Well here we are in Sunny Arizona. Gill are about to go cruising for free wireless internet. It’s been quite an adventure. It’s also probably a good time to tell you that we are here because Gill’s mom died. It was very sudden. She died in her sleep Tuesday night. I may or may not have alluded to this in the past but Gill and his mom were greatly estranged. Greatly estranged. Im not going to go into the whole thing here because I don’t want to be writing until I wake up Monday morning. I can tell you that she was extremely hostile towards me and personally? I was terrified of her. So you can imagine, its kind of odd to be here. Im feeling kind of scattered today and I knew I wanted to give you trip high-lights. Because of course you are have been wondering and waiting wringing your hands…

- Flying with children at night seemed like SUCH a great idea. Because well they will sleep the whole flight right? Hmm…not so much. Instead they will sleep maybe an hour. And tell you how bored they are. About a million times.
- Norm saw a gentleman walking down the aisle with a barf bag. When we explained what was happening, he took his own barf bag and somehow after coughing for fifteen minutes, elicited a barf of his own. He was quite pleased with himself after.
- The whole idea of letting your child under the age of two sit in your lap is a cruel joke by the airlines, perhaps to punish us for the free sodas and pretzels? Because really? What happens with that child is that he will crawl and flail and try to fondle the passengers in front of you who are already pissed because the attendant made them move so you didn’t have to leave your four year old alone in a row with two strangers. And he will also try to push every single button on the plane armrests between the seats numerous times. And open and shut the window shade. About a million times.
- We landed in Phoenix at 1130. We got to our hotel in Phoenix at 2am. (4am our time). And the children did not sleep. In essence? My children were up for almost 36 hours with about six hours of sleep. Those of you who have or have had small children? Or have been around tired small children? Sit back and picture that.


Oh friends, I had no idea what the word grueling truly meant until we took our children on a six hour cross country flight. We will be back next Wednesday morning but I plan on checking in as much as possible.

Before I go, I have an embarrassing confession to make. We are here hanging out with Gill’s dad, his sister, and her kids and I have to admit are the in-laws I always wanted. (on Gill’s side) I was always quite fond of both of them but we kept our distance because of Gill’s mom. My niece and nephew ROCK ASS. And this is the best trip Ive ever had here. I feel sooo guilty about it, but its true. I feel like a whole new world has opened up. And like Im going directly to a special place in hell for my “hi-ho the witch is dead” feelings. In my defense, I have not said that out loud. Except maybe to Gill. Who knew going in. Ok Im going back to my awesome family now.