The day the boys tried to break me

I am no stranger to this, I fly with solo with the boys every so often, you can read about that here and here if you feel like a laugh.

Each time offers challenges and frustrations, and this time was no exception.


It started out relatively civilised, well as much as a 4.30am start, having to wake 4 (5.. Our chauffeur Daddy) boys, can be.  So actually not that great if we are going to be honest.  Having slept in their clothes, which was as good as any holiday right there, judging their reaction, all they had to do was put on shoes and a jacket.  Breakfast would wait until we'd settled in to the airport.  

That had been the plan, but in actuality after spending 20mins trying to check in 2 bags (who would have thought how hard it would be to negotiate the system to ensure 2 bags got through 3 flights to the final destination.) Turns out, too hard and we had to abort that plan, which meant we would have to recheck the bags in Mildrua.  That's fine, I only have the 4 kids with me, 2 massive bags, and 4 carry ons.

 Pichu at Check-in.  Upset at waiting so long.

 

It's too early!

 
After leaving check in, with 5 mins to spare before they closed the flight we had to go straight to the gate. Breakfast for the boys was a small packet of Pringles each, just the $18 for those thanks. 

 Refusing to sit in his seat? Or closely inspecting the emergency lighting strips?

At Melbourne airport the backpack stroller began to earn its keep, and the boys started to unearn their's.  

It started at Krispy Kreme, because Voltorb wanted his own table and then Oshawott was 'following' him, and I am pretty sure most of the airport heard that exchange.   There were other offenses and accusations thrown around, enough to ensure that the staff at KKK (Krispy Kreme Klan) were giving me 'the look', you know the one, 'the please can you leave and take your -adorable- children with you before you scare away any (more) customers.' look.   I mean really! Pichu only had a couple of tanties and only ran away once (or twice).

 (Shaking my head by this stage)

Now whereas the stroller is a godsend, it is also the bane of my security screening existence.  Naturally the gate we arrived at was at the other end of the airport, so backpack stroller is 'yay', but also because of the change of course way, we had to go through security again.  Which means packing the stroller back up and into it's bag ('boo'), all the while keeping one eye on each of the boys (physically impossible), getting the 2 laptops into trays and then marshaling the children through the gate one at a time.   And then! Packing all the stuff back up and setting up the stroller again before Pichu disappears into the nearest shop.

Breaking point was almost reached in the parents room, they were fighting over who pushes the button and who wee's first.  It's all about the first world problems here you know. I sat them all down in their own little spot on the incredibly dirty floor and lay down the law.

The rest of our time in Melbourne went smoothly, almost relaxing, albeit slightly stressful when Pichu started to play chicken with the passer bys.

 He was running from one side to the other, trying to dodge people.

My time was spent being chief iPad troubleshooter.  At one time, I had a few 'problems' queued. "I'm sorry, I am experiencing an increase of problems right now, your problem -is- important to me, you've been placed in a queue and will be handled by the first available Mummy".

Waiting, upside down.

Waiting in line to board the Mildura flight I had the most flattering of comments from a lovely middle aged Chinese women. She was quite taken by the 4 boys (obviously she hadn't been in the parents room a couple of hours ago!) and was shocked (yes really!) that they were all mine because I looked so young.  She couldn't believe I was 37, she said a had a very young face.  So very nice of her.  So I then rewarded her by sitting the least noisy boy next to her during the flight to Mildura.  And considering Pichu screamed on and off for the first 15mins I think it was appreciated.

Legoman and Voltorb had a mini domestic in the initial moments upon boarding, which is what led me to move someone to another row by themselves (or rather next to a lovely kind spirited Chinese women). 

So after all that, and safe in the knowledge that now everybody on the plane knew that Voltorb and Legoman did -not- want to sit next to each other (again with the first world problems), we managed the rest of the flight reasonably well.

I was apprehensive upon arriving at Mildura. My parents had recently done this exact trip and had warned me about the horrors of the airport, which was undergoing major redevelopments.

Thankfully, they had just entered stage 2, so we did not encounter any trouble, until they decided to test the fire alarm for 10mins. They had announced it was going to be a test and not to evacuate. I would have rather evacuated, the alarm woke Pichu up and I had to then explain to big wide inquisitive (and worried) eyes that it was just a test and there was no fire. Well, unless you count the fire raging inside mummy for them waking up Pichu!

 I received another lovely comment from the lady serving at the cafe.  She said the boys were so well behaved for the 2 hours we were waiting and then gave 2 of them a Lolly Pop (the other 2 don't like them).

 

On the last flight of the day.

We finally had made it to Broken Hill.

And then, 3 hours later were at the ER checking out a suspected dislocated 2 yr old finger.   Thankfully it is ok, but we check have to follow up on the lump in a couple of weeks if it doesn't heal.

Come visit my first ever Photography linkup!  Read about it here.

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I am linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT (I blog on Tuesdays).

 

"The Journey Home" - a not so cheery event

All good holidays must come to an end.  So on Thursday we woke up at 6.40 to catch an 8am flight out of Broken Hill. Well that was what the alarm was set to, but I was up at 6, waiting patiently for the alarm to go off.  

