In Keeping With Tradition...
Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 12:03AM Family traditions...they can be so meaningful and comforting. Some traditions would be better left behind, however. For example, leaving for the airport an hour later than you planned is a tradition that I think we would all say is one worth breaking. Aside from our crazy ride to the airport and check-in, my flight with the kids could not have been better. I hinted at my not-looking-forward-to-flying-with-Eliana attitude before; the last flight we were on six months ago I held her on my arms in front of me as she was stretched out on her back screaming. The lady in front of us glanced over her shoulder more than once. I wonder if she thought I was having fun?
I was prepared on this flight, though. And Eliana is older now (that happens when months pass by, you know). I had markers, a writing pad, a small container of play dough, and baggies and baggies full of snacks. I had Goldfish. I had Annie's graham bunnies. I had a Z-bar. I had snack size Pringles. I had tiny smore's crackers. I was well-armed with weapons of mass distraction. Eliana had a great time with the markers, because she doesn't get to color with them very often. I may have sacrificed a shirt for her entertainment but it was absolutely worth it. The small smore's crackers (tiny chocolate sandwiches) were a big hit. She was silent and happy for the last hour of the trip eating her nine little treats. She separated each sandwich, took the chocolate off with her finger, then ate the cracker part. She was quite methodological about it. I honestly couldn't believe when the captain said over the speaker we were beginning our initial descent; it didn't seem like we had been in the air long enough for the flight to be over.
Christian and Michaela were also very well behaved. They colored, they played a game in their activity pad, they read a little. They also enjoyed their snacks. I gave each of them snacks in their own bags so that they had some control over when and what they ate. I think they really liked that.
We all survived the trip, no one got sick, and the drive over to the beach was uneventful. Everyone was awake until after 10 pm or so, and then Eliana dropped off, then Christian. By the time we got to the condo, Michaela was very tired. I got Eliana inside and put her in her jammies, then in her bed. Christian was next. I brought him in, got him to go to the bathroom, and his aunt got a t-shirt for him to put on. Unfortunately, by the time he got in his bed he was quite awake, and had just had a forty minute nap. Now it was midnight and three of the six kids were awake. My sister-in-law, Wendy, and I had talked about letting the older kids (four children: 8, 8, 6, and 6) sleep in the same room this summer instead of splitting up according to our respective families. This arrangement was not working so well with our late arrival, which followed their late arrival not much earlier than when we got there! I pulled Michaela out of the room and put her in where I was going to be. Christian was still pretty wired, though.
Wendy and I talked and then said,"Now we have to go to bed." Then we talked some more and said,"NOW we have to go to bed." Then we talked some more and were interrupted by a door opening and a little voice calling out,"Is it morning yet?" This question was followed by hysterical giggles. Indeed, it was Christian, whose laughter is usually quite contagious, but at 2 AM it was not so.
Wendy and I were in shock. For one, we were supposed to have gone to bed an hour ago! Then there was the fact that not only was Christian awake, but the cousins were now awake! I ended up moving Christian in my room. He told me that he wasn't tired and he asked if he had to go to sleep...my answer was YES and that there was no other choice. Nighttime is for sleeping. He finally drifted back off, but Eliana woke up, and Michaela went to the bathroom; Eliana noticed that the big kids were in the room and took forever to go back to sleep. The whole night went on like that...fortunately there are super-duper black-out shutters on the window in that room so that I got away with telling them that it was still night for a long time. Finally Michaela got smart and checked out the window over the front door and told me it was pretty light outside. I was forced to roll out of bed around 8:45, which doesn't sound all that early, except I think I slept about 45 minutes total.
Getting back to traditions...I realized this morning some of the more important things that I forgot to bring on this trip to FLORIDA, the SUNSHINE STATE. Number one: my sunglasses. Classic move on my part. Number two: my razor (also very helpful when you go to the beach). Number three: the two back-up camera batteries, and the battery charger. And in keeping with beloved traditions my camera promptly died this morning just as the kids were trotting single file over the bricks to the gate that leads to the beach. I was able to take a few pictures last night of the girls seeing each other, but other than that, not really anything. I've been very sad. I'm taking pictures in my head.
I'm taking these mental pictures of the kind of traditions that I hope will last beyond my own lifetime...the time with cousins on the beach and in the pool, the matching outfits and braids, the family get-togethers, late nights with in-laws who also happen to be very good friends. We've had a great time so far, and are looking forward to many fun days. There is a birthday celebration in the very near future, and the Fourth of July fireworks. And there will be pictures...soon! For now, I'm headed to bed...tomorrow morning is going to come fast.
life together in Uncategorized 
