2. Two crazy ladies commenting loudly on our ridiculous amount of luggage with each turn of the check-in line.
This was pretty funny. I finally started looking them straight in the eye when they would make their comments. They still continued to comment as if I didn't exist. I was honestly already too tired to even come up with something funny and slightly sarcastic to say to them.
3. Crazy lady with the blank stare that took an hour to check us in.
3. Crazy lady with the blank stare that took an hour to check us in.
We walked to the counter and told her we had 9 pieces of luggage and two car seats to check. Blank stare followed by, "You are only allowed four pieces of luggage," followed by another blank stare. "Yes, we know and we will pay the fee for the extra baggage"...still a blank stare. Then she spent some time typing a few things into the computer, followed by a few phone calls (not related to us) and then she disappeared. Later, she comes back with another lady who tells her we will need to pay for the extra baggage. Again, blank stare. Other lady walks away. We stand there again while she fidgets with her computer and our passports. Finally, she says, "You will need to pay a fee for the extra baggage." Then she walks away again and another phone call. Eventually, some nice Air New Zealand man came over and seemed to light a fire under her and finally our luggage was tagged and on the belt (except for one...that I had to go back and remind her to put it on the belt) and we had our tickets.
4. Verbally abusive woman in the customer service line.
Aforementioned ANZ nice man escorts Todd to the front of the customer service line to pay for the infamous extra baggage so we can make our flight and some crazy woman starts in on how he should have to wait in the line like everyone else. Nice man becomes not so nice to mean lady who backs down and Todd pays for baggage. We thank nice man again and again and are on our way.
5. Running through the airport with 25 minutes to flight departure.
6. Almost leaving John in the Auckland New Zealand airport.
Another run in with gate lady about the baby backpack being a carry on. In order to demonstrate it's carry-on ability I removed John from it to show her how it would collapse. Meanwhile John meanders over to the window to watch the planes with Joe....I'm thinking Todd has him from when I took him out of the pack, Todd thinks I have him. Lady gives in and tells us to board the plane. We walk down the boarding ramp, board the plane, start settling our other children only to realize John is not with us. Holy instant panic!!!!! Todd is running off the plane. Stewardess' are yelling at him that he is not allowed to leave the plane or security will be called. I am yelling at crazy stewardess' that our baby is missing. They're looking at me like I'm nuts. Todd keeps running up the ramp. Katie is starting to cry. We look like lunatic parents. Hooray! Welcome to flying with the Clevengers! Todd gets to the gate and they aren't going to let him have John without a passport which is on the plane. Meanwhile John is happily watching planes from the window. When Todd called him he comes over screaming "daddy" and the gate lady has to give in. After only a few minutes (that seemed like forever) Todd is back with our little man. Fortunately, most of the people on our flight spoke only French and had no idea what we were saying...at least that's what I tell myself. :)
7. Having to deplane in Tahiti wearing jeans and shoes in 80+ degree weather for three hours in an open air airport.
Seriously, we were in Tahiti and not on the beach. So sad! They also made us go through security again right after getting off the plane. We're talking remove your shoes, cell phones, computers, water etc. What a pain!!!
8. Joey missing the potty in the Tahiti airport and having to go commando the rest of the flight.
Little boys are tricky. Not big enough to stand up, but too little to get "everything" down in the potty without hitting the undies. Therefore undies are in the trash of the Tahiti airport restroom. Joey is devastated and bawling...it was Nemo underwear. He was sure we could never find another pair of Nemo underwear in the world and that that pair would be so sad left there in the trash, and why couldn't we just wash and dry it there in the airport. Oh boy, there were a lot of tears. Good thing Disney is so popular in the states. Nemo will be replaced tomorrow.
9. John hand feeding Todd peanuts on our flight from LA to SLC.
This was absolutely hilarious. John knew he could get whatever he wanted from us at that point. We were at hour number 4000 of traveling really only 27, but it sure felt like that long and we couldn't handle any screaming tantrums at the point. So since John wanted to feed Todd peanuts he ate them whether he wanted to or not. I'm pretty sure he didn't want them!
10. Driving home on the right side of the road.
Wow it felt weird. I thought it would feel more normal, but even a few days later I still panic on roads with blind corners. I can't remember which side of the road I'm supposed to be on. Both Todd and I still use our windshield wipers for blinkers (they're backwards in New Zealand). I've definitely tried to get in the wrong side of the car a few times. Also, it's so fast and easy to get anywhere here. The roads are so curvy there and so straight here. Salt Lake to Ogden seems like a hop skip and a jump after the last few months of driving.
All in all it's good to be home. We found a nice place to rent today near our old house and neighborhood. The weather has been kind to us. Todd is back at work. Joey starts preschool tomorrow and Katie school in a week, after we move in. We're settling in nicely. Just wish we could transport the beach and a few friends back here!
