Achieving Sainthood

Yes, you heard me, I am now to be referred to as a Saint.

 

I am to be thought of in the highest regard and treated with unwavering respect.

 

No need for formal titles, but some acknowledgement of the matter would be looked upon fondly.

 

Ok,  back to reality......no, I am not a Saint per se, but once you hear my story, you may think I am a little closer to deserving the title!

 

So, here we go.......

 

Saturday we were leaving to head down to Panama City Beach.

 

Not all of us....just me.

 

And both kids.

 

Got that??  Me.....with both kids.

 

Ok, so, all was well with the plan.....we were flying from Duluth to Minneapolis to Atlanta to PCB.

 

We got to the airport on time, checked our suitcase and carseats, and were settled in to get ready to board the first flight in just a few minutes.

 

Then we hear the lovely intercom voice of an all-too-chipper airport person telling us that the flight to Minneapolis is cancelled due to fog.

 

Not delayed.....cancelled.

 

My first thought:  I have a generous layover in Minneapolis.  I can still get there and get on my connecting flight in time.

 

First, we called the shuttle service.....they were full until much later in the afternoon.  No go.

 

Next plan, rental car......Who the heck do they think they are charging almost $200 for 3 hours???!!!  No go.

 

Last resort, drive myself.  A couple problems....Adam couldn't leave work that long and my return flight plan did not include MSP.  If I drove my car there, I couldn't get it back.

 

So, Uncle Dean came up, drove us to our house, and we loaded into our Suburban to head to the airport in Minneapolis.

 

We were going to be late.....and miss the connection.

 

En route, I called the airline.  They were very kind to have gotten me and the kids on a later flight out of Minneapolis.......THE NEXT DAY!!!

 

Not OK.

 

So, we got to the airport, I gave a sob story to the desk lady (our trip was, in fact, to visit an ill Granddaddy, so we weren't lying) and we got tickets on a plane for that day.

 

Of course, I would miss my next connection in Atlanta, but at least we were still on track for the same day travel.

 

The kids, thankfully, were still in good spirits at this point and enjoyed the flight.

 

 

Once in Atlanta, I see a flight that leaves for PCB in 30 minutes. 

 

We landed in terminal A...it was in D.

 

Ever been to the Atlanta airport??? 

 

Huge feat, but we made it!!

The flight attendant said there was no room on the plane and that we were certainly not getting on.

 

But, being the stubborn optimistic person that I am, I told him I would wait until every single passenger was on the plane. 

 

And what do ya know??  We got on!!

 

Next stop was PCB, and all before the 11:00 pm time we were supposed to get there.

 

Of course, things cannot simply go as planned or desired.......once in PCB we had no luggage.

 

That means no car seats either.

 

So, my tired and hungry (remember we RAN to the last flight...no time to stop for a bite) kids and I went to find out where our luggage was.

 

We found out it would be on the last flight, in at 10:30 pm. 

 

Oi!

 

Luckily, my cousin Meg was in town, so we got creative.  The car rental place let me borrow car seats to drive the kids in our rental to the condo.  Meg met me there (with breakfast since we clearly had not been to the grocery store!!) to watch the kids while I drove back to the airport to get our luggage.

 

Sounds like a snap, yes??  NO.

 

Luggage not there.

 

Waited for-ev-er.

 

Finally, found the suitcase and ONE carseat.....at midnight.

 

Finally made it to the condo and found Meg and the kids like this:

 

Good thing everyone was super tired, because we were all sharing a bed that night!!

 

The condo had forgotten to put the key to the Owner's closet in my check in packet, so I didn't have access to the pac n' play or any other baby/kid stuff.

 

But tomorrow was another day.......

 

The airline said my other carseat would be delivered between 10 and 11 in the morning.

 

While we waited, we went down to the beach to play for a minute.

 

I was DYING to put my toes in the sand!!!  So, I did! 

 

Landon had no problem getting right in.... 

 

Avery was a bit more hesitant, so she went via me! 

 

Then we headed down the beach to hang out with Great Uncle and Meg and Craig while we were still waiting on the airport.

 

Avery took a spin on Uncle's chair: 

 

Landon and Craig went in search of "zizards". 

 

Finally, no word from the airline.  I called.  Guess what???  Our carseat was delayed and wasn't going to be in until that evening.

 

So, we packed it up and went over to Granddaddy's, since that was the purpose of the whole trip!!

 

And, I was absolutely tired of waiting on the airport!!!  I told them to call me when it came in and I would pick it up....no more waiting!

 

Of course, Granddaddy was thrilled beyond words to see the kids and meet Avery for the first time.  He is the reason for her name being Avery Bennett, after all. 

 

Not too many things to play with at Granddaddy's house, but the phone was a hit!

 

FINALLY we heard that the carseat was at the airport, so we headed over there to pick it up and go back to the condo.

 

We had sand crabs to search for, after all! 

 

Even though it wasn't quite dark enough to actually find any, Landon had a blast just digging in the sand! 

 

I even got Avery to give the sand a shot! 

 

The next day, we woke up in a much better mood and were ready to really hit the beach!

