Oh Maine

I got up and out of bed at 4:30 so that I could catch my flight and get to Maine.  I slept some on the flight, but not too much.  I hadn't been feeling well and felt bad for the people on the plane that I kept hacking on :)  Overall it was a good flight though.  I went from Atlanta to Detroit to Bangor.  I haven't flown in to Bangor since December of 2000...it was great to be there and not have to drive for another 4 hours!

As soon as I got there, Dad and Susan were waiting for me.  They took me to Christina house where I picked up Isabel and took her to her basketball game.  It was great to see her play and she did a really good job, but basketball just isn't my sport, no matter what the skill level is.

 

 Isabel is in the back in the middle with the black shorts

 

 Bel is second from left on the floor

When we got home, everyone was there and it was GREAT to see my nieces and nephew!  I miss them so much!!!  All the kids love the newest addition Jillian so much.  They kept fighting over who got told hold her and even Genevieve was trying to help and wanted to touch and love on the baby.

 

Alex loving on Jillian

 

 Christina, Genevieve & Jillian

Overall we didn't do an whole lot.  Christina wasn't up for moving around much so we hung around the house and visited.  I tried to keep the kids out of her hair, but I just couldn't do all 3 of them.  I tried my hardest.

 

 Nixon messing with Alex and Genevieve

Genevieve has changed so much since the last time I saw her.  She is so damn cute!  She's talking a lot and getting in to everything.

 

 Genevieve shy when I first got there

 

 Genevieve showing me her new teeth

Alex is getting so big!  I got to go to his school concert and he was so cute!  I wanted to run up on stage and hug him!  Also, I got to see one of his basketball games too...too cute.  The kids just kept running and dribbling maybe 1 or 2 times down the length of their court :)

 

 Alex on the left in the front row

 

 Alex, in the red shorts, taking a shot

Isabel has grown to a become beautiful girl.  She helped me a lot with the smaller kids and snuggled with me when ever I wanted.  We had some girl time one night and painted our nails so that was nice.

 

 Celebrating Isabel's birthday

 

 Isabel and Alex - See? They get along sometimes

The newest niece, Jillian, is simply adorable!  If Christina wasn't feeding her or someone else holding her, I was.  I got all kinds of Jillian love in while I was there!
 

 Jillian Ruth

 Sleeping baby girl...so sweet

I got to see Nana and Ralph a few times.  I was lucky to get Genevieve for the day and take her to Nana's with me! :)   I also got to see Grammie a few times.  Then at the end of my trip, I got some time with Elaine too.  It was great to see all of them!  Nana and Ralph came down for the wedding but that was over a year ago.  Grammie I saw when I was up there in Jan 07.  And Elaine, I don't remember the last time.  I don't think I saw her in 07. 

Mom and I had planned it so that I would need to be at the airport at about the time she would be getting in so that whoever would only have to make one trip.  So when I got there to check in, the little kiosk wasn't working.  I stood around waiting for a Delta attendent to come help me.  Here's kinda how it went:

Me: The kiosk isn't working.
Delta guy: Yeah
Me: Well, I need to check in.
DG: ???
Me: For the flight to Detroit?
DG:  That flight left already
Me: What? The 4:40 flight is gone?
DG: Yeah, it left at 2:15
Me: (wtf? they didn't tell me?!)  Ok....umm....so the 4:40 flight left at 2:15
DG: yes, flight 440 left at 2:15.
Me: (look at board behind counter)  shit.

So one morning about a week or so before the trip, mom called to see when my flight left so she could by her ticket.  I looked real quick at my email and told her 4:40.  I would have to be there at 3:40.  She found a flight that got in at 3:10.  PERFECT!  I never looked at my itinerary again.  Had I, I may have noticed that it was flight 440 that leaves at 2:15...just like Delta Guy said.  There wasn't any other flights leaving that day.  I had to pay an extra $100 to get my ticket switched to leave the next morning.  Thank God I had planned on leaving on Sat so I didn't have to worry about missing a day of work!

Sunday morning, I got up at 4:00 am again to catch my flight home.  I do not like getting up at 4:00 am.  I flew from Bangor to JFK.  I had a few hour layover at JFK so I hung out in the Burger King area because they had bench seats so I could sleep some.  My flight was delayed and I didn't leave there till 12ish.  By the time I got back to Macon, I had been traveling for 13 hours.  So what did I do after not having seen my husband for over a week?  I took at nap :)

Overall, my trip was awesome.  I loved being back in Maine.  For the most part, the weather was great.  I got to see it snow twice and enjoy what makes Maine, Maine.  Everything was great, except for the end.

 The whole gang!!  Isabel 10, Alex 5, Genevieve 2, and Jillian 2 weeks