We had a car service pick us up at the airport early Wednesday morning. It was POURING rain! The boys got up super early to pray with us and see us off..... our last few moments together as a family of FIVE!
Bag check, security, and flight number 1 went great and we were in Detroit before we knew it! We'd been preparing Mary for how rough Travel Day can be..... lots of waiting, lots of sitting, lots of being squished in, lots of not being able to make too much noise. Trying to encourage and make things fun, we made a deal with her (she's BIG on making a deal).... if you are sweet on the flight and don't whine or complain, you'll get to open a surprise at the next airport. Worked like a charm! She was a TOTAL TRAVEL ROCKSTAR the whole time! Thank you SO MUCH, Disney Doorables, Legos, and tiny little craft packets..... you made Travel Day much less awful.
Here is Travel Day in pictures. It was great. Then it was boring. Then it was AWFUL. Then we got there.
You see this stroller? It is a YES. Turns on a dime, I can push it with one hand and pull luggage with the other, Mary can sit or stand.... and the best part? You see where the backpack is? There's gonna be a little LOTTIE there in a few days! Hooray!
Mary rode in style right up to each gate where the crew happily gate-checked it and had it waiting for us when we walked off each plane. Easy-peasy. Being able to ride helped through the chaos of an airport helped Mary relax and enjoy!
Mary and her Daddy getting on Flight #1 - Birmingham to Detroit!
This seating arrangement didn't last long. Cause when things get rough (as flights usually do), that little black-haired girl needs her MAMA. It was about ten seconds after this picture that Joe and I changed seats. Ha!
Between each flight, Mary stretched out and played, ran around a little, did a few cartwheels, and got a snack. She'd just opened her first surprise and was THRILLED. Ever heard of Disney Doorables? I hadn't. LOVE THEM NOW.
The Detroit airport was NICE. It was very clean, had lots of great little shops and cafes, and even had a MONORAIL coming and going right there inside the terminal!
The Detroit airport was NICE. It was very clean, had lots of great little shops and cafes, and even had a MONORAIL coming and going right there inside the terminal!
Flight #2 was a bit over four hours.... Detroit to Seattle. This flight had MOVIES..... Mary was thrilled. She watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Little Pony, and some of The Incredibles. Meanwhile, there's always a little craft going on......
Uh. Picture's upside down.... but here we are ready to tackle Flight #2.
Mary did great again! We spent some of this time working on the schoolwork that we'd brought along. She didn't mind. Every time I'd mention working on some school stuff, she would happily oblige! Her Dad also brought some of his schoolwork to do..... cause in the midst of ADOPTING A CHILD, starting a new position in his company, and traveling to CHINA, Joe has enrolled in an advanced law degree program at Texas A&M and had LOTS of reading and writing to do on the plane, too! (Yes, we are nuts.) Mary thought it was fun that Dad had to do work, too!
Working on the work! Getting a sister and getting smarter all at the same time!
This screen right here made travel SO MUCH EASIER. I heart you, in-flight movies on Delta.
The Seattle airport was not my favorite. At this point, we'd been up for a WHILE, been flying for hours, and still had MUCH MILES to go. It was HOT in the airport, it kinda smelled funny, and Mom got a bit queasy just sitting there waiting for the next leg. Joe said the ceilings were low and it was CROWDED. Mary, however, was FINE. She pulled out her Legos and made herself busy while we waiting to board our next flight. No complaining!
THIS was what we were waiting on! GET US TO CHINA, Delta Airlines!
We're in our seats for the next 12 or so hours..... this is the OHMYGOSH part. Mama no like the journey. She likes to GET THERE. But all three of these folks held it together VERY well.
Having a cellist and a violinist in the family, this made us laugh. Some folks had to buy a seat for their CELLO! We talked to them as we went through security in Beijing and the man laughed and said, "Yes, this is why you encourage your child to play the flute." Ha!
There was more crafting......
There was strange food that we did not like...... (except for Dad.... he'll eat anything....)
And then things got rough..... about 6 hours in, Mary finally fell asleep. PLEASE NOTE: the Mama is STANDING UP.... cause the KID is sleeping across TWO SEATS. This becomes the LORDHAVEMERCYONMYSOUL part of the flight.
I mean, she's sweet and all..... BUT I GOTTA SIT DOWN.
I finally sat her up and she still slept!
Poor baby.....
We were right about HERE at this point. See Seattle all the way over on the right? Yes. We were good then. By the time the plane was off the coast of Alaska, I was NOT IN MY HAPPY PLACE.
This is the point where delirium sets in.....
Then you realize that YOU MADE IT. You do not know what day it is, you are numb from the waist down, you look and smell funny, everyone on the plane is intensely quiet, and then the captain says those magic words (in English AND CHINESE)...."We have begun our initial descent in Beijing. Please prepare the cabin for landing." YES, SWEET LORD.... prepare the cabin for landing and GET ME OFF THIS PLANE.
Did you know that even after you begin your final descent, you're really on the plane for a LONG TIME MORE? It's kind of an evil trick they play..... and it's REALLY fun when you've got a youngin sprawled all over you and you realize that on the way home, you'll have TWO youngins sprawled all over you. Children are a blessing.
BUT WE MADE IT! Our guide, Helen, was waiting for us as we came out of baggage claim. We made it quickly through Immigration fingerprinting, foreign persons check-in, security, passport checks, and baggage pick up.... and we were GLAD to see a sign with POWELL on it! She walked us across the street where we had to wait in the car for about 45 minutes for the Interstate to open back up. China and the African nations had been having a big Friendship Summit over the past few days, and lots of the African dignitaries were flying out of Beijing as we were coming in.... so they'd shut down the Interstates so they could come into the airport.
Helen took that time to give us the rundown on our schedule over the next couple of days, talk about things we'd be seeing, and give us tips on exchanging money and getting water and stuff. We like her VERY MUCH already!
THIS is what we all looked like as Helen checked us into the hotel. Needless to say, we were asleep before our heads hit the pillow. I think it was about 11:30PM by the time we got to sleep.
And here was our timer, door to door! I slept exactly 36 minutes of that time.
But we're here and ready to learn about Mary and Lottie's birth country.... and THEN, the good stuff happens! LOTTIE girl, just a few more sleeps!
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