 

Avery was so cute in her little Baby Bikini! 

 

Still not too sure of the sand, but she hung out anyway.

 

Landon wasn't shy...he just got right on in there!

 

He was ready to hit the water too!!

And we did.....even though I am certain is not such a good idea to have 2 kids, 2 floaties and 1 adult braving the ocean.

 

Good thing Landon wanted to go to the pool anyway!

 

Avery was really enjoying her new floaty with a canopy....even though this picture does not depict a happy face:

 

One, two, fwee, jump!

 

Day 2 on the beach went better.....Avery would tolerate the sand if she sat on her floaty....

 

.....or on my lap.  Landon didn't care where he was, as long as he could dig! 

 

We did make it to the surf, though! 

 

This kid just cracks me up!! 

 

Goober! 

 

So after another visit with Granddaddy, I had to stop by my favorite fruit stand to grab a bag of these fine treats.......boiled peanuts!!!  No worries, I ate every last one of them at nap time so Landon wasn't exposed (and so I could enjoy them in peace!) MMMMmmmmm!!

 

Later on, we went back into town to meet Aunt Lori and Uncle Greg for dinner.  Landon was not willing to look or smile.....pick your battles, I suppose....

 

Then we stopped to see Grandmother on the way back to the condo.  I think she was happy to see us and meet Avery..... 

 

Back at the beach....what do you do in the evening??  You stroll in the surf, of course!! 

 

On our last non-travel day (yes, I know, VERY short trip, but we had more business than pleasure on our agenda for this one) we stopped to see Aunt Nina at work. 

 

Then went back to Granddaddy's for lunch and to say our goodbyes. 

 

We all wished we had more time, but there were several things going against us to be there any longer.  Some time is better than no time...... 

 

Avery offered to help me pack things up that evening.....basics first! 

 

The morning we left, we had to get rid of our left over groceries, so we went to feed the seagulls with the old bread.  Avery figured if it was good enough for them, it was good enough for her.....I think she ate more than they did! 

 

And right before we left, I caught them being nice to each other....doesn't happen very often, but it made me smile before we tackled the airlines again....... 

 

So, if I am not already a Saint for getting everyone to the beach, I will certainly earn my title with how we got back to Duluth....

 

The plan was to go from PCB to Atlanta to Detroit to Duluth.

 

We would be home by 9 and off to bed.

 

Ha!!  I should have known better......

 

The first flight out of PCB went really well, actually.  We had a layover in Atlanta and got some food and were all loaded up to head to Detroit. 

 

The plane was brand new and had super huge seats so the kids and I could really spread out.  Perfect for a 2 1/2 hour flight! 

 

Until that way too chirpy flight attendant came on and said "Bad news folks.....we are delayed for at least an hour for weather up north". 

 

Our layover in Detroit was only 40 minutes and it was the last flight out to Duluth that day.

 

Translation:  We will miss our connection and be stuck in Detroit overnight with no luggage.

 

We had the choice to sit or get off.  I got off the plane to figure out what I could do.

 

I couldn't help it; I just started to cry as I was waiting for our stroller to be brought up.

 

The pilot came over and obviously felt really bad for me.....he escorted us to the ticket counter in Atlanta and told the attendant that we were priority and we had to get home tonight.

 

They worked out some magic and got us on a flight to Minneapolis and a connection to Duluth. 

 

Almost out of the woods.....

 

The flight out of Atlanta was delayed for ONE HOUR, while we were all cooped up loaded while they waited for the catering truck to finish.

 

Finish what, you ask???

 

Waiting for the vegetarian meal to be delivered for a first class passenger!!!! 

 

I WISH I were kidding!!

 

This meant I had exactly 15 minutes to make a connection or I would be left in MSP overnight.....with no luggage.

 

When we landed, the stewardess asked that if anyone did not have to make an immediate connection, could they please stay seated and let those in a hurry go on. 

 

I was desperate and mad and worried, and just downright bold.

 

I stood up, from row 41, and said "I have 2 babies and 15 minutes or I am not going home tonight!!"

 

People sat down and let me off the plane.

 

I could not believe it!!!!

 

You know something else??

 

The flight attendant on the plane called the desk for me and they were holding the flight to Duluth!!

 

We race out of the plane and hear "Miller, party of 2, your flight is waiting at gate D6". 

 

Ohmygosh, I have never felt such relief when we sat on that final plane to go home!!

 

At home, of course, we had no luggage......are you surprised???

 

I went to the counter to ask when it would be in, but decided to leave when the man in front of me clearly had a MUCH larger issue to handle that would take quite a while.......

 

.....his missing luggage was his DOG!!!!!

 

The airline missed his DOG in loading the cargo.  He was in Duluth, his dog was somewhere in California.

 

Luckily the next day, 24 hours late, my bags came in and I asked about the dog at the airport.  He was on his way to Duluth and had been taken well care of by airport staff in Cali. 

 

As much as I love the beach, and will definitely be going back, I am going to do whatever I can to NOT be on Delta!!

 

And there is a FIRM letter in the mail to headquarters as well......

 

Can I be a Saint now??? 

 

I think I earned it!