What a nightmare

We flew to Florida from Michigan Saturday. We arrived at the Ford International Airport at 11am for a flight at 12pm. After quickly checking our luggage and going through security, we had to wait about 30 minutes to board. Rylee did very good waiting, and was excited to get on the plane. We took her car seat on the plane and strapped it in, figuring she'd be most comfortable in a familiar seat.

Our flight taxied out of the gate and into deicing. This all seemed to go well. Then the captain came on to tell us that there was a delay in Detroit, so we were holding taking off, rather than get there and not be able to land. We took off about 10 minutes later. Rylee, happily chewing her gum, loved it. She watched out the plane window, and thought that it was so great that we were above the clouds.

Our landing in Detroit went fine. Rylee asked if we were in Florida yet, and I told her we had one more plane ride, and we'd be there. She pointed out the window and told me she could see Florida, much to the amusement of our flight mates.

We touched down at about 1:15pm, and our next flight left at 1:47pm. We thought the time was close, but we could make it. Fifty minutes later, we were still sitting in the plane, waiting for airport personnel to plow out the gate area.

After finally disembarking, we hurried to the nearest monitors, hoping our next flight had maybe been delayed. Unfortunately, it wasn't even listed on the board, an obvious sign to us that it had left. We decided to go to the gate we were supposed to have left from anyway, hoping that someone would be able to help us.

Little did we know that Detroit Metro Airport was so huge. We walked, and we walked, and we walked some more. Rylee wanted to ride the moving sidewalks, but Nolan was very upset about the flight, and in no mood to oblige her, which led to some whining from Rylee.

On our way to our gate, we spotted an empty gate, with a Northwest agent behind the desk. We went up to her and told her our problem. After doing some typing on her computer, she informed me that we were scheduled to fly into Houston, then into Tampa. Nolan and I shared a look, just as she said that there was also a flight leaving Detroit and arriving in Tampa at the same time as the Houston one. She made a call and got us on that flight. The only problem being that none of our seats were together. She told us the agent at our gate would be able to help us get them switched. Then she told us that we weren't leaving Detroit until 7:47pm. Keep in mind, it was only about 2:15pm, we had over 5 hours until our next flight.

After a talk on the phone with my in laws, I decided to try asking a different agent if there were any other options. He told me he couldn't do anything at his desk, but to go to Gate 43 to see what they could do. We were at Gate 15. So, we turned around and headed back the way we came. We got to the help desk finally, and were told that our new flight was the first Northwest flight to Tampa. I asked if there wasn't another airline we could take, and was told that because our delay was due to "weather", they wouldn't pay for a different airline. Great, we now had 5 hours to sit and wait with a THREE YEAR OLD!

We headed back to our gate. Along the way, we passed a gate that showed a flight to Orlando at 4:15pm. A quick call to the in laws gave us the go ahead to try to get on that one, as Orlando is only an hour drive from them. More bad luck, it was overbooked, and we couldn't get on it. Back to square one.

For the most part, Rylee was so well behaved. We had grabbed some McDonald's for her on our way down to our gate, Gate 10. She ate some of her food, and played for a while. Then people started showing up for the flight that left at 5:20pm (to Grand Rapids ironically). Nolan joked that we'd just get on that flight and when people asked what we did, say, "We flew to Detroit, sat around the airport, and flew home." At least he was in a better mood.

After the flight to Grand Rapids had left, I was able to talk to the agent about getting our seats together. Big surprise, this flight was overbooked by 16 people and she was going to have to ask for people to give up their seats and take the 9:20pm flight to Tampa. It definitely wasn't going to be us, no matter what they offered. She was very nice about it, and took down our three seat assignments, and said as soon as the people flying in the surrounding seats arrived she'd see if she could get someone to change seats.

Rylee did have some moments of boredom. Even a three year old has a limit on how many trips you can take to the bathroom, and how many times you can ride on the moving sidewalk before it gets boring. She finally settled down with her DVD player, and was almost falling asleep when people started arriving at the gate for our flight. As we started packing up our belongings and getting ready to do a final bathroom run, the agent brought over two new boarding passes. She had gotten two people to change seats and we were all sitting together. It was the highlight of our day.

