First Class Adventure to Seattle

So I haven't blogged in a while. I got called out on it by my sweet friend so I think I will check back in. I am writing this on a flight to Seattle, obviously the best thing to do on a flight to Seattle. I probably wont get to post it until tomorrow but just writing it feels good! 

I drew the long straw and am sitting with one child-the middle child. The hubby is comfortably ensconced between the other two. 

"But Emily, aren't there six seats across?"

 Yes, yes there are. 

Kudos to Jim, a nice man who flies Lear jets for private clients and was heading North to catch his next job. He was the lucky recipient of "the magic seat".

On the aisle between All. Of. Us. 

Sorry Jim.

We have been relatively kind thus far, and he has been more than accommodating, passing milk and gum across the aisle. He even got up for our initial compulsory potty trek. Not the last one, Jim. Just sayin'.

That initial loo visit was to first class. Yup, we went there. Sorry privileged ones, I had a seven year-old with a bladder that's no match for the beverage cart and its snail pace. We had to go forward.

We were met at the door by Nurse Ratchet of the skies.

"Please do not go forward now. I can't have a line in first class!"

Yes, my two young children and I are clearly a line of rabble that would affront all behind the imposing "curtain". It really is a good thing they have that mesh curtain there. how else would they keep the likes of us from rushing forward to claim the hot towels we deserve!

So anyway, we queued up in what my kids call "second class" and made those poor people put up with our presence for at least four or five minutes. Gasp!

*I would like to point out that as we went, one at a time, past all the first class passengers, with an air of humble gratitude that they would deign to allow us to use their facilities, not one of us burped or appealed "Please sir, may I have some more?" Applaud our restraint!

In other news, we were treated to the excellent and kid-friendly flick "Beautiful Creatures." Awesome. Thanks AA for that good choice. 

"Mommy, that doesn't look appropriate." 

"You're right, it doesn't."

The nine year-old gets it!

Fortunately, the child with me chose to read most of the trip. We are in a big Harry Potter phase right now (yes!) and I am pretty stoked that, given the option of a fully-charged ipad, she chose the book. 

Tear! I'm so proud!

All of that came after we were sidelined at security. Apparently, liquids under 3.4 ounces means "non-food" liquids under 3.4 ounces. When you try to take a few GoGo Squeezes (3.2 oz. each) they flag you, make you open one, wave a litmus paper over it, add liquid to the paper, and decide if it will blow up or not. Nice. By the way, news flash, they were just applesauce, not nitroglycerin. Stand down, security!

We had prepped for this trip by installing several seasons of "Phineas and Ferb" on the iPads. The episode the middle child started off with was "Meapless in Seattle". Timely, and I highly recommend it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am writing the rest of the blog in the rental car on our way to the hotel. I know I said I was writing on the plane-just wanted to be clear. Trust is important.

Upon landing safely in Ye Olde Seatac Airport, we disembarked and made the trek to baggage claim. We witnessed what was about to be a ridiculously cute

moment. A grandma was walking out of the gate area into baggage claim and her toddler grandson ran to her with flowers, crying, "Grandma!" only to be nearly clotheslined by a TSA agent.

"He can't cross that line! Back him up! Ma'am, gather your belongings and then cross-move out of the way!"

Really?!?

The joy on that baby's face should have melted anyone. Yikes!

So leaving the airport finally, we hopped in our rental minivan-because we are nothing if not cool hipsters-and drove straight to coffee! Happy happy happy!

Here are a few pics from the last day of school. They all had a great time and now we are off on our Seattle adventure! Wedding, exploring, geocaching, hanging with family. Should be awesome. Oh, and did I mention there's coffee? Bliss!