Not sure what happened, but somehow the good children from Flight May31 had been replaced by the hyper, hearing impaired children from June14. It all began with a lady bug.  Voltorb started crying at the gate, and not because he was sad to be leaving, as I'm sure he was, but because he didn't get a long hold of the lady bug Legoman had picked off of Pichu's jacket, and released back into the wild as we left the terminal.  He cried until we were taking off.  I didn't like how the morning was shaping up so far, but I was optimistic it would improve.  I finally clued in it was going to be a good day around about the time I was accidentally poked in the eye on takeoff.  Because why wouldn't your 8 year old shove his arm through the seat in front of you on the plane and wave his arm around at the same time you are leaning forward to retrieve something out of your bag, coincidentally an "i" device for one of the boys.  

One way to get sympathetic looks from staff and strangers on your last flight of the evening: walk onto the plane with a 4 kids marching in front of you.  The youngest not yet 2, but having to walk along the aisle to our seats.  Two of the boys pulling cabin bags, me with obviously heavy bag, backpack stroller, and the all important dozen Krispy Kreme donuts.  Or maybe it was the look on my face, the "I've been up since 6am, travelling alone with 4 precious little treasures, this is our third flight, my toddler had a blowout at the Adelaide airport, we had to go through security twice more then expected thanks to a gate change, we almost lost Oshawott (the teddy), we did lose teddy (the teddy), and the toddler hasn't napped all day" look.

Back to the beginning though.

The Rex flight into Adelaide was fine, mostly.  Obviously not so fun being poked in the eye, but other then that the boys were good.  Happily munching  away on our complimentary snacks while we watched Little Charley Bear and other various shows and games.  We had a rough landing, the weather wasn't so great in Adelaide and it was taking forever to descend via the Adelaide Hills. It was turbulent, and I had to paste a fake calm demeanor on my face, actually similar to the flight attendants!  Except, she has had training in that area and looked downright chirpy.  This wasn't a chirpy moment lady!  The boys were laughing (screeching happily if you are Pichu) at the butterflies in their tummies as we bounced up and down on the changing air currents.  To make matters worse, Legoman decided it was right then that he was busting to go to the toilet.  Great.  The next 15 minutes dragged into what seemed like an hour.  An hour of telling him there was no way he could use the toilet, that he had to hold it until we land.  Once landed, they wouldn't let us off the plane until the bus was there for us to get onto!  Even more great.  He did a fantastic job, very proud of him for being able to hold it in, I had visions of him wetting himself and how we would handle that, and what spare clothes we had packed that I could actually get my hands on quickly. The flight attendant, upon hearing the urgency in our pleas, asked the pilot and let him use the toilet as we disembarked.  One disaster averted. 

One averted.. two more arise.  Pichu decided Thursday was a good day to have one of his only 3 ever blowout nappies, and on the day I had no spare clothes for him of course!  No problem, one bonds body suit has been sacrificed in the name of aroma free hand bag.  Then at the gate, about to board, I notice Oshawott is not holding Oshawott (the teddy).  The look on his face was pure horror.  Poor little boy.  Luckily for us, my friend had been catching up with us at the airport and volunteered to go back and search the areas we had been.  Oshawott teddy was on the Rex bus! (probably something to do with the 2 middle children not sitting still and using the whole back row as a trampoline). He has since been popped in the mail.  Thanks Sam! This is a well travelled teddy, he made his way to Broken Hill via express post as I had forgot to pack him! 

What a view!

Again the boys were in control of the plane, and this time I was very very naughty and turned my phone back on to film them.  I figured it might be the last time they do it, it's too cute to miss!

 Thank goodness for iPads!

 Using cabin bag as a bomb detonator.

Oshawott wanted me to take his photo (with the iPhone) but a pesky brother kept getting in the way!

A calm moment on the last flight, after major meltdowns from 3 children.  Voltorb crying because I wasn't going to sit next to him, Legoman refusing to sit on the other side so I could sit with Voltrob, and Pichu crying, well because that's what he does best.  To his credit, Legoman had sat by himself on the previous flight and just wanted to sit with everyone this time.  He probably regretted it later, as he became my 'go to' son.  He had to take his belt off several times to retrieve something from the floor.  First it was Dragon, followed precisely as the seat belt was re-clasped, by Super Croccy.  He also had to hand out the "i" devices once the seat belt sign was turned off, and collect them again at the end of the flight.  All the while I was struggling to keep a very tired and grumpy Pichu occupied enough so he would not cry.  He eventually gave in and fell asleep.  

It was dark when we landed of course, and everyone was super excited to see Daddy.  Naturally we were almost the last ones to come inside as it was slightly more awkward then usual to get down the plane stairs.  I was carrying Pichu who had just woken up and not happy, backpack stroller on, heavy handbag, donuts, plus I had to carry Legomans bag down the steps because that is the one with the D7000 in it.  And you know what? I actually couldn't physically do it.  I think it was the first time I had come to a complete standstill not being able to cope. Seeing me struggle, and wanting to get off the plane at some stage that night, a nice man helped carry the bag down the stairs.  He offered to carry it in, but I said we were ok.  We were, Legoman came and grabbed it again. We also had to take time out to admire the working sniffer dog, quickly steering Oshawott away as he reached out for a pat.

It was great to get away for the holidays, but it's great to get home too.  And it will be even more great Monday, when school starts!  

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