Are we there yet?!?

Traveling was so much easier before we had kids.  Karie and I would just pack up and go.  Now it requires lists, shuffling items around and between bags to make sure they are not over the weight limits.  Then checking the lists once, and twice, and thrice to make sure when we get on the plane we don't ask "where is the sippy cup" while Samantha is going "AAAaaahahahahahaAAAHhahahhahahahhha!!!!"

Then there is all the looks from the passengers wondering "is that kid going to cry on the plane" or "is that kid going to kick/punch/puke/poop on me during the flight."  Coming down the isle it almost feels like the scene from Forrest Gump on the bus where all the kids/soldiers are saying "this seat is taken" however, we have assigned seats so take that "MUuuahhahahahahaha!!!"

Then there is all the fees for the extra stuff that we have to bring along.  I do give airlines some credit for allowing strollers and carseats to fly for free but the pack-n-play is hit or miss.  I think we have spent enough on fees for that thing that we could have bought 2 more by now.

Even with all that it's still worth it to get out and to share the world with the little one and soon to be two.  Even though Samantha is too small to ever remember her trips to Ft. Wayne and her trip to the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or the Golden Gate bridge, I think these sights will stick with her as she grows up.  I feel like we are helping her to expand her horizons and eventually expand her sisters horizons and however many after that.

I didn't travel much as a kid, the farthest we ever went from home was as far as we could and still get back before bed time.  So our range of travel was very small.  My first airplane trip was in high school when the band went to Disney World.  As I got older, I began to realize how much was out there to see and do and if I had all the time and money in the world that is what I would do.  But sadly I don't have all the time and money in the world so we pick and chose very carefully. 

So far our trips have been a lot of fun and yes there have been exploding diapers on flights.  There have been diverted flights and tarmac waits.  There have been not so happy people next to us.  And there has been some crying and screaming but it's still all worth it.  It's so very worth it to watch Samantha run around the giant redwoods and eat dirt in a different state, which according to Samantha California dirt tastes better than Texas dirt.  To carry Samantha around Yosemite where she got to touch rocks bigger than our house and see a waterfall taller than the highest high rise in Dallas.  These memories are far out weight the miniscule inconveniences of traveling with the little ones.

One day, I hope, our kiddos will thank us for dragging them around to different parts of this country and eventually the world.