April 9
After three fun-filled weeks in the states, we return to
Swaziland. Alyssa and I had a long trip
and to deal with the stress of traveling, she came up with a cute idea. Her carry-on luggage became her family and so
did the big pieces. It was cute
everywhere she went, she called my carry-on her “big sister” and her princess
carry-on her “baby sister.” This made
walking through the long terminals, going through customs and security checks
at four major international airports bearable (and fun). Everyone that came into contact thought it
was cute as well. “C’mon baby sister
let’s go.” She played with her, danced
with her, sat on her “neck.” When we got
to the hotel, she also brought it into bed!
My poor girl..She really wants a sibling! Well if you could call Alyssa “excess
baggage” you certainly can call the rest of our bags our brothers and our
sisters.
Travel woe number two.
During the long airplane ride you are always bound to hit
turbulence. Every time we do, Alyssa
says “mommy are we landing?” She knows
that every time we land, it’s a guarantee that the plane shakes, rumbles and
roars. My little seasoned traveler. If I were to count the many times she’s
traveled, I’m sure it’s over a dozen by now, since the time she left Brussels
at nine months.
Trip 1, 2008: 9 Months from Brussels à Canada.
Trip 2: Canada à
DC.Trip 3: DC à FL.
(2008-2013) And in between from flying back to Canada,
taking a long car ride from Maryland back to Florida in 2009 and taking planes
back to DC for Christmas..Quite a few. I lost track.
Recent
Trip 2013: FL à DC for 8 week’s, momma’s training
Trip 2013: DC à Atlanta
And Atlanta à
Johannesburg (JNB) and car ride to Mbabane, Swaziland
Christmas 2013: We drove three hours from Swaziland to
Johannesburg then caught a plane to Cape Town.
JNB à
Cape Town
Cape Town à
JNB
January 2014
Mbabane à
Johannesburg (domestic flight)
JNB à
Mbabane
March 2014
JNB à
London Heathrow
London à
Newark
Newark à
Fort Lauderale
April 2014
Fort Lauderdale à
Newark
Newark à
Frankfurt
Frankfurt à
JNB
SO… Just counting all the planes I tracked this year and last year plus when she departed overseas is already 16 plane rides (each leg) total!!! So Alyssa, a seasoned travel has certainly done at least 25 plane rides (12 round trips) total. Easily… And not once has she been Afraid. Except today when she didn’t sleep for 10 hours and would not take the antihistamine pill because it was “yucky.” By the time we were two hours away from landing she started freaking out saying she couldn’t yawn and thought she was “dying.” What she felt was probably extreme tiredness crossing time zones, dehydration from the 10+ hour flight and the 6+ hour flight the day before. My poor girl. I hope that my traveling days will wind down.
Welcome home to your new master bathroom. Some work was done at our house while we were gone.
