Airplanes...and Philly

Two of my least favorite things...

1. Airplanes with kids (because without kids, I actually like a plane ride!)

and 2. Philly hospitality

But after just a few hours of sleep, both Steve and I rose at 2am to gather four kiddos and way too much luggage tot eh Albuquerque airport for a trip to PA.  This trip was our first vacation as a family...

all for a race in Lancaster county.

We shuffled kids...

The boys played a few games...

We gave the lap baby a seat...just to survive the ride for a few more minutes...

And then we shuffled kids some more!

By the end of it all, I could hardly force a smile. And to make matters worse, my children fell asleep upon landing.  I savored the few moments of peace by gathering my bags and sleeping child in my arms as we got ready to get off the plane.  In moments, a flight attendant who I didn't bother to clean any of my children's cups of ice and soda through the trip (I took that initiative on my own) tapped my shoulder and asked if  was going to take the complementary magazines on the floor with me.

And then she said...because if you don't we have to clean them up.

In shock, I placed my sleeping child down and picked up the magazines.  I mumbled a few words of how as a nurse I also fill the role of a janitor every night (totally unnecessary to verbalize, but so true).  When finished, my sleeping child was wide awake...

But then I saw my nieces!  Miss Eden!

My twin sister...Sara

Oh, of course, we made a stop at the ice cream shop Grandma works at...Maya refused to turn around for a picture; it was the first time she had seen the infamous ice cream shop we all adore!

Yes, of course, there is the other niece...Miss Hannah!

The two younger kiddos were hesitant to take a photo with me....

And my phone lost it's space for images, so Steve was sadly behind the scenes on this particular post...

No fears, he jumps in with child like poses next!