Here is a little outline of our vacation:
Thursday
Drove to Chicago...took slightly longer then we had planned...like a lot longer! We parked in the Economy Parking which meant taking the train about 2 miles to the station. No biggie. We checked in at the ticket counter 45 minutes before the plain was scheduled to leave. (40 minutes before your flight they stop excepting check in's.) Check in our bags, and tried to fly threw security.
I was smart in the fact that all Jude's formula for the plane was in store bought pre-made ready to use bottles. Well, in the rush of everything I forgot that we had opened one, because Jude was starving during the car ride. So, they stopped me and had to search everything in the diaper bag and search me and the baby and test the open bottle. I explained to the women, no big deal we are in a hurry there is less then an ounce left please just pitch it. NOPE that is against policy, so she had to take it and test it. Almost 8 minutes later she comes back to tell me that the liquid passed and rechecked to make sure I did not have anything else open. The second that she handed the open bottle back to me I handed it to Roger and said "Here please pitch this." The lady was not happy, but at that point the feeling was mutual!
If that was not entertaining enough we got to the gate as they were loading the plane, and found out that our tickets were not assigned seats, because the plane had been overbooked and were prioritizing the remaining people for the few seats left. So, we walked up to the counter and a man talked to us while looking at the computer screen in front of him the whole time and told us there was probably nothing he could do and we would have to wait for the next flight. Then Jude made a noise. The man looked up and realized we had a baby with us and hustled to find us remaining seats on the plane. Thank you Lord for small miracles, and thank you Jude for knowing when to make noise.
We got on the plane and once we were boarded and backing away from the gates our pilot was informed we were no longer a go because the fires in Oklahoma were picking back up. So, we taxied for about 30 minutes and then were finally able to fly out. We made okay time, but were delayed again because the fires were between us and the airport and the smoke was pretty thick. So we got a pretty tour of parts of Oklahoma that we were originally flying past, and eventually landed in Oklahoma about 10pm.
However, I have to tell you that flying with Jude was truly entertaining, and made up for all the stress of the flight. He was amazed by
everything, and was so well behaved. My favorite part though was Jude and the window. The window was open all the way and there was no interest...not even when I tried to get his attention to look out. But the minute I put the shade down part way he was fascinated looking out the window. He tried to push the shade up so that he could see more, he twisted his head so he could see everything. Then when I closed it all but about an inch, he squeezed down into the crack of the window and tried to look out. Then he tried to push it up so that he could see more. This went on for about 15 minutes, with me lowering and raising the shade and Jude trying to look out as much of the window as possible. It was by far one of my favorite travel moments!We got our car, Jude's car seat, and watched Roger try to figure out the
controls of the car. There were some funny moments during that time!!! Then we headed off for Roger's mom's house, stopping for dinner along the way. Our late arrival in Chicago had not left time for this, so we were to say the least a little more then hungry! After a quick stop at McD's...we made it to the house. Rog's mom and brother were up waiting for us, and even though it was so late in the evening they were more then willing to stay up and talk with us for a little while. It was nice to finally be out of the crazy Easter travel and in the house with our feet up! Not to mention how excited Jude was to see family. Friday
Friday started out with Jude and I getting up and hanging out with Grandma Kittie. Grandma Kittie got her hair done, and all the ladies were so excited to meet him, because of course they had heard about him. Then we went to the scrapbook store, where we met some more friends of Grandma Kittie
, and I got to drool over a bunch of cool things they had. Always dangerous to let me loose in a scrapbook store.When we got home we hung out until Jude decided that Dad and Uncle Rodney needed to get up. Jude got to meet Uncle Randy for the first time as well.
Then he practiced climbing the stairs, and got so good at it (with a parent very close behind him in case he fell) that he was able to take toys up the stairs with him.
Next, we moved around Grandma's Kittie's office and old play room area. We got it all hooked up and running, so she could scrapbook on the computer while still hanging out with Brandon and Mike in the main room. Then it was off to Great Grandma Jone's for the evening. Jude got to meet his cousin Gracieonna and her mom Brittney. Gracieonna was just at the sitting stage, and Jude was a little more mobile then that, being older. So, he took advantage of his mobility and decided to teach Gracieonna about bullies and sharing. Only, Jude was not really into the sharing so much as he was into the taking and hiding. So, we would take her toys and push her over and then hide the toys. Jude got into a little bit of trouble that night, and parents stepped in to teach Jude ho
w to share and be nice. I think part of it was the lack of children his age that he interacts with.
Jude had a great time investigating the house, and meeting everyone though. We got generational pictures with Rog's family, and Great Grandma holding both of the great grand kids. Trust me that was a lot harder shot to get then you may think, especially since the two little ones were tired and not playing so nice anymore. It was all and all a great night though, and such a blessing to be able to see everyone!
