PART ONE
Yup, we really went to California and we wish we were still there!
We decided it was finally time for us to go visit family and friends. Of course it helped that Papaw and Nana rented a condo literally on the beach too. The timing was perfect to escape the "polar vortex" and other harsh elements of our winter around here. Too bad we could only escape for a week.
Henry didn't have to wait nearly as long as Joe and I did for our first flights. My first flight was my Junior year of high school and it was to Madrid, Spain. Joe's first flight was with me, his Junior year of college to Minneapolis, MN to visit my sister, Jennie. Joe's first flight was not a true flight experience as it was a super short flight (from ORD) and there was literally only about 6 people total on the plane.
Henry was fascinated by the moving walkways.
Henry with his boarding pass.
While we were waiting for our flight Joe spotted Will Purdue at our gate. He wasn't sure at first but then we looked up his picture online and confirmed it. Joe also saw online that the Bull's were playing the Laker's on Sunday; so it made even more sense. We got a final confirmation when an airport employee walked by and nodded his head and quietly said, "Will Purdue?" Will nodded his head back in agreement.
Too bad we were to chicken to ask him for an autograph and a picture with Henry. Joe didn't want to bother him as he was minding his own business. Henry probably would have been a typical stubborn 4 year old and NOT taken his picture with him. It would have been cool to have a less than 4' kid standing next to a 7' guy. We didn't see him on our flight so maybe he was just discreetly hanging out by our gate.
Henry boarding the plane!
Henry and Cedric on the plane!
Yes, we resurrected Cedric (our traveling gnome) for this trip.
Henry did really well on the plane. Henry and Joe looked through the Sky Mall magazine. Then Henry spent the majority of the flight coloring in ONE coloring book. He did help Daddy play Angry Birds for a little bit too. We had so many things up our sleeve to keep him entertained, then all we needed was a good ol' coloring book.
Cedric enjoying the view.
We got new phones and a new service provider (good riddance Sprint) right before our trip. We happily discovered our new phones take really great pictures.
Another pretty view
A few quotes from Henry during our 4.5 hour flight were:
- "Whoa!"
After we took off.
- "It's really neat down there. Are those mountains?"
- "Why do they give you so little drinks?"
Hahaha, after we were served beverages and SNACKS! Yes, if you fly Southwest you still get served FREE snacks. We had 2 rounds of snacks and drinks too, probably because it was such a long flight.
- "That was fun!
After we went through turbulence and he said it pretty loud.
- "Whoa, they have those near the ocean!"
After we told Henry we saw a McDonalds during our descent into Los Angeles.
Thanks Papaw and Benjamin for picking us up at the airport. Papaw was really, really happy to use the carpool lane with Benjamin along for the ride.
Thanks Emma for the "Welcome" sign on the driveway.
When we told Henry what it said, he read off his name like this,
"H-E-N- candy cane -Y"
It didn't take Henry long to be entertained at the Buckley's.
Alex and Henry were busy building a car with Kinex.
Voila, the finished product, complete with a steering wheel too.
Concert pianists!
Henry not at all but Alex really is an excellent piano player.
Alex (14.5), Henry (4), Emma (12.5), Benjamin (8), Papaw and Nana
Whoa, Nana photo-bombed a picture.
It must be the California SUN getting to her.
Speaking of sun, I must share this quote from my niece, Emma:
"The sun comes out pretty much every day around here. It's not that big of a deal."
Emma told me this after I was opening blinds and curtains in their house.
I laughed and said, "It is a BIG deal to me!"
We haven't seen the sun much this winter, lots of gloomy days and when we do see the sun it isn't warming it up to the beautiful 70's weather we had during most of our trip.
Thank you again Buckleys for letting us stay with you off and on during our visit and for taking us back to the airport. We also really thank you for the delicious Salt Lick Brisket for dinner the night we arrived. Mmm...so good!
