Christmas vacation came and went. Usually it's stressful, hectic, and too much. It was that at some points, but we were at least able to balance those points out with a little more laughter, talks, and good times.
Obviously, there wasn't much time to blog. Which, in many ways, was a good thing. We were able to enjoy our families and stay in the moment, rather than stop every 40 seconds to post something on social media. So, in that way, it was good.
2017 is going to be an exciting year. We are only 3 days in at this point and it already seems bursting with possibilities. We can't wait to see what it holds.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Monday, December 19, 2016
Simonis Christmas, Monday, December 19, 2016
We are finally in Gaylord, Michigan. You are probably thinking of Meet the Parents right now, I know, but it is a beautiful town.
Traveling was....well traveling....
Maybe you can learn from our mistakes? Never mind, it was just one mistake...
1. We over packed.
The minute my amazing friend, Dena, dropped us off, things went badly. I left John in the dust to take care of 7 heavy bags because it was cold outside and I was worried about Diana.
I rushed inside, while John was struggling, and the line for tickets was LOOOONNNGGG...so I freaked out and got in line right away with Diana. John is outside still struggling.
I'm trying to wait patiently in line with Diana, but in the meantime, Diana discovered a defibrillator. She opened a door and set off an alarm. I closed it right away, but yeah, that was fun. John was still outside struggling with our enormous bags.
When John was finally able to make it in, Diana was not having this whole wait in line crap, so we tried strapping her in to her umbrella stroller. That was a no go. She still found ways to maneuver out of it. Her body went limp about 30 different times. It was a great family memory.
We finally get to security, and security stops us. We had "bulky backpacks" so yes, we are terrorists with a two year old. Waited for 30 minutes for security to finally determine that we were not ISIS and we were free to go.
Diana wasn't having any of this crap either, so I am doing my best Disney princess voice, trying to get down on her level and say, "LOOK AT THE PLANES!" She's ready to run away with another family to a tropical destination.
I finally turn on my teacher voice and say, "THAT IS ENOUGH" and she calmed down for exactly one minute. By that point, security was finally saying we were free to go. As we are walking to our gate, Diana is throwing her baby doll that she decided to take like a football. She could seriously not care if this baby doll lived or died. Every minute I'm having to pick baby doll off the floor, as I am holding Diana's hand, and carrying her backpack and mine and pushing a stroller.
Dena pointed out to me later that I should have just put baby in the stroller and had Diana push it, but it was done at that point. While D wasn't looking I threw the baby in the trash. I am a horrible mother. She has not complained or noticed its absence, so I don't feel so bad.
*****************Take a break here if you are sick of reading************************
Airplane went fine. No drama there. We left the umbrella stroller at the gate because Diana was NOT having it, so buh bye Walmart stroller.
Midway Airport, we had a plan. John was to get the rental, while I watched Diana. It took about an hour to get the rental car, because it's Chicago and Chicago SUCKS...there, I said it.
Anywhozile...Diana wants to touch and talk into every payphone at Midway terminal. You know the scene in Elf where he eats the gum off the handrails? It felt a lot like that. You KNOW there are germs on those phones, but the kid is happy, and it kept her occupied for 45 minutes, so whatever.
The only time I had a minor heart attack is when John called to say he was pulling up. I was holding on to Diana's hand, and I told her to put her other hand on the iron fencing that we were next to so we would say in one location. Well, she somehow found a way to crawl in between two fence posts as I was talking to John and not watching her for 30 seconds. I knew at that moment, I would be the mother on the 5 o'clock news who had to have the Chicago Fire Department cut her stuck kid out of a fence.
I was able to get her free, with no crying, and meet John at the car. From that moment, to the car, I put my glasses in the car door, but I completely forgot. Half way to Gary, Indiana, I'm crying my eyes out because I knew I left my glasses in stupid Chicago, and it was just a lot, and OMG. So, yeah. That wasn't needed, because John found them when we got to my sister's house.
This is all to say....Diana actually did really well. She had one MINOR tantrum, but besides that, she was laughing and having fun the whole time. John's a saint. I'm a mess, but what else is new? It's been worth it so far.
Traveling was....well traveling....
Maybe you can learn from our mistakes? Never mind, it was just one mistake...
1. We over packed.
The minute my amazing friend, Dena, dropped us off, things went badly. I left John in the dust to take care of 7 heavy bags because it was cold outside and I was worried about Diana.
I rushed inside, while John was struggling, and the line for tickets was LOOOONNNGGG...so I freaked out and got in line right away with Diana. John is outside still struggling.
I'm trying to wait patiently in line with Diana, but in the meantime, Diana discovered a defibrillator. She opened a door and set off an alarm. I closed it right away, but yeah, that was fun. John was still outside struggling with our enormous bags.
