December 3 - Flying Far Far Away

Today is the day - the trip is officially beginning.

We have conned my parents (thanks guys) to help us bring stuff to the airport, and we are ready to go.

Learning from yesterday's fiasco, I told everyone that we needed to be ready to leave for 9:30, with the true intention of leaving for 10:30. It is now 10:15 and we are on our way. Rule #11 is a success, and will be carried forward from this day forth.

Interesting Travel Fact

1) Number of Tim Horton's between my parents and the Buffalo airport that we went by, four. Its becoming a new travel game, or it can be a way to measure the distance from one place to another. If channel 4 can measure the amount of snow by the size of a person, who to say that you can measure distance by the number of Tim Hortons that you drive by. Anyways, number of stops 1. It appears the last stop before crossing the bridge from Canada into the US has a duty free shop, a McDonalds, and a Tim Hortons. Should put a sign out from. If you want Timmy's coffee, go back the way you came, or stay here, cause this is the last stop for it.

2) I may not have a math degree, but when the current going exchange rate is $0.98Cdn to $1.00 US, and you decide to purchase something in Canada with US currency the price should not really go up. Buying apple slices from McDonalds, I had the choice of paying $1.04 Cdn or $1.09 US. Really?? What the h? McDonalds needs to make $0.05 on the going exchange rate. It appears that Super Size has had an inpact on the industry.

The Story Continues....

We crossed over the border waiting to be humbled by the fury of the "storm". This just in, a recalculation of snow fall on the american Fort Erie side of the border. It is no higher than the ankles of an albino alligator. (I am beginning to like this measurement style). The results, an immediate arrival to the airport. Not bad, if you want to spend 4 hours waiting in chairs for your plane, with only 2 stores, and 4 food locations to keep you occupied. However we did find the Fisher price gate, this is where Fisher Price has donated some of their toys to keep children occupied while waiting for their flight.

Kid Facts

How many times can a kid run across the playground, jump over the toys that have been firmly attached to the ground, before taking a header, that wil require immediate medical attention. For this young boy, the number is 7 times, before trying to fly across a Fisher Price kitchen, just nicking the top and banging into a row of steel chairs, that also did not move. Medical attention was not required, but a small break of 10 minutes was needed before the next show. Parents reaction, minimal.

The Story Continues....

We finally began to board the plane, and I learned that either bring a bunch of small children, or pay the early boarding fee, cause if not, and the plane is full, your not sitting with your family.



Interject

I first want to go on record as saying that our flight with SouthWest was the best flight I have been on. The staff was very professional, trying to be funny, and very competent. Yet I was surprised by only one thing. When checking our bags (and by the way traveling with 4 girls) tends to bring out a lot of bags, I was told to put the heaviest bag on the scale first. We had 4 significant size bags and I picked the one that appeared to be the heaviest. It hit the scales at 42.5 lbs. The lady tagged it, and put it on the belt. When bag number 4 hit the scales it registered at 44.5 lbs, and I was told that this was your heaviest bag. I am not sure why you need to define which bag is heavier, but if someone can tell the difference between 42.5 and 44.5 lbs by lifting a suitcase.... "your the man", unless your not a man, than your mostly likely "the woman"

Kid Facts #2

Our middle child, Abbey, decided that she would neither chew gum, or drink water as the plane descended to help with her ear popping. Kids can be stubborn, but science doesn't lose. Update to rule #3, you can negotate with anything but hunger, fatigue, and science.

The Story Continues....

Our trip concluded with a small surprise for the children and that was using a car service to transport us from the airport to the hotel.

After a relaxing drive, we are now calling it a night.

Kids Thoughts (this will be the last time, I paraphrase for them). Starting tomorrow each one will write their own paragraph or two discussing the good and bad of the trip.

Emily

Good - Limo Ride and First Airplane Ride.

Bad - Long wait at the airport

Abbey

Good - Limo Ride, Trying to negotate with George on a purchase price for the vehicle (she offered him a $50 Disney Gift Card), there working out the details, and trying to convince Dad to have a limo instead of a plane bring us home.

Bad - Wait at the Airport, Airport Pizza,