I've been sort of a bad wife lately (okay I've really been a "witch with a 'b'") when it has come to planning this trip. Chris wanted to visit his grandparents perhaps because he knows this could very well be the last time he will see them alive. Plus he wanted Will to meet his great-grandparents and paternal grandfather (that's correct-Will's NEVER met his paternal grandfather and my son is 2). Therefore, my hubby booked a FIVE DAY stay in Slippery Rock, PA where his grandparents live with the expectation that his father will arrive on Wednesday of this week. Not so bad? MY HUSBAND PLANNED NOTHING ELSE FOR THE FIVE DAYS WE WOULD BE HERE.
So I'm expected to find a way to entertain a two-year-old for hours on end in a small, college town? Uh, no thank you! There are plenty of fabulous museums in Pittsburgh, so that's where I suggested we stay (mostly so we would be in my natural habit-a city) and just drive up to Slippery Rock the one or two afternoon/evenings his grandparents wanted to see us. I even looked into the various museums and noted information of two and on the zoo. I told my husband that planning three things during a five day stay was more than sufficient, and I'm confident we would be able to do all three. He disagreed. However, he did concede to the Children's Museum and EITHER the zoo or Museum of Natural History. (I have a feeling I'll win though because who wants to sit around and stare at his/her family for hours on end-why do you think mi familia brings their own alcohol to family parties?)
At 3 A.M. my husband's alarm clock rattled me out of my two and a half hour nap (I was up late celebrating my sister's engagement). Since I had showered before hittin' the hay, I just threw on my sweat pants, a t-shirt, and a ball cap. I got the Bugster dressed and we were all out the door by 3:48. Did I mention this was in the morning? Yeah, my hubby thought a 6 A.M. flight to Milwaukee then catching a connecting flight into Pittsburgh was the best way to go. I vehemently disagree. NO ONE should be forced out of bed before 6 A.M. But I digress...
It was our Willster's first plane ride, and I've spent weeks praying for a pleasant flight. He slept the first leg of the journey, and I thought I was in the clear! Boy was I wrong! (Thanks goes out to a buddy o' mine who suggested giving Will something to nibble on as the plane took off to distract from and help with the ear popping-it worked like a champ.) The last 45 minutes of the first flight were a sobbing, screaming nightmare. My son had decided, "all done airplane" and tried to remove his Cares Harness (a HUGE waste of time and money-no one checked to see that he was secure with it and it didn't really fit-not to mention the flight attendant almost made us remove when she did notice it because she didn't believe it was government approved). It took everything in me not to bawl too. I was THAT mom with THAT kid. My hubby volunteered to sit next to our son on the connecting flight; I was convinced we wouldn't be able to get my son on to the next airplane without a fight. The second flight turned out to be significantly better than the first, and we landed at 11:00 A.M. PA time (even though it was technically fourish hours-getting up so early and my son's tantrum definitely made it feel like five+ hours on a plane). We were all starving so we grabbed McDonald's because we knew Will would eat a cheeseburger and some apples. It also didn't hurt our moods to get some food in our bellies as well.
My super hubby let me doze for an hour or so when we got to the Applebutter Inn (that's correct-we are staying at a bed and breakfast not at a hotel-I had to purchase a $12 hairdryer at the Family Dollar because I never pack one BECAUSE HOTELS HAVE HAIRDRYERS). Then it was time for our first family visit which went relatively well (pun intended). Unfortunately we were handed "stuff" to pack and bring back.* Great. Now I get to figure out how some of this "stuff" won't be getting home with me or where it will go if it does finagle its way to my house. We had dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant where Will ate all of his great-grandfather's olives and croutons from the salad. I suppose I must admit that day one was pretty successful. I did apologize for being so out of sorts about all of this to my husband. In return, he is taking us into Pittsburgh tomorrow to the Children's Museum where they apparently have a replica of Mr. Roger's set-up! That adventure should definitely produce some rockin' memories.
For now, enjoy the pics I took today:
This one made Facebook: 4 A.M. start time, two flights, and one cheeseburger later...
The Applebutter Inn-we're three of 8 people staying here-too quiet and it kind of freaks me out but it is beautiful outside
I figured this is the perfect time and place to try my very first Clark bar
Tune back in tomorrow to see how we survived the museum.
*One of the reasons for this trip is so his grandmother can ship us some flatware that she wants us to have-another thing we DON'T need that will sit in a box taking up space somewhere in our house. I know, we didn't have to come here for her to ship it, but I am trying to play nice and it is simple and lovely flatware. It could have been far worse I suppose.
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