Christmas in Montana... Getting there

So on Sunday the 23rd, we began our long journey to Montana. We headed to San Antonio that evening, a few hours later than we had wanted to, due to a dog who needed to be dropped off at Nana's, a key needed to be dropped off at our friends watching our cat, a friend who we hadn't seen in forever showing up, and a football game that HAD to be watched!! John slept most of the way there, but of course once we got there, decided he needed to poop his pants, thoroughly! Everything needed to be changed. He didn't go to bed until 10:30, and we didn't go to bed til almost 1. Of course, he didn't think sleeping in was a necessity, so he promptly woke up at 5:50. He stayed awake for an hour, and then went back to sleep for only an hour. Meaning, we got up with him. He got one really good morning nap in, and then, nothing. Probably was excited for the big day ahead of him.
When we arrived at the airport, we were told that we would only have 15 minutes to catch our connecting flight in Memphis, and so it would be tight. We elected to try for it. Well, it turned out that we were delayed nearly 2 hours from leaving San Antonio. Chris had a backup plan worked out if we missed our flight in Memphis, where we would still arrive in Montana early on Christmas morning. He pulled the, "It's my last Christmas before I go to Iraq..." which is true, but he doesn't leave for nearly another year. The representative he was talking to mentioned that the plane leaving out of Memphis was running 45 minutes late, putting us arriving there approximately 5 minutes before the flight left. We called my folks and my bro & sister in law (who were to meet us in Minneapolis) and told them to pray! Our flight from San Antonio to Memphis was full, so we couldn't shift around to sit closer to the front.
When we touched down in Memphis, the flight attendant came on, and told those who had a longer than 10 minute layover to stay seated, and then proceeded to say, "If you are connecting to Minneapolis, your gate is B38. Go directly there. Do not stop to go to the bathroom, or get water, or you will miss the flight." We pulled into gate B1. Then half the plane stands up. Chris had jetted into the aisle with John, and was firmly insisting that I come up to where he was. I had heard those around me who also were making short connections, so I didn't want to budge in front of them. He was insistent, so I did, and apologized to those I cut in front of. The minute we got out of the plane, we ran as fast as we could to the next gate. John enjoyed the run, as he bounced up and down in Chris's arms. We got there, just as they were fixing to close the door. I was huffing & puffing. I thought I was going to throw up. And, of course we had no water, b/c they won't let you bring a water bottle on board, and we hadn't gotten one in San Antonio. Grrr! It seemed like forever before they finally let the beverage service go through. John, decided to poop his pants (he loves doing that on the plane)! Thankfully, Chris was there to help. He ended up playing and holding John who wouldn't sleep, as I was not functioning well. This flight was a wee bit emptier, so we got to move to sit in front of Dave & Sarah.
When we arrived in Minneapolis, T & Sarah were there to meet us. (Chris had called them and my folks indicating we had made it on our connecting flight in Memphis.) We had to briskly walk to make it to the next gate. Chris ran on ahead, leaving John with Sarah to grab me something to eat. It's 9:30 by this time. We got to the gate as they were boarding. I was even able to go to the bathroom as I waited for the line to move!!!
John finally fell asleep on the last leg, despite us (me) sitting next to a slightly inebriated man, on his way home, who talked the whole flight. He had just come from saying goodbye to his mom, possibly for the last time, and needed to debrief. He was very helpful, carrying the diaper bag, picking up my breast pad... yeah accidentally dropped it, and he was going to throw it away for me. I told him, I was going to keep it. Maybe he was too drunk to realize what it was!!!!! :o)
It was kind of fun, we came off the plane in our birth order! Mom was soooo excited! It took us 45 minutes to get our baggage. It was fun to catch up, and to see people we recognized but couldn't place how we knew them. I did run into one of the girls I was a camp counselor for at Clydehurst, and caught up with her. She is in the Air Force. Craziness. They grow up so fast! John stayed asleep most of the time, until we put him in his car seat, and then fell back to sleep shortly after we arrived at the house. We made sure we woke Grandma up, as we traipsed through the downstairs!!! She loved it!
So, since this is getting rather lengthy, I will post the rest of Christmas on a new post.



John playing on the plane, instead of sleeping!


Dave & Sarah happy to be going to Montana!
We forgot to get a picture of T & Sarah, well probably we weren't able to be pulled away from inebriated man to get a picture!!