Travellin'

Well, as hard as it is to believe, the days we've been planning for for well over a year have arrived.  I won't post these until we return, but will hopefully blog continuously throughout the trip.

We left on Thursday after picking up Chloe from her fun in the sun camp.  It was invaluable to keep her occupied and on schedule, and to keep our sanity together.  She improved in her behaviour over the summer, but getting back into routine will help tremendously in the fall.  The drive wasn't too bad, but we did decide to use the 407.  The problems really started at the border crossing.  Chloe, who needed a really good nap, woke up on the bridge and was cranky for the next 40 minutes, which was how long it took us to get to the front of the line.  Our border guard looked all of 21, and clearly took his job very seriously.  It was obvious that the sanctity and safety of the entire country was in his hands, and he searched two cars ahead of us.  It was further obvious that I'd chosen the wrong line.  He asked us a million questions, some of them over and over again, and after we finally cleared Gabi told me that she'd nearly mouthed off.  I let her know that she could have gone for the first cavity search if she had.

So we headed to a Target, still looking to solve our park-based stroller issues, then checked into the hotel and went to the Walden food court for dinner.  Is that the crappiest mall ever, or is it just me?  A lovely swim followed, and then we went to bed.  Up early on Friday, we went to the IHOP, where I think I made an error with all the green money.  I was pretty sure I had a $100 bill when I went in, but later I noticed I didn't.  I believe the $85 dollar tip probably made someone's day.  Ah well - dumb, but at least nobody got hurt. 

We then kept on our stroller quest, getting more upset by the minute as we were unable to solve the stroller issue, hitting Toys R Us and another Target, where we actually bought one.  We opened the box inside the store, where I was appalled to pull out a wheel, and the handlebars.  Being 75 odd minutes before our shuttle to the airport, and me typically setting aside half a day to assemble anything and also ensuring that no children are in earshot (there will be swearing), we owned that stroller for less than five minutes. 

Our shuttle to the airport was uneventful, and checkin got a little exciting when my luggage receipt had someone else's sticker on it, but hats off to Delta - they took care of everything.  Our big worry was Chloe on the flight, but she was fine, other than the fact that they announced our descent into Atlanta - and Chloe passed out.  I carried her off the plane with melted m&ms stuck to her butt, and our transfer went well, except I foolishly decided not to get any food in the few minutes between flights.

Our Atlanta/Orlando leg was a bit more interesting.  They were flying around a storm, so there was turbulence, s turns, and no drink/snack service, which by that point I would have killed for.  It was a bit of an edgy flight, but the landing was like butter, luggage pickup was no problem, and even getting the rental car was pretty easy.  It came down to a Kia Forte, a Mazda3, but we chose a Chevy HHR, which I thought would be easy to see, and satisfy Gabi's liking for taller vehicles.  I like it, actually - I'd consider it for a CR-V replacement when the time comes, for sure. 

The GPS said our hotel was 15 minutes from the airport, so of course with Friday night traffic it took 50, so we checked in and headed to the hotel restaurant, where they had an asian themed buffet, which didn't have much variety (nothing like Mandarin), and which looked disappointing, but turned out to be delicious.  I was so hungry I would have eaten anything at this point, and I was constantly hoping the waiter would take away my bone plate, because the pile of rib and wing bones I was accumulating was getting a bit embarrassing.  We then met up with Terry and Jenny and the boys, and had a few drinks in the hotel lounge while being entertained with karaoke saxophone, which Chloe loved. 

Up next - Downtown Disney