When John was finally able to make it in, Diana was not having this whole wait in line crap, so we tried strapping her in to her umbrella stroller. That was a no go. She still found ways to maneuver out of it. Her body went limp about 30 different times. It was a great family memory.
We finally get to security, and security stops us. We had "bulky backpacks" so yes, we are terrorists with a two year old. Waited for 30 minutes for security to finally determine that we were not ISIS and we were free to go.
Diana wasn't having any of this crap either, so I am doing my best Disney princess voice, trying to get down on her level and say, "LOOK AT THE PLANES!" She's ready to run away with another family to a tropical destination.
I finally turn on my teacher voice and say, "THAT IS ENOUGH" and she calmed down for exactly one minute. By that point, security was finally saying we were free to go. As we are walking to our gate, Diana is throwing her baby doll that she decided to take like a football. She could seriously not care if this baby doll lived or died. Every minute I'm having to pick baby doll off the floor, as I am holding Diana's hand, and carrying her backpack and mine and pushing a stroller.
Dena pointed out to me later that I should have just put baby in the stroller and had Diana push it, but it was done at that point. While D wasn't looking I threw the baby in the trash. I am a horrible mother. She has not complained or noticed its absence, so I don't feel so bad.
*****************Take a break here if you are sick of reading************************
Airplane went fine. No drama there. We left the umbrella stroller at the gate because Diana was NOT having it, so buh bye Walmart stroller.
Midway Airport, we had a plan. John was to get the rental, while I watched Diana. It took about an hour to get the rental car, because it's Chicago and Chicago SUCKS...there, I said it.
Anywhozile...Diana wants to touch and talk into every payphone at Midway terminal. You know the scene in Elf where he eats the gum off the handrails? It felt a lot like that. You KNOW there are germs on those phones, but the kid is happy, and it kept her occupied for 45 minutes, so whatever.
The only time I had a minor heart attack is when John called to say he was pulling up. I was holding on to Diana's hand, and I told her to put her other hand on the iron fencing that we were next to so we would say in one location. Well, she somehow found a way to crawl in between two fence posts as I was talking to John and not watching her for 30 seconds. I knew at that moment, I would be the mother on the 5 o'clock news who had to have the Chicago Fire Department cut her stuck kid out of a fence.
I was able to get her free, with no crying, and meet John at the car. From that moment, to the car, I put my glasses in the car door, but I completely forgot. Half way to Gary, Indiana, I'm crying my eyes out because I knew I left my glasses in stupid Chicago, and it was just a lot, and OMG. So, yeah. That wasn't needed, because John found them when we got to my sister's house.
This is all to say....Diana actually did really well. She had one MINOR tantrum, but besides that, she was laughing and having fun the whole time. John's a saint. I'm a mess, but what else is new? It's been worth it so far.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Simonis Christmas (2 days out)
This is a small snapshot of what we need to take and still have yet to pack for our family survival and sanity on this trip. The rest of the list is in John's head, and John makes sure it's all taken care of. I let him do his thing in that regard, and he never lets me down. He takes care of the logistics. I write/blog/skip through flowers. This is our relationship.
To Pack (Not Completed List)
The list is MUCH longer in reality. We still need to pack all of our clothes, and Diana's, and there will probably be more stuff added along the way. Tomorrow, we are dropping our dog, Kelly, off with a coworker, I am getting my hair cut, we shop for our last minute things, and then WE ARE ON OUR WAY! Ready or not, let's do this.
To Pack (Not Completed List)
Carry on Cold Weather Bag
John: Hat, jacket, gloves, scarf
Mallory: Hat, Jacket, scarf, gloves,
fleece leggings, long sweater
Diana: Hat, gloves, fleece blanket, backpack
(Obviously we are preparing for snomageddon)
Target
Vacuum Seal Bags
Diana Headphones
Diana tootbrush/toothpaste
Pampers wipes
Diapers
Baby soap
Toiletries
Airborne
Dramamine
Ibuprofen/pepto bismol
Mallory
Concealer
Makeup sponges
Elf makeup (I'm not dressing up as an elf, I mean the cheap dollar makeup that makes me feel less like a troll. Treat yo' self.)
John
Shaving supplies
Diana’s Breathing treatment and medicines/childrens
tyenol/ thermometer
Misc stuff for backpacks
Phone chargers
Car Charger
The list is MUCH longer in reality. We still need to pack all of our clothes, and Diana's, and there will probably be more stuff added along the way. Tomorrow, we are dropping our dog, Kelly, off with a coworker, I am getting my hair cut, we shop for our last minute things, and then WE ARE ON OUR WAY! Ready or not, let's do this.
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