Saturday
This was a busy busy day, but so much fun. We slept in a little (which is always a blessing) then we got up and took Brandon to laser tag. It has pretty much become a
tradition, I even did it when I was pregnant with Jude. So, it was Rodney, Rog, Randy myself, and Brandon out and about laser tagging it up, while Jude was home with the grandparents. God bless built in baby-sitters! The last time we went to laser tag with Brandon the first game had pretty much the perfect amount of people, so it was our team versus theirs. Then next game we played it was flooded with people and not nearly as much fun. So, this time we were really hoping for a five on five situation again. Unfortunately, laser tag is not such a big attraction the day before Easter, so it was just the four of us, so we did a free for all. Rog proved his skills once again, and w
as always in the top 2 rankings.When we got home it was time to shower and do family pics! Grandma Kittie had a friend that was going to use Grandma's really nice camera to do family shots at some nice spots over on the OU grounds. The sun was a little pesky and Jude was a little squirmy, but there were some really great pictures! It was nice that we could all finally be together for that.
Then we scooted
over to Great Grandpa and Grandma Richardson's. Jude got to see Great Grandpa's train set up, swing more, watch the dog play basket ball, and look at coy. 
After all the fun in the sun we hung out in Great Grandpa's gazebo for awhile and took generational pictures. 
Then we went inside to realize that Jude had got a little pink in the sun. Great Grandma took his mind off of it though by giving him the Easter basket they had put together for him. Upon a wonderful arrangement of clothes there was a bouncing Peter Rabbit that sang, and a very very nice quilt that Great Grandma had had made for him.After pics it was back to the house to grab our bags, and out to dinner. We went to dinner at Earl's BBQ Place and I had my first taste of brisket. I concluded that it was almost a smokey roast, and that it would be something that I would be willing to make in the future.
Once the meal was over, it was one last round of good-byes as we head out with Rodney to Art and Sheila's for the remaining part of the weekend. Once we got there hugs held us over while we got back in the car and boogied over to Braum's for some AMAZING ice cream!!Sunday
We got up nice and early for church on Easter morning!!! We had a wonderful time at church. However, I had been so excited a few months before and bought "the perfect Easter dress", which is a big thing for me, because I never buy or wear dresses. Anyway, it was a spaghetti strap summery dress, which I thought would be perfect for Easter in Oklahoma. However, the weather decided to come with us, and so it was slightly way to cold for the dress. I luckily was in a light sweater and pants for the pictures (because it went with the colors we were suppose to wear), and so that doubled as my Easter outfit. Jude was set in his cute little outfit, and Rog of course looked super handsome!
After church it was back to Grandpa Art's and Grandma Sheila's to change into comfy clothes, and Jude got and Easter basket from them.
Then we were off to Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Peters. Where there was a house full of food and family! Jude met lots and lots of cousins. Some of the younger cousins played with Jude and helped take care of him, which was really nice, so that Rog and I could do some mingling. Of course all the aunts and uncles wanted to say hi and hang out with the little guy for a few minutes. Again we had the chance to get generational pictures. Some of them it looks like Great Grandpa may have dosed out in for a few minutes, but can you blame him, pictures can take a long time with big families, but they are worth it!!!!
As it got late in the evening, after we had lunch and leftovers for dinner we headed back to Grandpa and Grandma's. Jude still had plenty of energy, so James (Rog's step-brother) and Amber (his wife) and their girls came over. This is where Jude got to see what is like to have a bully in the family, as the younger of the two girls, Katylin showed Jude her tough side. Jude chased her down though, which she was startled by. I think it was a much more even match then Jude and Gracieonna. Madison, Katylin, and Jude all had a great time playing and hanging out, and Grandma was very excited to get lots and lots of pictures.
Rodney, Rog, James, Amber, and I all had a fabulous time catching up. We found out that Rog had the same phone as James, and I had the same phone as Amber, which was too weird! Then we bonded over pizza, and remembered how much we love hanging out with them. They had been gone living in Georgia for awhile, but it was really really nice to have them back in OK to hang out with. Next time I think we are going to have to plan a night to go out with them. We always have such fun and educated discussions, which I know any mom or dad can always appreciate!
Monday
This was our day to depart. We got up, and hung around. Then we went out for lunch at this burger place we always then went and visited Sheila at work to say good-bye one last time.
Then it was off to the airport. Rodney had a later flight, but since we drove together, we brought him to the airport with us. We though he was going to be stranded for a few hours by himself waiting for his plain, but as fate would have it our plane was delayed due to bad weather in Chicago. So, we ended up departing and boarding about the same time.The flight back was fun. There was another child a little older then Jude a few seats up, so they played peek-a-boo a lot, and Jude was still amazed at playing with the window. When he got home, Rog was a trooper and since the weather was nasty when we finally got to the parking lot he went and got the car for us so that we didn't have to walk around and load in the rain. What a thoughtful husband.
When we got home, we were sad that the trip was so short, but very grateful to be home again! It will be awhile until we can get back, but we do want to try to make it down a least once a year if everything allows so that Jude knows both sides of the family well.
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