Part 3 But does it really have to end....

So our last week of our England trip had come upon us and it was a bit of mixed emotions...I and the kids were really missing Bombshell, who we had left at home, but I was also becoming comfortable being back home to the point it was becoming natural.

Monday we just chilled out resting from our trip the previous day at Chessington.   Packed up and made our way over to Grandma's house.  It was a windy day but we made a trip down to the marina so the kids could do some crabbing.  Now the sun was shining and we had the Carolina blue but oh my the wind was sure whipped up down by the water, and here I was in my shorts freezing my ta-tas off.

Bambeano loved throwing the line into the water and catching the bite but when it came into actually seeing the crab or unhooking that was another story, the darn kid didn't realize that although the crab was on the end of the line he was still holding the other end of the line so no matter how far or where he moved to the crab followed, that was until it got loose and start to crawl to find the water.  I tried my hardest not to laugh but it was interesting to watch to say the least.  

Now Boo Boo on the other hand was getting a real hang of the whole thing and loved trying to beat the size of the crab she hooked with the next one, she too was a little squeamish when it came to unhook, I was having none of it, and you wonder where they get their fear from.  Grandma on the other hand came to the rescue.

With the wind and movement of the jetty it wasn't long before we decided to leave.  Poor Cilla (Grandma's dog) was not too impressed with the whole thing.

The next day we pottered around the house, took the dog for a walk and had lunch before we ventured out to Tiptree Jam factory for a true English afternoon tea, clotted cream and all.   Boy was this just heaven, good ole English tea, jam, scone and of course not to forget the cream!!!!!  We left there and ventured back to Grandma's.

Card games and wine flowed and we even caught some of the Euro 2012 soccer which Jack loved.

This was also the great week to catch up with some great friends.   Tuesday was an afternoon at the Castle Park again meeting up with my oldest friend from college who also happens to be Boo Boo's godmother.  After the kids burned out their energy it was time to grab some dinner before heading back to Grandma's.

Wednesday was an afternoon catching up with more great friends.  Darren is also Boo Boo's godfather and spent 18 months in Charlotte with Chris when they were interning.  His wife, Martine, and I first met when we both traveled to Charlotte for one Christmas while both Darren and Chris were living there and we hit off immediately and had a very memorable night New Years Eve 2008 at the now defunct club, The Hut this was followed up by kicking up a storm on the dance floor on my wedding day, glad YouTube wasn't so popular back then!!!!  Their 3 boys and Bambeano hit it off just as well when we walked up to the "Rec" and they kicked around a soccer ball.  I think the fact the boys all had on soccer strips, 2 of which were Tottenham, Bambeano was super excited.  Martine was able to stop by before she had leave for a school function she had to attend with her being a teacher.

After freshing up and handing off babysitting duties to Nannie and Grandad.  Grandad dropped me back off at Darren's so Darren and I could enjoy dinner, you've guessed it another Indian!!!!

Saturday came around real quick and this was Boo Boo's long awaited request, a trip to Buckingham Palace and a chance to catch up with their other cousins.  Grandma drove us up to Uncle Paul and Auntie Liz's house in Enfield and from there we caught the train into London.  We made our way through the crowds to the front of the Palace, this palace was HEAVING!!!!!  My first thought was surely this cannot be the lines to tour the Palace, I was kind of nervous as this was the opening day of the palace due to the Jubilee events but we made our way to the gates.  It turned out to be the ending of the changing of the guard, how neat, of all my years leaving in England I never experienced this.  Boo Boo grabbed her brother's hand and her cousin and squirmed their way to the front, Boo Boo armed with her camera took some great shots.

After some lunch we made our way to the Palace for our tour, it was busy but interesting, the crown jewels exhibit was a bit of a shambles but that is the British way I guess.  No air conditioning and the lack of controls of crowds in large spaces made for some uncomfortable times, I think a training session from Disney would fix that right up.  The gardens were unbelievable and the sun was shining what more could you ask for.  It was quite amazing that this beautiful Palace and grounds were smack in the middle of the hustle and bustle of London.

Sunday the kids spent time with their cousins before leaving Grandma's and making their way over to Nannie's to catch up with their other cousins.

Bowden & Humberstone Cousins (Bombshell's sister's children)

Now the time had come to start packing up for our return home, mixed emotions came as I was excited to see Bombshell and friends but so so emotionally draining to be leaving.  We had spent so much time at home catching up with family and friends that it really did bring home what I miss living in America.

A final hurrah dinner Monday and the cousins (my sister's kids) got to enjoy each other's company before having to say goodbye

Bowden & Cooper Cousins (My sister's children)

Tuesday was a day of drizzle and some final shopping before we left for the airport hotel.  Picked up Bambeano's soccer cleats (Football boots to my English friends) for his birthday and some other last minute goodies before packing it all up to leave for the hotel.

I was hoping the day of our flight the kids would do just as good as they did flying over and maybe US Airways had my name flagged in the system in a good way after our experiencing flying to England.  Well the morning did not start good as both the kids were both very tired and Boo Boo was not feeling too good, geez cannot I not catch a break!!!!

