport, where we unloaded our stuff.  The baby's car seat clicked into the caddy, es buckled into the umbrella stroller, her car seat strapped onto the little luggage carrier with my suitcase placed inside the seat.  E grabbed her roller bag and we were off!

Surprise!  The line of travelers waiting to check bags was much longer than expected at 4:40 in the morning, but the counter agents worked efficiently, and by 5 we were headed to the security lines.  While we quickly passed the TSA check-in, getting our gear through the X-ray scanners took maybe 20 minutes.  Perhaps the operator was new, I don't know, but it took forever.  And then E's diaper bag was pulled aside for hand inspection.  I kept looking at my watch, thinking about es needing a diaper change and me wanting to buy some water and iced tea before boarding.  Finally we were at our gate.  E took es to the restroom while I dealt with gate-checking the strollers.  When she returned I headed to the women's room then bought our drinks.  At last I could take a deep breath, which helped when the gate agent announced that maintenance was looking at something on the plane.  Isn't that often the way.  You hurry only to wait.  We were maybe thirty minutes late boarding.

Once again our plan worked for seatbelt extenders and sitting in the back of the plane.  E began sitting by sleeping ec, but soon we changed places and she helped es go to sleep.  Smooth flight to Las Vegas, where we did not have to change planes, then on to Oakland where Randy met us.  We placed car seats and children and baggage in the car and drove home.  One advantage of leaving so early in the morning and flying west is arriving home early in the day, in our case by 11.

This is post #300 on my blog.