Airport Life

We woke up yesterday and heard about the fire at the Miami Airport.  We check the flight info all day long and the flight remained on time.  Here is our day so far. 

3/24
5:00 pm     Leave Hotel
5:30 pm     Arrive at the Airport
6:45 pm     Finally get cat checked in
7:00 pm     Eat dinner (and talk to grandparents)
7:45 pm     Expected boarding time
7:55 pm     Flight delayed to 8:30
8:30 pm     Flight delayed to 9:15
9:15 pm     Flight delayed to 9:45
9:45 pm     Flight delayed to 10:15
10:15 pm   Flight delayed to 11:00
11:00 pm   Flight delayed to 11:30
11:15 pm   Migraine sets in (Relpax #1)
11:30 pm   Flight delayed to 12:15

3/25
12:15 am   Flight delayed to 1:00
12:30 am   Still fighting a migraine (crying and Relpax #2)
1:00 am     Flight delayed to 1:30
1:15 am     Finally some relief from the migraine
1:30 am     Flight delayed to 2:00
2:15 am     Flight canceled
     --- Hubby on phone with American Airlines working on getting rescheduled
     ---I'm on the phone looking for a hotel that will take a cat (all hotels in the area are booked)
     --- Emma gets a migraine
     --- Can't collect bags but are sent to baggage claim to get cat
3:00  am   Arrive at baggage claim
4:00  am   Employees of AA arrive to actually man baggage claim
5:15  am   Cat is in our possession
6:00  am   Recheck cat onto new flight
7:30  am   Take cat out of kennel in hopes that she will use the bathroom (no luck)
7:55  am   Take cat to boarding area
8:10  am   Security AGAIN!
8:25  am   In line trying to get them to put all 5 of us together on the plane
9:24  am   Blogging about how crappy my night has been

Isaac slept about 2 hours, Emma 3 and Eli 4ish, Lisa 2 - 20 min naps and the honey, not a wink. 

Now the question remains will our flight get fuel so we can go?

Am I living in a DORM?

This struck me funny when I saw it.  It seems more likely to see this in a college dorm or a work fridge than at home from my 10 year old.

Sometimes I Thank God for Unanswered Prayers

Yes, I am aware this is a Garth Brooks song, but every time I pass this building in Arlington I can hear that song in my head. 

So many years ago this company found my husband and offered him a job.  The job was not ideal, it would require we move (and pay for it), it was full time hours but listed as a part time position so they didn't have to pay benefits among other things.

However it would get us closer to D.C. (where we thought we needed to be so my honey could get the job he wanted) and it felt like a move in the right direction.  (Mostly it would have been a move in A direction.)

The job was his we just had to wait for the background check to clear.  We waited and called, and waited some more and called.  We even got a W-2 at the end of the year stating that he had not made any money with them.  After a 6 months he applied for his job with the Foreign Service.  It was actually a fluke.  I was on-line one day and noticed the job opening.  The window to apply was 2 days, and the opportunity sounded amazing.  When he got home I showed him the post and asked what he thought.  With a "what have we got to lose" attitude he sat down and went through the 3 hour application process.  I think more than anything we applied for the experience of applying for a federal job, and possibly an interview opportunity.  We really didn't think we could get a job like this. 

He scored high enough on the test that he qualified for an interview.  He had to fly to CA to interview and the process was long and grueling.  And then the waiting began.  Several weeks later they called him with his "number," this is the order in which they will hire applicants.  They do not tell you how many they will hire or what your prospects are just your number.  To be honest I can't remember what his was, but 16 seems to stick out in my head.  He called to tell me the news, but this is a small agency and we had know idea what this meant.  But before he could get off the phone with me they had reached his "number," and the rest is history in the making. 

Had our prayers for that job first job been answered (the way we wanted them to) I don't know that we would be here.  I was so frustrated at the time, yet I'm so grateful it happened.  Not just because my hubby has a job that he loves (when he is not learning Spanish), and not just because I would rather be seeing the world rather than living FAR outside of DC because we couldn't afford it any other way.  But because every time I drive past that building I get a reminder that there is a bigger picture, and I have God on my side to help get us to where we need to go. 

So today I thank God for hearing and answering my prayers, even if the answer is NO.

DC Cupcakes

Well we are approaching our last few weeks in DC and we decided to do something we have been meaning to do for months.   

We got to DC (actually Georgetown) Cupcake yesterday afternoon and the first thing out of my hubby's mouth is "There is no cupcake worth waiting in this line for."  I explained it is not the cupcake we were waiting for but the opportunity to eat a cupcake from a company that the kids and I have watched on TV.  We left the decision up to the kids and surprisingly it was Isaac that decided he was willing to wait for his chocolate cupcake.  

 

The line was an entire block long and the store is very small.  They have 2 people taking orders while 3 girls fill the orders.  They will only allow about 15 people in the store an any given times so needless to say the wait was crazy long.  It took just over 2 hours from the time we got in line until we walked out the door with our cupcakes. 

Shawn commented that the way they make their money is because people come with the intention of buying just a few but after 2 hours they are willing to double their order just so they never have to go back.  And we did.  We bought 12 cupcake and the cost of $31.58 and hurried home to enjoy them.

What came as the real shock was it was the really simple one that turned out the be the best.  Isaac ordered 2 chocolate cupcakes (the best so far). Emma ordered a chocolate peanut butter and mint cookies and cream.  Shawn and I got coconut, key lime, salted caramel and red velvet. 

We stood in line so long we made friends with the people in front of us and the people behind us.  Our entertainment was watching cars try to parallel park.  Several gave up, a couple made it and received applause, and one lady hit the car behind her. 

When we left, the line was even longer than when we arrived.  And although it was a long wait, it was defiantly a memory we made together. All in all the kids did great.  Even Eli was a trooper, he talked to anyone who would look at him.

Thanks for making me a wimp MOM!!!

If you know my mother you know that she will cry at an AT&T commercial, if someone else is crying (or should be) or ... well if you know her you know, almost anything.

I would like to publicly thank her for making me a boob! 

Today some good friends of ours left for Africa.  I was sad that my husband was losing a good friend but even sadder that my daughter was losing her friend. 

The family headed for the airport before the kids even got home from school so I went over to say my good-byes.  As I hugged my daughters little friend tears came to my eyes because I knew that it would be years if not longer until these good friends got together again. 

I would like to point out, no one died, they have only been friends for 7 months and I was not even saying good-bye to my own friend.  But because my mother gave me the wimpy cry genes this is what happens to me when an AT&T commercial come on the TV, at the end of a particularly sad Grey's Anatomy or when I have to say good-bye to a 10 year old that my daughter loves.

As usual .... it is all my mother's fault.