We boarded the plane, and got Rylee strapped in her seat, waiting and ready to go. Before we even backed away from the gate, Rylee was asleep. She slept through the deicing, and take off, and woke up about an hour into the flight. After a harrowing and failed trip to the bathroom; after which I had to explain that even though it looked like one, it really wasn't a port-a-potty, and that there were no "creepy crawlies"; she consented to going back in. Despite a dead battery on the DVD player, she was able to play the DS for a large portion of the flight, which kept her happy.

We started descending into Tampa, and Rylee pointed out "Grammi's house" from all the lights below. We touched down in Tampa at 11:04pm, six hours and thirty five minutes later than originally scheduled.

Nolan and I had formulated a plan during the flight that as soon as the seat belt sign went off, I would unhook Rylee and unbuckle the seat. He would jump up and grab the bags and we would get off quickly, rather than wait because of the seat. We took the tram or "roller coaster" as Rylee called it from the gate to the terminal, and as we were heading down the ramp, Rylee spotted her grandparents. Her first words to her grandma were, "Hey, what are you doing here."

Luckily for us, our luggage had also missed the original flight, and arrived with us to Tampa. We grabbed it off the turnstile and headed for the car. Following an uneventful drive home, and some much needed dinner at midnight, we were ready for bed.

It was a long, temper-filled day, but waking up Sunday to sunshine and no snow on the ground, almost; not quite, but almost; makes the travel nightmare worth it. I just hope we make it home on time.

Until next time,
Chelle

kill, kill, kill

Over the last week or two, I have heard the word kill come out of my daughter's mouth many times. I believe she picked up the word from "The Lion King", but only recently started using it.

I first noticed it when she was watching Mulan. She started saying that they were going to kill the daddy (she calls all males in books and movies daddies). I explained to her that they don't kill anyone, he just gets sent on a rocket to the moon. Okay so I lied to my child, but I never realized there was so much violence in Disney movies.

I heard it again when she was playing, and I explained to her that it wasn't a nice thing to say. I was hoping that would be the end of it, but as any parent knows, kids love to embarrass them.

We were invited to our neighbor's daughter's baptism party last Sunday. The kids were all playing in the basement, and the adults were sitting around talking. Pretty soon, the kids came running through the living room, with Rylee chasing behind them, carrying a stick-like toy, yelling, "I'm going to kill you." Talk about wanting to melt into the floor. After telling Rylee that we don't say that word, we had to sheepishly explain to a room full of strangers that we had "no idea" how she learned that word or why she would ever say it.

I have heard her say it a few times since then, and have continued to tell her that it is not a nice word, and I don't want to hear her say it. I am hoping it will lose it's novelty soon enough, but for now, no more parties at the neighbors.

Until next time,
Chelle

Random facts

1. I am not a dog person, even though we have 2
2. I love trivia and brainteasers
3. I am an avid reader
4. I like ice water with cucumber, but not lemon
5. I LOVE being a mom
6. I have achoo syndrome (Google it)
7. I have double jointed thumbs
8. I have never found a movie that is better than the book
9. I just had my very first pedicure.
10. I do not know what my natural hair color is anymore (haven't seen it since high school)
11. I love electronics and figuring out how they work
12. I wear shoes as little as possible
13. I love to sing, but I can't carry a tune
14. Because of 13, I played the flute instead of joining choir
15. I can still play the flute and have 2 of them
16. I cannot see 6 inches in front of my face without glasses or contacts
17. I have always wanted to play roller derby
18. I still have a water bed
19. I love to take pictures
20. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up
21. I am a procrastinator
22. I am the middle child
23. I have 2 living sisters
24. I can still speak a little of the French I learned in high school
25. I hate cleaning
26. I talk on the phone, A LOT
27. I am a reality TV junkie
28. So much so that I play a Survivor pool
29. I would love to go on the Amazing Race, but not Survivor
30. I like to camp and fish, but my husband doesn't, so we don't
31. I am a night owl, and don't like mornings
32. I love going to the dentist (nothing beats that clean mouth feeling right after)
33. I am very sensitive to smells
34. I get migraine headaches because of certain smells
35. I don't like scary movies
36. I like the combination of salty and sweet
37. One of my favorite combos is Wendy's french fries dipped in a chocolate Frosty
38. I don't like cake
39. Nor do I like brownies
40. I love plain cheesecake, especially if it's still frozen
41. I like white chocolate dipped pretzels
42. My favorite holiday treat is my grandma's chex mix
43. I'm currently on a diet, thus all the talk of food.
44. I have gone skydiving and loved it
45. I need a new computer
46. Or at least a new battery for my laptop
47. It's 1 pm and I'm still in my pj's
48. I have very small finger and toe nails
49. My fingernails flip up at the ends
50. I am very stubborn
51. I love a good argument
52. My husband won't argue with me
53. I like to "mother" everyone
54. I miss my dad everyday
55. I love roller coasters
56. I DVR General Hospital
57. My favorite movie is Grease
58. I also like Disney movies
59. I don't let Rylee watch Spongebob
60. I want to have another baby
61. I hated being pregnant
62. I wish I was more organized
63. I have good ideas of how to be organized, I just never do it
64. I eat my skittles by color
65. Same with fruit snacks
66. I would like to use my sewing machine more often
67. I think I'm turning into my mother
68. My favorite color is purple
69. I don't regret my past
70. I know how to correctly use there, their and they're
71. I love to use the Internet
72. I've always wanted to write a book, I just don't know about what
73. Instead I've started a blog
74. You are reading my blog
75. I have an odd sense of humor
76. I like to look for errors in movies and books
77. I don't like beer
78. I recently discovered I like coffee
79. It has to have lots of milk and sugar in it
80. We are currently watching Mulan...again
81. I'm sure you will eventually see another list like this

