Canada

  

We started 2012 with our first big trip as a family of 5. We have been so excited about traveling to Canda to see our "honeymoon" friends. Last year, they drove down and spent almost a week with us, so we were ready to make our voyage north. We did decide to fly instead of drive because well there are alot of us and more kids than adults. The boys have never flown before, so I was nervous and excited for them. I think I packed as much as I could fit inside their backpacks to hopefully entertain them. We flew out of Nashville directly to Detroit where Nick and Rachel were waiting for us. The kids did great on the flight. To be honest, it was one of the most turbulant flights I have ever been on, but the boys didn't seem bothered at all by it. Max and I were on one side of the aisle with Sam in my lap and Jack and Will were across the way. Max was a lil restless but not bad. Sam actually slept for a while on the flight which was definitely a great surprise. When we arrived in Detroit, Nick and Rachel were waiting in baggae claim holding a Jones' Family sign. It was so sweet!! We loaded up and headed north over the border. When we got to the border, it was funny to hear Nick say, "We have 2 Canadians and 5 Americans." The guy at the booth was so nice and told us to have a nice trip! Nick and Rachel didn't tell their kiddos when exactly we were coming to visit, so it was fun to surprise them after Connor's hockey practice. It's so funny how kids are with each other. Connor and Brooke and Jack and Max have only seen each other once before and within 5 minutes they are all instant buddies again.

The next day, we loaded up and went to the green houses near their home. It had a cool family name, but I couldn't begin to try and spell it. Basically, inside there was a farmers market, fresh beautiful plants, kiddy rides, minature golf, a petting zoo, and a full restaurant. We spent most of the day there and the kids had a blast!! Nick and Rachel said that they both grew up going there as kids.

 That night, we got a lil wild and left Nick's mom and sister with all the kids and had a grown up nights out! When Nick and Rachel came to Alabama, one night we got a sitter and we all 4 went out to eat and Rachel said that it did feel weird leaving their kids with a complete stranger in a different city, state, COUNTRY. I know now how she felt. It was fun to get to go, but it did feel weird to leave my kids in a foreign country with a complete stranger. Nick's Mom would text us through the evening and tell us how everyone was doing and the kids had a blast with them. Windsor is the big city near their home and it is directly across the river from Detroit, so we were able to see the city lights from our dinner table.

The next day, Will and Nick went back over to Detroit because the big car show was going on the same weekend we were in town and Will has always wanted to go. Rachel and I held down the fort and enjoyed a beautiful snowfall. Once the boys returned, Rachel kept the baby and the rest of us ventured out into the fresh, snow. We had so much fun!!! We went to a local park and went sledding down a huge hill!! That night we stayed at their house and watched a movie all together.

Friday, we took the kids to a place kinda like Chuck E Cheese with tons of games and laser tag. Everyone, grown ups too had a blast!! Then we headed back to their house to get ready for the party. Nick and Rachel had invited a ton of their friends over to meet us Alabamians. ha ha It was a lot of fun to meet them and listen to them talk... ha ha You can imagine what they thought of us.

Saturday, we got to watch Connor practice hockey and then it was time to pack and head home. Coming back over the border wasn't as friendly as coming across. The USA is very business like in their questions and grilling if you will. I can see if you have to go back and forth a lot it would be annoying but after 9/11 it doesn't bother me. We made it to the airport just in time to find out our flight had been delayed 2 hours. UGH!! You know when you are at the end of a trip and ready to get home, yeah annoying!!! The boys did fine. I think it was Will and I with the bad attitudes. Once we finally got on the plane, it had to be deiced. I haven't said too much about the weather yet!! COLD!!! COLD!!! -11 Degrees Celcius cold and it had been one of their mildest winters.

During the wait, Sam started getting a lil fussy. It was time for a bottle and near bedtime. I was so worried about him crying the whole flight and the other boys acting a fool. So I made him a bottle and he was fine. In front of Max's seat a guy was writing on his Iphone. I have NO idea why I saw what he was writing but I did. Oh, how I wish I hadn't, but I did. He was writing a note about the "Most Annoying Things About Flying" and on the top of his list was: a crying baby... I completely understand that if you sit in front of a crying baby the whole flight that would be terrible. My "crying baby" cried for about 2 minutes while I made a bottle for him and we hadn't taken off yet. I could feel my blood pressure boiling. It takes a lot to make me mad, but this did!! A few minutes later, Sam blew out a diaper. BAD. and I asked the lady if I could go change him in the bathroom. She said I couldn't because we were about to take off. I would have to change him in my lap. (Insert evil laugh) So, to add to the nice fellow's list in front of us, he can add stinkest diaper EVER. I probably shouldn't admit this but I did stick that diaper between his seat and his window until we were up in the air. I know. I know. But I'm sure mama bear comes out in you too!!
It was an amazing trip to Ontario, Canada to see wonderful friends who I can't wait to see again soon!!!