What a Day...

OK, so this is the "gist" of the day. So much more happened, but this is the basic run through

6:15 am get up and start getting ready to leave.

6:45 am.. get the kids up (earlier than normal, but they still did good:)!)

7:15 am get everything and everyone in the car

7:28am leave Aunt Jodi's house ( 2 minutes ahead of schedule) start heading to Jeff's house. Originally when we planned this trip we were going to fly, but $500 a ticket x4 was more than Jimmy wanted to pay. Besides, Dirk told him it would be a 13 our drive. Crazy fool was wrong, it was an 18 hour drive and we were leaving at 8 which would put us there around 3 am in the morning, but you have to do what you have to do. We have three kids that needed to get to school.

7:45am going down us31 between Sherman and Airline at about 15mph. Very icy roads. Getting a little behind schedule.

8:30am finally getting to Jeff and Shelly's. Get everything packed up and we are on our way at about 9:00am

9:02am snow starts fly...can't see 1 foot in front of us.

9:15am someone (I honestly don't know who) said "Are you sure you don't want to fly, it's going to be a late night?"

9:16am Jimmy tells me to get out my lap top and see how much tickets would be

9:20am Have tickets available for $328 round trip a person + ticket taxes.

9:21am figure out ticket taxes about $150

9:22am Jimmy says book the tickets and we are on our way to Midway

Yeahs through out the car!!! Everyone starts to relax, mainly my husband who does not travel in vehicles well:)!

11:00am with all of our new found time, decide to hit Michigan City for a little shopping. Life is GRAND!!!

12:00 pm Get to Chicago with a good 1-1 1/2 before we need to be at the airport. Decide to eat downtown.

12:15-1:00 drive around downtown, not accomplishing anything but seeing some buildings

1:30pm entering Subway parking lot...we have 5 minutes to eat. Wanted to be at the airport at 1:30.

1:45 getting gas and Jeff is checking the air on our tires-you know with all of our spare time!

2:00 get to airport

2:05 taking shuttle across large Airport

2:20 get into airport to check in, remember we do not have any print out...did everything in the car. Notice these large signs.

$15 for first checked bag, $25 for second. Anything over 50 pounds $50+

Well, we have 3 bags and the Rylaarsdam's have 3 bags + they add more taxes to the taxes so for another $150 we are through the ticket check in.

2:30 we have been "selected" by the airline to have "special treatment". Due to the fact that we bought our tickets this morning, we raised some concerns and had to go through "the puffer"...their words not mine. Basically you stand in this machine for about 5 minutes were the "deionized" you...locking for traces of explosives. Classic!!! Chaos follows me!!!

2:45 our bags are being rubbed down and analyzed on a computer. Nice!!

3:10 we are through and heading to our gate about 300 yards ahead, our plane leaves at 3:40 when we hear this announcement that it is the final call for our plane and the gate will be closing. Jimmy and I freak start running, Jeff and Shelly follow. We actually board the plane behind the captain who is laughing at us and telling us not to worry. They like to be on time and has no idea why they have last call 1/2 before take off.

5:15 arrive in Atlanta (you know, Atlanta is right on the way to New Orleans:)!) 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Imagine that!!

5:30 At TJI Friday's having some dinner

7-8:00 Watching Unbreakable waiting for the plane. Can I just say...I LOVE LAP TOPS!!!!

8:10 decide I needed a coffee from Starbucks

8:20 arrived back at the gate to get on the plane that was leaving at 9:00

9:30'ish watch two people going at it on the plane. They were going for a membership in the sky high club!!..and the rest of Unbreakable...love M Knight movies!!

10:25 arrived in New Orleans...15 minutes ahead of schedule. I recommend Air-Trans...just be early!!!

10:45-11:00 get a tour of New Orleans via the airport shuttle. The man was a mad man. CRAZY!!! We literally saw every block in RECORD time...including the dark alley way were two "ladies" came out of the wood work "looking for a good time". Not to worry though , that was at the BACK of out hotel

11:00 we arrive at the Hotel Monteleone. Very nice place, old with a lot of character. Not old like yucky old, they have kept in up and kept it up to date, but still kept with the "original" look of the place.

Hopefully, I can get some pictures today. Not sure what we are doing to take pictures of, but I am sure I can find something.

Gotta go have my pedicure....