Some of you guessed right---my episode of insanity involving the 4 boys was, indeed, an airplane trip to California to visit HCMM and his family.
I prepared for the worst, which I assumed to be children vomiting everywhere and having inconsolable tantrums and/or panic attacks since none of them have flown after the age of 18 months before. I packed ziploc bags (for the vomiting) and lots of snacks (because I figured a good snack variety makes everything alright---even tantrums and panic attacks!). And you know what I got?...... the best. 4 kids who were very obedient. Who loved flying. Who did eat the snacks, but were happy just to read books, look out the window, and watch Backyardigans on the portable DVD player. My thanks to the 90 million invisible angel helpers required to make *that one* happen :). I didn't even mind all the comments and questions from people as we paraded up the aisle: "You're brave". "I could never do that". "Are you flying to meet their dad?" and my all time favorite---"are all those kids yours?".......
Why, Yes. Yes they are. Aren't I blessed?
Here are some picture highlights from our excellent adventure:
Got some sweet group shots of the boys squad-----
and some goofy ones too-----
The rotating thingamabob on my photo viewer is STILL not working, but I threw this one in to prove that we really WERE at Disneyland and California Adventure. Loved everything there! (except I don't recommend taking a 2 year old on the Haunted Mansion ride--they won't really like it...)
Lots of planning and studying the map to decide what to ride next....
A trip to the beach. We needed sweaters and jackets, but the other, "less-seasoned" tourists were strolling about in swimsuits and and playing in the water....
Having milkshakes (it's NEVER too cold for ice cream, you know!)
Playing in the beach park. The kids loved this! (including the big kids :) )
Zane and Ethan had a great time in the hot tub and even braved the cold pool for a while since it involved a water slide....
and no trip would be complete without....... pictures of dead things on your head.....
So let this be a lesson to you: If you get a sudden hankering to go on a 5 day long vacation with just you and your kids involving flight, no naptime, and lots of walking...YOU CAN DO IT!!!! And you'll probably like it too ;)!
***A HUGE thank you to Haute Cakes and his family (hello family :)!) for their amazing generosity! You helped create memories my boys will have for a lifetime!****
43 comments:
You are crazy girl! Or very brave. Glad you had a good time.
Lisa Q
I am so glad it went well for you!!! You have a beautiful family!
So glad you had a great time! What a fabulous trip and great memories!
And no vomit! The angels were with you. I think I have yet to fly alone....with children...and NOT have vomit. But, the fun at the other end of the flight is always worth it.
So glad you did it!
Yay!! I'm so happy for you and your boys! What was their favorite Disney ride? I haven't been to Disneyland but I'm an avid WDW fan. :-)
Thanks for the pictures!
That was were I guessed you were going. I'm so glad the trip was a success for your family. You deserve some great times and wonderful memories.
Yay for a successful trip! As a mom of 5, I know exactly how big of an accomplishment that is. :)
great picture of the boy squad. what a handsome crew! glad your trip was a success and no one threw-up. and yes, you are BRAVE to take all those boys on a plane by yourself. but...we do what we gotta do. (;
Good for you. Please post the ages of your kiddos... What a handsome group of boys. And, amen sistah, it's NEVER too cold for ice cream... Or never to early in the day.
Glad you had fun Jen-looks like a great trip! Love you guys!
Jennifer P., you are simply beautiful. You with your windblown hair and your green shoes wearing all those handsome boys. Glad you had a great time.
YAY! YAY! YAY! Kate LOVED the Haunted Mansion, but we couldn't get Carter within 10 feet of the place. Okay, now I want to see more pictures. Email them to me!!
We flew to Mongolia last year with five kids. That's a total (round trip) of 28 hours of air time!
Are you ready for that now that you've had the practice run?! :-P
no trip to Cali is complete without a milkshake (or, in my case: a meal) from in n' out.....yum (and jealous!)
glad that things worked out and i agree that portable dvd players are the.way.to.go.....love 'em.....i would lkiss the person who thought up that dream of a road trip/air trip/camping trip life saver :)
glad that you had lots of fun....
I'm glad it went well. Your kids look like they're having fun in every picture. :)
Oh so glad it allll went well :) YOU are amazing I tell ya! AMAZING! And you are right...it is NEVER too cold for ice cream !!!!!!!!!
