Flying with two kiddos...

When I came home to Houston to visit over Thanksgiving, I had the joy of flying with both kids by myself. I know, I know...I only have TWO kids...how hard could it be? But, when you take into consideration how Andi behaves with strange places & people...it was really quite an experience. Here are the two funniest incidents that occured during our traveling. Well, they are funny now at least.

1. I traveled with my double stroller, even though poor Dawson doesn't really fit in it anymore, because we had a layover & transfer in Minneapolis both ways. You can use the stroller right up until you get on the plane & then they have it for you immediately when you get off. Now, Andi is infamous for running away from me in public places...I mean, she is CRAZY about running away from me! She does it because she knows she is not supposed to & because she knows its dangerous...and she will look back over her shoulder at me with the cutest little smirk on her face as she darts just out of my reach. So, if they are both strapped into the stroller, that means peace of mind for me navigating through a huge, strange airport. Well, we travel the first leg from Bemidji to Minneapolis & we get off the plane to find our stroller right there waiting for us...sweet! But, I physically have to let go of her to unfold the stroller, because it takes two hands (this part I had not thought through). As I am unfolding the stroller, I see a flash of red hair fly around me & turned to see her dart around the corner. Meanwhile, I am saying through clenched teeth "ANDELYNN ELIZABETH!!!! YOU GET BACK HERE....NO MA'AM!!!!!" I pick up my carry on, grab Dawson by the hand & run around the corner after her. (I am officially starting to panic now.) Where is she? Crazy woman is already on the down escalator! She is looking over her shoulder at me as she travels downward, with the smirk on her face...it is a look of amusement & serious accomplishment. Just where does she think she is going???? (Side note: Before I had children, I used to make fun of the parents who put their kids on 'leashes.' However, I realize now that that device is literally a lifesaver for children like Andi who love to run away.) So, I pick Dawson up, jog down the escalator & we catch up to her right at the bottom. I then put Dawson down, pick her up & head back up the Up escalator to where our stroller is waiting. Of course, we had to repeat this scenario when we landed in Houston. So what did I do? I squeezed her between my legs while I was opening the stroller. Ha! I think I may have given her my own smirk of amusement & accomplishment this time around.

2. The second funny incident happened while we were traveling back to Minnesota. We landed in Minneapolis & had an hour & a half layover. One of the airport employees told me about a playground for the kiddos, so we headed on over. I let them out of the stroller to play while I found a bench to sit on. I was feeling like a seasoned traveler at that moment & I was quite proud of myself...everything was totally going to plan...I was totally in control...and I was TOTALLY mistaken. I glance around to see Andi cowering under part of the playground equiptment, shaking, with that look on her face that could only mean ONE thing....she has to poop. Oh lovely, where is Dawson? I call out to him...only to find him shaking with the same look on his face. They both say almost simultaneously "Mom I gotta go poo poo." Then Andi says "My poo poos are coming out NOW!" So, I scoop her up & we all start running to the bathroom while I am trying to push the stroller one handed through the crowded airport. All the while Andi is saying over & over again for all the other travelers to hear "My poo poos are coming! My poo poos are coming!" I find a bathroom, & get both kids on a potty. The only open potties were not right next to each other...so I am standing in the middle with the stroller be-bopping back & forth between each child so they won't panic that I left them. (The stall doors wouldn't stay open of course.) All of sudden, I realize that I have a pretty large audience of older ladies totally enjoying my predicament. This was the point where I too began laughing hysterically...seriously, where are the video cameras when you need them? I think I could have just made a blockbuster hit.