First Trip To Europe

Day 1

Adventure 1

We arrive at Lambert and I have Marc drop me and the kids off to wait in line for our boarding passes. Somehow I have the face of an honest person because they give me Marc's boarding pass without him being present. The agents were impressed that we had no bags to check and that we were headed for a 10 day trip to Europe. Word spread quickly and it was like I was some sort of traveling show. "Come look at the mommy of four with only 7 carryon bags!!" Yay me.

Just as we receive our last set of passes Marc arrives on the scene and we make our way to the elevator. That's when it finally hits me that we are really doing this. We are headed to Europe as an entire family. 

Security is always the same. I usually forget to take out an item. Sometimes it's a Swiss Army knife. This time it was Alora's skin medication and about 10 mini tubs of peanut butter. This is why I will NEVER be given a TSA precheck. 

We arrive at the gate. Marc gets coffee and donuts. I allow Alora to push Puppy (Snoopy) in her stroller. All is well. For the time being.

Marc and Naomi have seats separate from the rest of us so they are to board first. I open my purse to give them their passports and I look up to find Alora missing. Brendan and Aidan are right beside me. Marc was right in front of me. Naomi was in line. I won't lie. I almost threw up in my mouth. Seriously?! We haven't even left the country and these fools can't help me watch a small baby?!?

I ran through some people searching for the small escape artist. She was about to head toward the donut stand. I think she thinks we try to keep them from her on purpose. I tell her they will make her sick. I don't think she cares. 

I grab the kid and grumble my intense displeasure at my family. I'm finally allowed to board and Brendan takes off leaving me with 2 kids, the stroller, and 2 bags. What is it with this family?!? They've turned into selfish, self absorbed monsters all of a sudden?!? 

The flight attendant is a dream. Sweetest little Canadian I've ever met. Then again I don't think I know any. Whatever. I tell her my family left me in the dust and she says she will help. 

I settle the little 2 and Brendan needs help figuring where the bags go. Really dude?! Where do they always go? How about under the seat???

I see Marc about the same time Alora does. 

"Daddy! Daddy! I see you!!"

Cute. Adorable. Would have found it endearing if I didn't want to punch him in the gut right about now. 

The lady next to him says she will trade seats. I tell her (over the heads of about 12 people), "No thanks. I don't want to sit next to him at this time."

As luck would have it he's sitting next to the emergency door. The one person who can't handle the stress of a crisis situation and he's sitting next to the damn emergency door!!

Good grief.