Ready for Florida

We fly to Florida Saturday morning, and it is none too soon for me. We currently are being dumped on with snow, again. It's falling at a rate of about an inch an hour. Following this major snowfall, it is supposed to get bitterly cold; with the windchill, it will be in the negatives. I only wish I was already in Florida.

I am not a winter person. I do not enjoy the cold, and I do not do any winter sports. I can't stand the way people drive in snow. I've never understood how someone who lives in Michigan, and has learned to drive in Michigan, becomes a complete idiot behind the wheel when snow flies.

The only snow I ever want is a dusting on December 24th in the evening so I can wake up to a white Christmas. If not for my family, I would have moved south a long time ago.

I have never been to Florida, but based on the weather this week, I can almost guarantee I will not want to come home.

Until next time,
Chelle

FYI

When you add pictures to your blog, it really messes up the formatting. After 45 minutes of messing with the last post, I finally gave up. So I apologize for any oddities in the formatting.

Our animal children

We have four animal children. Two cats, Rahjah & Tabitha, and two dogs, Rissa and Chewbacca.

Rahjah is our oldest. I adopted her 12 years ago, when she was only 10 weeks old.

My family calls her the brat cat. For the most part, she doesn't like people. She will lay in the kitchen, right in front of the fridge, and as you walk by, minding your own business, hiss and swat your legs. She especially loves to do this to my mother-in-law, as I think she gets a thrill out of making her scream.

Rahjah will jump up on the arm of the couch if you are eating something, and start purring. She is the loudest purring cat I have ever heard. Pretty soon, she'll butt her head into your arm. She will beg and beg until finally you offer her something, then she'll sniff it and turn up her nose.

Rahjah very rarely lets anyone touch her. She will lay by me on the couch, and I can stroke her 4-5 times, then she starts growling, and if I try to pet her again, she'll snarl and bite me. For some reason, I'm the only person she actually bites.

Rylee has recently taken to blowing raspberries at Rahjah every time she goes by her, I think because Rahj is always hissing at Rylee.

A very rare moment, Rahjah sleeping with Rylee

Tabitha or Tabby, is probably around 9 years old. I am unsure of her actual age, as she was a stray wandering around my friend's apartment building, and softy that I am, I took her home with me.

Tabby is the most loving, laid back cat ever. She absolutely loves people, sometimes to the point of being a pest. When someone comes over, she runs to greet them, and winds around their legs and cries until they pet her. If you happen to pick her up, she will rub on your face, and try to crawl up to drape around your shoulders like a shawl.

Tabby wants to sleep on my pillow every night, and let me tell you, she's a pillow hog. She will get up on my pillow, then lay on my head until I shove her off the bed. This will happen a few times until I give up and move my head to give her room.

Tabby is Rylee's buddy. Rylee carries her all over the house, and will hold Tabby and do barrel rolls across the living room floor. I feel so bad for Tabby that I'm always getting after Rylee to leave the cat alone, but Tabby will come right back for more.

