The Longest Plane Ride Ever

Okay, not really the longest plane ride ever, but where it was supposed to last only 2 hours, we didn't make it home until 2:30--about 7 hours later!!!

Last night---or should I say this morning--we finally made it home from the lake. We didn't expect this major ordeal at the end of our perfect trip, but we sure got some excitement. We were scheduled to land in Atlanta at 9:30, but we were ahead of schedule and our pilot said that we would land at 9:15. I was excited to have a shorter ride with Pax, and also to see Brad waiting for us at the airport.

Well.....we were circling over Atlanta when the pilot came on and said that the severe storms below us had closed the airport and grounded all planes arriving and departing from the ATL. What????? So, we had to detour back north to Charlotte for more fuel. We arrived in Charlotte to a full runway because all planes had been detoured to various spots. We sat on the runway for about 2 hours waiting for a gate to open. Poor Pax!!!! We finally got to a gate around midnight, and Pax got to get off the plane. Sweet boy kept saying, "all done" and that he wanted to get off while we were sitting on the runway. I gave him some cars and he played so contentedly with them while we only waited! At this point, we weren't even sure if we were going to make it back to Atlanta tonight. Keep in mind, that Brad and my Dad are waiting for us at the airport this whole time, too!! UGH!!!

Anyway, we got to get off the plane FINALLY in Charlotte, and I ran Pax in circles around the concourse for about 45 minutes while they refueled the plane! He thought it was so much fun, and it was only our plane out there, so he really got to run! I guess the passengers on the all the other planes weren't allowed to get off. :-( I was just grateful we were!!

We reboarded about 12:45/1 am, and finally were headed home. The rest of the flight was uneventful, and Pax fell fast asleep. Once we got to the Atlanta airport, Mom and I had to get all of our bags and carry the dead weight of Pax through the airport. We didn't check any bags, so we had 2 small suitcases, 2 computers, a diaper bag, 2 purses, and the car seat in a handy bag with wheels. But, when we checked in, Pax had been able to walk. Now, he was way too tired to walk. So, I sat him on top of the suitcase and he held on to the handle as I wheeled him through the concourse. It was hilarious, and we got some funny looks! (The airport was indeed crowded at 2 am because of all the delays!) I totally would have paid some good money for the kind of cart that puts the car seat on wheels so the child can ride in it!!!

Well, we made it through the concourse, on the train, and up the escalator where Brad and Dad were ANXIOUSLY awaiting our arrival! Boy, was it good to be back home and to see them!

Now that's just a fun story that we can look back on and smile!!!

Oh! the Wonderful Lake

Happy Birthday, Gigi!

We're here!!!!

Sunsets on Chautauqua have always been important for us. Once the sun starts setting, we leave the dishes, and head down to see the beauty! I can't sit there and watch without taking pictures. We did this a couple different nights, so enjoy! Last year it had a whole separate post, so I've scaled down a little!

me and Adam

Helping Gigi down to the lake

Kisses for Gigi

What a beautiful sunset

I love the colors on the water in the background

Pax and his Pops

What????

That's nicer, Adam!

Me and Mom

Four Generations-Pax, me, Mom, Gigi

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Helping Grandma blow out her candles

Showing off his ticket at the Jamestown Jammers baseball game. They are the minor league team that plays in town, and we like to see them every year. Pax especially enjoyed it this year, and would swing when the players did.

Kisses for Mommy

Cool dudes!

My two favorite boys!

Daddy bought him a new hat!

Pax with his Pops and Grandma

The boys got to be a part of the Father's Day dig where they got to dig in the infield looking for a remote to a free big screen tv. No, we didn't win it! :-(

Brad digging away

Pops and Adam looking for it---the remote was actually found right around where Adam was!

Jim and Nancy-Gigi's wonderful neighbors-took us for a wonderful boat ride one evening!

Jim, Adam, and Pat (Adam's college friend)

Pax and Uncle Adam--play buddies!!

Pax liked this rope swing. It was a little chilly that evening!

He didn't care that the water was cold!

Flying!!!!

We took Pax to Midway again this year! He loved it, and could do so much more than last year!

He liked this one!!

The park was about to close, and it had just rained, so he was the only kid in the whole park! He got to do it all!

Driving the paddle tug boats--these were cute!

Pax thought it was so fun to go up and down on the carousel!

His idea to hold hands:-)

Jim and Nancy let us borrow this kitchen, and Pax played with it the whole week! He is going to be a cook just like his Daddy!

He and Top Spin are best buddies, and Pax looked forward to their walks! In fact, there was a playground somewhat close that we would walk to with Top Spin.

Good dog!

Pax and Pat having a serious conversation here.

Haha!

Family picture by the lake (another sunset)

Whole family picture

Watching some video on Adam's phone

You have to go back and check out last year's picture that's similar to this one! My how he has changed!

Uncle Adam was working with him on the pitcher's wind up!

Playing a fishing game with Gigi--I used to play that game when I was little, and we still have all the parts!

Isn't this just priceless!? He is on the top bunk here, and it's important to know that he climbed up all by himself!! I walked in and there he was!

And again

Such a sweet picture of Pax and his Gigi

We had a wonderful time on our annual trip to Chautauqua Lake in western New York. The 17 hour drive was even better this year, because Pax was a little older. He was so great, and loved his movies!! Pax loved being able to run around and roll in the grass, and we all enjoyed the temperatures---mid 70s and even down into the 60s in the afternoon/evenings. The family time was priceless, and no one wanted to leave! Mom, Pax, and I got to spend 12 days up there, and then flew home, while the dads drove the car home. We got to celebrate Grandma's and Gigi's birthdays while we were there.

Some new developments in Paxton's world from our trip are:
~He likes to refer to himself in 3rd person--"Paxton wants some."
~His favorite line of the week, which Adam harassed him for was, "Go see Mommy!" He is really becoming attached with me being at home. He wouldn't let anyone change his diaper (oh boy) or his clothes all week!
~He loves to sing. He knows parts to the following songs-ABC's, Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Twinkle, E-I-O (Old MacDonald), The Wheels on the Bus, B-I-N-G-O, Deep and Wide, and his favorite from the trip--Happy Birthday. He would sing that to everyone, since we had several birthdays while we were there.
~His bedtime ritual is so special to me--we read a few books of his choosing (this week it's been the baseball and football books that he has memorized), then he tells me that it's time for prayers, and he starts, then he repeats after me. It is just so sweet! Then, he likes to know, "what's next, Mommy?" meaning he wants to know what we're doing the next day.

Oh yeah---we felt the aftershock from an earthquake in Canada while we were there!! It was crazy how the walls just seemed to sway. Mom felt the couch shaking like someone was kicking it. So weird!! We wondered what we were feeling at the moment, but then read about it in the paper the next day.