Our Adventures in Beijing: Summer 2011 - Trip to Texas & Durango

(This post was written on September 19, 2011 - I saved it and three months later, am finally sending it.)

Let's start from the beginning. As in the ignorant bliss I was experiencing while packing and then boarding the plane. I assumed the plane from Beijing to Chicago would have TV/movie screens on the back of each head rest. The plane had it in December from Beijing to Newark so why would it be different this time? I didn't bring any electronic entertainment device (except my Iphone) and only a few activity books. I was counting on those little screens to kill time until the girls fell asleep.

So imagine me standing in the aisle of a humongous United plane, with a hundred people in front and a hundred people behind me, and the realization that there were NO little screens to save me from my bored children. I seriously had a little panic attack and wanted to run away...but there was nowhere to run...I was trapped! And then I see we have the seats that don't recline...you know the ones...backing up to the toilets. Oh, goody....this is really going to suck!!

It did suck but not as much as I imagined. A very nice lady named Gigi sat next to Fiona while I sat next to Isla. She was very helpful during dinner and spent time playing games with Fiona. One of Fiona's Girl Scout friends shared her Ipad for about an hour which was a lifesaver. Fiona fell asleep across Isla's and her seat while Isla fell asleep on me. Yep! Isla slept on top of me for S.E.V.E.N. hours. I would occasionally have to shift different parts of my body to keep the blood flowing. Thankfully the movies playing on the aisle screen were new to me so time went by less slowly than otherwise. I think I finally was dozing off when they turned the lights on to feed us 'breakfast'. 20 minutes of sleep...and no feeling in my bottom or my right side. Wonderful!!

The layover in Chicago was fine and the Continental flight to Houston was uneventful (because they had the little screens!) Continental rocks and United can kiss my...seriously numb bottom.

Reunited with Mimi and Pops

After a few days of massive jet lag, I was ready to desert my children for a weekend with my gal pals in Lake Livingston. I wish all my girlfriends could have made it but it was nice spending quality time with Kim, Amy and Ashley. Thank you Kim for having us at your lake house! xx

The Burklew Girls

Kim Squared

Doing my Ad for Twizzlers

The following week involved morning camp for the girls and lots of running around for me. Mental Note: Never book a morning camp unless you live around the corner. Serious pain in the aforementioned backside!

On that Friday, Amy, the girls and I packed up the car to drive to Austin. After surviving in the worst traffic on 290 in the history of the world (no exaggeration), we arrived at Cathy's house. Lots of hanging out, going to the local pool, drinking ritas and having fun. Thank you Cathy for a wonderful weekend. xx

Fiona, Andy Smith and Isla

Cathy and Andy Smith

Fun in the Pool

The McVeigh girls packed up their belongings and then mosey-ed on over to Katy, Texas for a week in suburbia with the Rice-Stalker family. The week consisted of Adventure camp for Fiona and Drama camp for Isla. Isla was cast as Dorothy in their little play which of course was super cute.

Fiona had a good time at her camp until her skin acted up with the unbelievable Texas heat. My poor little girl was in pain and couldn't walk due to her infected eczema. Thankfully we found a wonderful dermatologist who prescribed a miracle ointment. It was cleared up within a day and a half. Unfortunately she missed the last 2 days of camp.

While the girls were at camp, I was having a grand ol' time hanging with Stephanie. Steph and I caught up on all our chick flicks at the matinee and I got both of her and her husband hooked on electronic Scrabble. Thank you Steph and Tim for the wonderful week. xx

Next on the Agenda was Patrick's arrival, my birthday (blinked and you would have missed it), Fiona's birthday and our trip to Durango, Colorado.