In which this week will be spent checking items off my list and adding to my pileAugust 25th, 2008 @ 7:01 am
One week.
That’s how long I have to get everything ready for our trip to Europe. As of next Monday afternoon we’ll officially be “on vacation”. Getting ready for a vacation is hard. You can’t start packing too soon or you’ll be left with all your clothes in your backpacks and nothing to wear. You can’t put off packing too long or you’ll be the one up until 2am the day before your flight frantically trying to get everything to fit in your bags.
Unfortunately I’m not sure what constitutes packing “too early” or “too late”. And so while I haven’t actually started to put stuff in backpacks, I have started lists and piles. The list has things like “make sure battery chargers will work in Europe”, “buy gifts for German friends”, “buy headphones for the iPod that Babboo will use” and “buy dental floss”. The pile has things like sunscreen, passports, international driving licenses, electrical converters, journals, and swimming suits.
We’ve flown with Babboo numerous times. Mostly just to Utah or California. The longest flight we’ve taken him on was when we went to NYC and DC last summer. Back then he was still youngish and easy to manage. He didn’t have his own seat, but he was fine. At least I think he was fine. It was over a year ago and I don’t remember what happened last week, let alone last year.
Anyway, this flight is a little different. He has his own seat. And we have a layover in Newark. Plus, the time change is major. We’re starting in Germany, which has a nine hour time difference then here in Seattle. NINE HOURS. I think that is just so major that I really don’t think there is anything we can do to plan for that. You know, except maybe Benadryl. (I’m kidding.) (Sort of.) I’m also spending a small fortune on videos for my iPod.
My plan is to not think too much about this. I figure that way I won’t stress out BEFORE we go. I’ll save that until we’re actually on the plane. No really, I’m sure he’ll be fine. Plus, like I said, he has his own seat this time. So we’ll just keep him strapped in and hope pray wish for the best. So while we’re taking the long flight to and from Europe, we’re also taking four smaller flights inside of Europe. This kid better be a good flier, that’s all I’m saying.
I’m also going to not try to worry about how Babboo is still potty training. He has yet to master using the potty at school. I think it has something to do with his teachers, but I’m trying to not lay blame. I don’t know if I should be using big-boy-undies 100% of the time on the planes or just use regular old diapers (I’m pretty sure I can’t flush his gdiapers in the airplanes. Since a lot of our trip will be sans clothing, I’m sure he’ll just get used to peeing openly and freely. The way God intended.
Yeah see, I’m trying to not stress out about this. Really and truly. Because dude, there is going to be an awful lot of family-time taking place over the next month and I want every minute of it to be awesome.
(We went to the zoo on Friday. Together. As a family. Just to prep us for the upcoming vacation. It was pretty awesome.)
Vacations
Jessica
said,
August 25, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I know you turned comments off for your previous post but I just want to say that I’ve experienced the same phenomenon and haven’t slid into anorexia or anything wild like that. I think that when our bodies change (especially quickly) that it takes awhile for our heads to catch up. Remember how bizarre it was to be hugely pregnant? Even though you knew you were constructing human life and that it was a gorgeous noble activity and that you weren’t fat but everything your brain said was “fat fat fat fat”? I suspect your brain and your body are just trying to synch back up and you’re going to be fine. Long time lurker and fan, by the way. I love your blog.
Rhi
said,
August 25, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I am so jealous of your vacation, I want to pull your hair. But, your hair is lovely, so I shall not.
Cindy
said,
August 25, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Just so you know, I can contort myself to fit into carry-on.
Yah, know, just incase you want to take me along.
We’ll be expecting fabulous vaca pictures on your return.
Kim
said,
August 25, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I like your idea of not stressing beforehand. Because it will all be fabulous. After all, you’re in EUROPE!
Kerri Anne
said,
August 25, 2008 at 7:46 pm
EUROPE. Fantastic!
Chris and I have been checking and re-checking Kayak for what feels like ages, because there are non-stops from PDX to Amsterdam! And to Frankfurt too! Thus, it’s only a matter of time for us.
Viviane
said,
August 26, 2008 at 8:33 am
Yeah the time change is brutal, especially flying to Europe. Flying to the States is not nearly as bad (though I always flew to Oklahoma, so that’s only seven hours). Where in Germany will you be going?
Anyway, I am sure the packing will go fine, and you’ll have a blast.
Chris
said,
August 26, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Good luck with the packing not to mention the no-stress thing!!
Liberal Banana
said,
August 26, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Uh, somehow you slipped out of my Bloglines account (WTF?) and I was like, “I wonder when HolaIsabel is heading to Germany…” and then I clicked on your name in my comments area and LO AND BEHOLD, you have blogged and I missed it. So now you’ve been successfully re-added to my Bloglines (seriously, how did you ever go missing from there? Switching web addresses while I was on hiatus, perhaps?) and phew, that is a relief.
So yeah, the flight to Germany is long (BTW, while yes the flight itself is 9, the actual time difference is “only” 6 hours) but if you’re on any sort of decent plane it’ll have TV to amuse you. When I flew over there in January I was planning on reading and sleeping and doing German lessons on my laptop - but none of that happened because I was like “They’re going to show Crappy Movie 3? I would never pay to rent it but here it’s FREE so heck yeah I want to watch it!” (I think I have a mental disorder when it comes to free stuff.) I mean, for a little kid I know it’s not exactly the same but…well…yeah I don’t know anything about keeping a kid entertained. Um, good luck with that one!
We won’t be there until the 20th so I assume you won’t still be there then, right? My fiance’s parents are leaving this Thursday (I think) to go on a river cruise before they meet up with us in Goettingen and his mom is already 100% packed - including carry-ons. I could never be THAT organized!!!
One final comment for ya. Here’s what I have never forgotten from my German lessons on tape from when I was like 12 years old, and which may come in handy for you:
“Wie war der Flug?” (How was the flight?)
“Gut, aber sehr lange.” (Good, but very long.)
Have a wonderful trip!!!
gorillabuns
said,
August 26, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I’m both jealous and quite happy for your impending vacation. Have fun and don’t think of a thing but wonderful family moments together.
Amanda
said,
August 26, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Good Luck with the packing - gee I always hated waiting to start packing!
Just a quick comment on Babboo’s using the potty at school - I found at the nursery that some of the children who went on the potty perfectly at home would just have so many accidents at nursery for what we could only assume was due to there being more distractions there. Even one of my colleague’s kid was fantastic at home but at nursery consistently “forgot” to go.
Marci
said,
August 26, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I had a nervous breakdown getting 5 of us ready to go camping for 3 days and 2 nights. I don’t think I would do well planning for 3 weeks. YIKES!
But still… I am soooooo jealous of your trip!!! Have so much fun!
heidikins
said,
August 27, 2008 at 5:47 am
Yay!! Vacation!! So! Exciting! I want to say “dude, I want pictures as soon as you get off the plane…” but then I start thinking about all this time you will (allegedly) be spending nakeed, and, um, I start to rethink the PICTURES! request/demand. You will take some pics of buildings, right? Please?
xox
plastic nico
said,
August 28, 2008 at 2:12 am
that reminds me - i was supposed to take my kids to the zoo this summer. but school starts in a few days - OH DARN!
May
said,
August 28, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Ok, just in case you were considering hauling Baboo’s car seat into the plane (So he can be “buckled in” and “safe”) DON’T DO IT! We put Lil’ May in her carseat on the way to Hawaii thinking it would contain her better, but really it just gave her better access to the seat in front of her for kicking. SO SORRY PERSON IN FRONT OF US! Obviously Mr. May was super excited about this. And you know the rest of the story….