Rylee carrying Tabby like a baby

Rissa is a six year old pit bull. Don't let the breed fool you...she's more chicken than dog. Rissa is afraid of her own shadow. Loud noises send her fleeing from the room.

Nolan adopted Rissa from a rescue when she was three months old. Someone had taken her to the vet, and then walked out and left her on the table. Nolan put her through obedience school as a puppy, and although Rissa passed, Nolan failed.

Because of the neighborhood we live in, Nolan spent lots of time with Rissa, pulling gently on her ears and tail, and reaching in her food bowl to make sure she would never react badly to this if someone else, especially a child, did it.

She will bark and bark at people walking by, and although she looks vicious, what she's really saying is, "Come play with me."

Rylee loves to play with Rissa; she'll take her bone from her and run, waiting for Rissa to chase her.

Rissa, Chewy & Rylee

Chewbacca, Chewy, is a five year old chihuahua. I got Chewy when he was 9 months old.

He is the dog in our house that you have to worry about biting you. I suppose if I was that small, and someone I didn't know reached for me, I'd bite too.

My sister Jen calls him an oxygen waster. She says he's not big enough to be called a dog.

Sometimes I don't think Chewy knows how little he really is. When he's outside, he will bark and growl at other dogs as they walk by, straining to get to them as if to eat them, not realizing he'd barely be a snack to that dog.

Chewy is the trouble starter in our house. He sits on the back of the couch, watching out the window. When someone walks by, he will growl or let out a short bark, which will set Rissa off.

These are our other "kids", this way you'll have an idea who I'm talking about when they come up later.

Until next time,
Chelle

My Job

I have been so extremely blessed to be allowed the privilege of helping to raise two children for the last 13 years as their nanny. Unfortunately, the children have outgrown me, C now being 16, and K is 12. I am not so much a nanny now as a chauffeur and tutor, and occasional referee.

I started there when C was 3 and K was still two months from birth. I have watched amazing transformations happen in these two. C, once a shy little girl, has become a beautiful young woman. K is on his way to being a future computer/video game expert. Don't get me wrong, they are far from perfect. They are, after all, siblings, and as anyone know, siblings fight, and these two are EXPERTS at that. But I wouldn't trade one moment of the times I've had with them, because for every moment that had me wanting to pull my hair out, there have been ten times as many moments that I will cherish forever.

The family has become my family; and my friends. The kids have become Rylee's "siblings". She has gone to work with me everyday since she was born, and is very attached to them. C is always willing to take time from homework to cater to Rylee's wants. She is Rylee's makeover artist and favorite babysitter; how ironic that my former charge is now taking care of my little girl. K is who Rylee turns to for her partner in mischief and roughhousing. He indulges her every whim, even when she wants to play "Lion King", and is always ready to make her laugh. I couldn't have asked for any better "siblings" for my daughter.

It has been a transition that I've known was coming, but is still extremely hard. I have shed many tears over that thoughts of not seeing "my" kids everyday. I can't believe that they have grown into young adults so quickly. So now I am in the position of trying to find a new job. I will keep you updated on how the job search goes.

Until next time,
Chelle

Where to start?

As this is my first blog, I will let you know a little about me.

I have been married for three and a half years. I credit fate to being with my husband. Many things had to happen for us to be in the right place at the right time to meet. My husband Nolan is originally from New York. He moved to Michigan with his fiancee because of her job. When he moved here, he met his now good friend Jason. Jason introduced Nolan to the sport of Nitro RC racing. Meanwhile my then husband and his friends were carpet indoor RC racing. Because I was at the track every weekend, I too began to race. Fast Forward 4 years; Nolan is now divorced, I am now divorced and as fate would have it, Nolan is now carpet racing. We happened to start talking at one of the races and the connection was made. Within a short time, we realized that we shared the same dreams and goals of life and family, and knew that we would eventually be married. Fate decided we were moving too slowly and pushed things along with two pink lines. We were married in July of 2005 and our beautiful daughter Rylee was born in November.

I will leave you here. I hope to add to this every day, but as my family will tell you, I am a procrastinator. In fact, I've been meaning to start a blog for over a year, and have only just gotten around to doing it.

Until next time,
Chelle