First Flight

   At the end of October I had to go back to Pocatello for a job fair. They make all the fourth year students go back because they guarantee the companies that come that they will be able to interview with a certain number of students about to graduate. The school reimburses the cost for going back for the students and when we started looking at getting a plane ticket for me Southwest was offering a really good deal, so we decided to take the whole family. Part of the reason for taking everyone was also because Ashley didn't want to be by herself for 4 days.

   Ever since moving to Reno the kids have loved watching and pointing out all the airplanes that pass overhead. We figured that they would be ecstatic to get to go on a plane. When we told them, Adahleigh made sure to tell everyone that she was going to ride on a plane, especially when one flew over she'd point to it and tell complete strangers that she was going to fly on a plane just like that. We were a little worried about trying to fly with three little ones, but they did great. The worst part for them was the hour and a half wait to get on the plane at Reno.

   They did enjoy watching the planes come in at first. Even Keisha enjoyed hanging out and being one of the big kids. She didn't last long though and ended up taking an hour nap before getting on the plane.

    Adahleigh and Charles started playing games about 30 min into the wait. One of the first games they came up with was running along the chairs and jumping the gap between the sets.

    Charles even managed to make the giant leap.

   Then they started swing on the poles where everyone line up to get on the planes.

   This then progressed on to ring around the rosie.  I'm sure they were great entertainment for all the other passengers waiting to get on their planes.

   A few minutes before our plane came in a couple other planes came to one of the other nearby gates, so the kids spent the last little bit before we loaded on the plane watching another plane get prepared for flight.

  Keisha even woke up to get another look.

   Adahleigh got a Minnie Mouse backpack from her aunt Peter for her birthday, and we figured that she'd enjoy dragging it around at the airport and on the plane so we let her take it. It also worked out for her to carry her activities and a few extras. 

    The way seating ended up working out is Ashley, Adahleigh and I all had tickets, but if there was enough room Charles could ride in his own seat. The plane wasn't full enough to require him to ride on a lap, but there weren't enough seat together that we could sit on two rows close together (since kids in car seats have to ride next to the window) . I ended up riding by Adahleigh and Ashley rode by Charles with Keisha on her lap. They kids really enjoyed the ride, but the people in front of them probably didn't because they kept kicking the seats in front of them. We did get some complements about how well behaved they were.

   It's not hard to tell by the smile on her face how happy she was to be on a plane.

    Adahleigh had to get Minnie out so she could see out the window too.

    We even flew over our place and were able to look down and see it from the plane.

  Needless to say Charles wasn't able to stay awake the whole flight, he did stay awake on the flight home though. He was so out of it when we landed in Salt Lake City that it was just easier to carry him (car seat and all) through the airport than wake him up and try and make him walk. Adahleigh had no problem staying awake and loved every minute of the flight.

   The flight back was a little better as far as seating arrangements go. We were able to sit in two consecutive rows, allowing us to pass things back and forth. Ashley wanted to switch seating arrangement, so I took Charles and Keisha while she sat next to Adahleigh.

   Charles liked to play with the window shade the whole flight. He wasn't interested in opening it to see out he just liked to open and close it. Here he is giving one of his famous scowls.

   

   Not to be outdone Keisha had to scowl at the camera too.

   Then she gave a nice goofy face.

  He loves his little sister and was more than happy to get hold Keisha, which he doesn't get to do much since she is as big as he is almost. He's a little more willing to attempt to smile when he's getting to do something he love.

   All in all the kids listened really well (a lot better than expected), and we were able to get on and off the plane fairly quickly without holding up too many people. We also found out that none of the kids inherited any of Ashley's fear of flying. The only whining done on the plane was from wanting to get out of their seats and not out of fear.