Idaho Christmas Trip - 12/31

December 31st

Well I made it through the night!
Barely!
I quickly realized at 3am
WHY you consistently need to take your pain meds!
OUCH! Lesson learned!!

It was a chill morning...without kids!
So I hobbled around the house attempting
to pack the dreaded suitcases.

Took a break to check on my little snow family.
Yep, they're still alive.

Then I headed to Idaho Falls to pick up the kids.
I'll assume Taylee's first cousins slumber party wiped her out.

We eventually headed back to Blackfoot.
While the kids napped,
I finished packing and mentally prepared for the trip home.

They day passed too quickly.
It was now time to head to the airport
for our non kid friendly 8pm flight.
(remember only 1 flight a week, can't be picky! lol)

I was definitely nervous as to how I was going to pull this off alone.
Dad helped me haul the luggage, car seats, suitcases, kids inside
and managed to get a parking ticket in the 3 mins he was gone.
So everything was going according to plan.
(Seeing as he gets a freakin ticket every time he goes there! lol))

We bid our sad farewells,
wished him a fabulous New Years Eve
and then I was on my own.

The check in agent must have felt for me
and asked if I wanted to check my last carry on suitcase for FREE!
UM HECK YA!!
So now I was just down to backpack, duffel bag, purse, 2 kids, 2 pillow pets.
Oh and a specimen cup full of precious stones.
Definitely manageable!

The Idaho Falls airport is microscopic.
1 terminal, 2 gates.
I could handle this!
NOBODY was in the security line. Even better!
It was the most pain free security check ever.
I couldn't believe it!

One of the TSA agents (whom is on shift EVERY time I'm there)
kindly referred to me as "Katie" several times.
Katie, here's your bag.
Katie, do you need help?
Katie, thanks for flying with us again.
I was so flattered I made such an impression on him.
Then I realized he read my license/boarding pass.
Ok I'm not that memorable after all.

So I gathered up our belongings and tackled Taylee to put her shoes on.
Then we headed up the escalator to the gate.
And there I attempted to corral the kids for the next 40 mins.
Luckily they made several friends
who taught them how to go down/up the escalator about 27 times.

Taylee snuck away and in half a second took the escalator to the bottom by herself. From the top I gave her the death stare and told her to stay put. She gave me that mischievous smile and took off running. I hurdled over bags and humans and raced down the escalator to stop her. The little bugger was too fast. I yelled at Anden (who was now going back up the escalator alone) to STAY THERE. Luckily he has ears and can listen. Taylee on the other hand was sprinting...right back to the security gate. She stopped for a split second, looked back at me with a huge grin just to rub it in, and then casually walked right through the security gate THE WRONG WAY, thus setting off the loudest alarms. I died right there. I stood on the inside of the gate and BEGGED for her to come back through. She just stood there and smiled at me. I was helpless.

The alarms were still screeching. Death stares were stabbing me from all angles. TSA agents were descending on me in all directions. I threw my arms in the air awaiting the tackling handcuffed arrest. I glanced back at Anden who was frozen in place just staring at the melee. I desperately looked at a woman TSA agent and pleaded with her to just let me step through the gate and grab my daughter. Without a word or an ounce of sympathy, she sternly shook her head NO! My jaw dropped. I begged her for mercy. What were my options then??! I didn't have my license, boarding pass, purse, luggage or EITHER of my 2 kids...AND I'M PASSING KIDNEY STONES! Everything was scattered throughout the airport. She said "She'll just have to walk back through on her own!" Are you kidding me?! There's NO way she's coming back until I drag her by the cute little pony tail! Finally another agent intervened and said" OK just step in and get her." I was beyond humiliated. Of course there was a huge line of people now waiting to proceed through. But instead of offering help, they just gawked. So I put my head down and shuffled back through the gate. Taylee was giggling so hard on the other side. I definitely DID NOT see the humor in this one. So I scooped her up and we both went back through the gate. Again, MORE alarms and flashing lights went off. The not so friendly agent asked me to step back through and give her my ID/boarding pass. I proceeded to explain how that was the last thing I thought to grab as I was leaping humans to race down the escalator. I got yet another death stare. I was waiting for her to just hand me my Mother of the Year award and send me to the Principal's office. But instead we went through a series of trips through the metal detector again. With shoes, without shoes, Taylee alone, Me alone. Eventually we got through without anymore sirens blaring. The ENTIRE airport (remember how small it is?) was watching. I wanted to crawl inside someone's suitcase and be shipped to Africa. After the small victory of getting me AND Taylee on the same side of the gate, the original nice TSA man approached me as I was waiting for our shoes to be de-bombed by the wands. He kindly and quietly picked up Taylee's shoes and while handing them to me said "Katie, I'm sorry. See these rivets by her shoelaces? That's what was setting off the alarms." I humbly thanked him for the explanation and realized, I guess I am that memorable. He'll never forget "Katie".

With both kids tightly in tow, I slithered back up the escalator and slouched into my chair. Luckily the gawkers were too appalled by me to mention anything. We all pretended nothing happened. Oddly, they parted the way to let me pre-board first. And even more oddly, the seats around me were the last to be filled. If they only knew the fun they would be missing out on by not sitting by us! We provided free entertainment the ENTIRE flight home!

The kids with their snack bags from Papa Nolie!
(THANK YOU DAD! That saved me!)

I asked for a group picture.
Instead I got 2 very proud pretzel owners.

Finally we arrived in Las Vegas! In one piece! I threw all my belongings and children in my arms and trekked the 6 miles of airport to baggage claim. We descended the escalator...to find Jeremy and Aaron standing there to rescue me. I almost collapsed right then and there.

Now I could finally relax and party like it's....2011!

View of the strip from their balcony!

Happy New Year!