Oh, how fun! It looks like you had a wonderful time! I bet your boys loved it!!! What a great mom you are!
XOXO
Jen
I'm glad to hear all is going so well with "Bachelor #1" that all these repeated trips are necessary :D
I still think you were brave. :) So glad you had such a fun time. Love all the smiles on your guys' faces.
I also get the comment "Are all those kids yours?" Cracks me up everytime!
I love the picture of the boys on the stairs!
So glad you had a fantastic time! We just got home from Knotts Berry Farm and Legoland (my boys don't even ask to go to Disney: sad for me!) Are your boys lego fanatics?
Glad to see your time was sweet.
Thanks for sharing with us!
Yay for adventures! :)
Glad you had such a great time! Please take me next time..what's one more?
Yipee - we knew where you were. Oh yes, we did. And I am so thrilled that Murphy wasn't your middle name throughout the trip. A sick free trip, that is a miracle. :)
Wow! Look at your boys all dressed up!! And - oh, my! What a trip!! Glad you all had a great time with HCMM!
Oh I love you and your boys!!! It was so much fun seeing you and meeting the boys. plus they are such troopers! I can't wait to see you next time! You may just have to come to me thought. ha ha ha. no more adventerous wheel chair rides for this pregnant girl :) ha ha. love you!
crazy? maybe. Brave? definately. Amazing? undoubtably! I can barely keep up with my two, let alone FOUR!! Well done, Curl Girl. It IS all about the memories.
I so enjoyed looking at your pics. I'm glad you all had a fab time, that warms my heart AND makes me want to bring you a boquet of moths. (HA, not really...just had to throw that out there like the freak that I am.)
I esp. love the squirrel on your child's head, that rocks!
P.S. I cannot stand crickets.
Now that's what I like to see! I'm so glad traveling with many monkeys went well. Inspiring for all of us single moms.(still feels weird saying that!)
I am so glad that it went well:-)
Ah, that's awesome! Honestly, I have had it go both ways: the perfect traveling with three kids alone and switching planes 3 times trip, and the imperfect one that involved two kids puking in the plane. Yeah. I'd say I prefer the first, but the second was far more memorable!
Glad you're back. Love the pics. Fabulous!
We all knew you could do it. . .and I am glad you had fun.
You are a BRAVE woman! What's so awesome is that this is definitely a trip that your 4 boys will always remember. My son is 16 years old and he still remembers his first trip to Disneyland, he was only 3 years old!
Yea! You made it! Glad you all had fun. I bet your boys had the time of their lives. Welcome back home.
It looks like it was SOOOO much fun!! And I'm very proud of you for taking the boys on an airplane!! People underestimate the awesomeness of a mommy with alot of kids. We can do anything!!
Wow! I bet they LOVED it!!! I can't wait until my kids are a little bit older to actually enjoy a trip like that. How fun!!
Oh Jennifer...YOU MADE IT!!!! How absolutely wonderful! Don't you love it when you plan for the worst, and hope for the best, and the best happens?
That's just lovely.
Score for the good moms (and good kids).
wow! you're brave! but glad you enjoyed your family trip! you better watch out, though...those boys of yours will grow up to be absolute hunks!
Glad you had such a good time!!
That sounds like an awesome trip. I can't imagine traveling with four kids. Yikes! I had a nervous breakdown flying with just one.
Looks like you guys had fun. We took our kids down there the week after Thanksgiving. We drove though...Didn't attempt the plane, Way to go!
Glad you had a good time:) I love moms of all boys (since I'm one too) and you are quite the inspiration putting them all on an airplane. AWESOME! I will not be doing that any time soon, but it's nice to know that it can be done.
What a great trip! One of my favorite things about travelling with my kids is watching the line of stairstep children rolling their luggage. Well, actually, watching three of the children roll suitcases while Mary Ashley hands hers off to someone else. She is a princess, you know. I hope you felt like a queen on your trip with all those boys!
SOunds like such a fun vacation! I knew you could do it! :)
Next time you go to Disneyland, call me and I'll meet you there for a few minutes!
I LOVE that stair case banister.
Your boys really are gorgeous! You are blessed!
Thanks so much for a wonderful guest post. I owe you big time.
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