After several trips to the bathroom throwing up and a nice episode on the curb outside Gatwick you could say I was just about done.  However, not to be out beaten by his sister, Bambeano started to join in on the act, so make that 2 kids throwing up before our flight, FUN FUN FUN.  To make it a little easier Gatwick now has a family and need assistance immigration so after some tearful good byes we made our way  through immigration, it was a breeze.  This was  a VERY hard good bye only made easier by being strong for the kids.

Until next time England, thanks for the fun times, great memories and last of all the weather!!!!!!

Can't wait to write about our next adventure, ATL BABY!!!!!

Summer is definately here........

Wow you can tell summer is finally here...school is out and the heat has arrived and I have been lax in my blog writing.  The time just flies.

Kids finished school June 9 so this year we planned our vacation to go back home to England.  We haven't been home for 2.5 years and the last time we went home during the summer Bambeano was 10 months old (he is now nearly 7).  Now flying home for the typical 10 days doesn't cut it as we rush around catching up with family, friends and try and have a vacation.

This year was different I was going to fly early with the kids and we would be there over 3 weeks and Bombshell would follow soon after.  The preparations in the house were exciting (kids) and panicky (me), not that I was nervous about flying on my own with the kids but the weather was forecasted as typical British Summer (RAIN), OMG what was I to pack.

A few weeks before the trip a curve ball came our way, my meticulous planning was out the window.  You see with school out I didn't need to have kids in camp Bombshell would be off work Monday and Tuesday and could watch the kids before driving to my work Tuesday and taking us to the airport, but no nothing could be that simple....This should have been a sign.......

Monday he did stay off with the kids but then he had to fly to Florida for a conference so he came to my work and we dropped him off......now for Tuesday, what now!!!!!!!  A great neighbor's daughter stepped in and came by at 6.45am Tuesday to watch the kids while I went to work.....taking 3 weeks off work left me thin for other vacation days......(I only had 20 days this year with a change in vacation schedule not being calendar year)  at 11.30am VACATION FINALLY STARTS!!!!!!

The trip to the airport was fraught with the kids fighting, normal I know but with the prospect of a 7.5 hr flight this was not something I was looking forward too.  Having nipped that in the bud we were off to the airport.  Parking was a nightmare but we were able to secure daily parking given that Bombshell was coming back from Florida Wednesday late so he would pick up the car, kids fighting had stopped so I finally could relax, or so I thought.

Checking in was not as smooth as I would have liked.  The seating layout of the plane is 2, 4, 2 so I had secured 3 seats together in the block of 4, not my ideal situation as the seats are cramped but at least we would be together....yeah that didn't work out.  I get to the desk and we have all been moved around.  I am on a block of 2 fortunately the same row as Boo Boo but there was an aisle and a seat between us....now where in the world was Bambeano's seat.  My 6 year old, that's right a child ticket, was moved 6 rows behind us but over on the left side of the plane, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!  I asked the desk agent to seat us together and the responses was we cannot help you, you will have to go to the gate.

Off the gate I go and I am met with another disappointing response from US Airways.....
"I'm sorry but I cannot move the person at the window as they requested it"
My response...."But my children and I were all sat together and have been moved and how can a 6 year old be separated from his family"
Their response....."You will have to work with the flight attendants"
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!  In the meantime I have 2 worried children......my game plane was to give Bambeano my seat and see if I can at least get the kids together, then with it being a night flight, get them settled and hopefully they will sleep.

I get on the flight and the attendant was less than funny, gives me high fives that I am away form my kids on the long flight that it would be every mother's dream, where do they pick these crazy people,  with the kids settled together a kind lady gives up her aisle seat and let's Boo Boo move to the aisle now the kids are separated only by the aisle.  Now on to sort my seat to get closer to the kids.....

The airplane is full and patiently waiting to push back form the gate.  It appears now there is a spare seat next to Boo Boo but I am told by the attendant they are waiting for one more passenger, surely I could take the seat (in the block of 4) and they could have my aisle seat.  NO I was emphatically told!!!!

Well here comes the passenger.......a English (I can spot them a mile off) man, DRUNK, seriously you were going to a) allow him on board, b) have him sit next to my 10 year old, not if I have my way.  I patiently watched the unfolding events as well as try and keep Bombshell informed (we had been texting).  The drunk passes Boo Boo's row and comes the 6 rows back to my row, starts fumbling his pockets.  The flight attendant asks him to take a seat he is holding up the plane, he responds he is looking for his ticket (he was adamant he was in our row).  This went on for what seems 5-10 minutes before the attendant got very agitated and told the passenger sternly to sit down and points to the seat by Boo Boo.  I popped up from my seat on the opposite side of the plane and said I would take the seat he could take my aisle seat, the relief on my kids face was all I needed to know that this Mama Bear did good. 

The drunk proceeded to fall into the laps of the passengers in my aisle while I whipped my bag and moved quickly over to my kids.  Boo Boo moved over one seat and Bambeano sat next to her then we had the aisle between us.

After the crazy beginnings of our vacation I could finally relax and the kids did FANTASTIC on the plane, no fighting and Boo Boo being very motherly and helping her brother.  I was settled with a glass of wine VACATION HAS OFFICALLY STARTED!!!!!!!