We have done this trip enough times that I wasn't really worried about flying with three kids on my own. It wasn't too bad at all. The connections were tight though so I felt like a momma duck walking quickly through the airport with my kids following behind me while we rushed to our next gate.
We got to Ohio just in time for Christmas dinner. The kids had a lot of fun playing with their cousins and had a quick "sleepover" before they had to go home to Columbus.
It did snow a little before we got there so we went out to play in the snow a bit. Then it started snowing a lot!
After the cousins left, and we had about a foot more snow, we went out to play in it some more.
Once we were all frozen through, it was inside to play some more.
Roman made us some pizza as part of his cub scouts requirements.
Then he went out to the garage and played with some tools for a while with Grandpa for another requirement.
The kids tagged along with Lance.
We had outings to the movies and Chuck-E-Cheeses and church. I went out to dinner a few times without the kids.
Marisa played a shopping game with Grandma.
Ezra played silly games with Grandpa.
Then the kids rode out in the snow in the dark for a bit.
I enjoyed having kids who were preoccupied and aching for the attention of someone else. I read The Hunger Games, played games on my ipod, took naps, and stayed up late wasting time watching movies and T.V. simply because I could. I'm tellin' ya... It was just what the doctor ordered.
There were more sleepovers in the camper,
A trip to the aluminum recycler,
and some last minute tubing.
Then, before we knew it, it was time to go home. The trip home was pretty good too although we were late getting into Denver so we literally ran from one plane to the next and got there just in time. I was stressed about that one. Marisa was sick with a cold so she was crabby and had earaches so she cried a bit and was just plain miserable. Ezra took a nap and Roman watched T.V. and wham! We were home and back to reality.
It was nice to get away and we had so much fun. I wish it wasn't so far away, but I guess that keeps us looking forward to the next time... which might be a while since Shane's parents are coming to Utah for 6 months this summer for a service mission. It will be strange to have a summer where we don't go to Ohio.
