29 April 2009

Spring Travel, pt 2: New Jersey!

Continuing our spring travels with Anders, we hopped on a plane from Seattle to New Jersey to visit with the other set of grandparents. On our previous cross-country trip we actually bought a seat for Anders so that we would all be a little more comfortable. He spent most of his time sleeping on our laps, though, so this time around we decided to use our accumulated airline miles to buy two first class tickets.



My parents have visited with Anders about every three months since he was born, but on this trip we finally got to introduce him to his aunt, uncle, and perhaps most importantly, his cousins! Katya and Nadija were so excited to meet him. They had seen pictures of him and watched (or at least tried to watch) him via Skype, but I think it is hard for 3 year olds to fully grasp.

They had all sorts of things that they were going to teach him, including how to play kickball. Thankfully, once he arrived they didn't try. They just gave him lots of attention. Some quotes from the girls: "I love you, baby Anders", "Uncle Mike and Uncle Corinne", and

Nadija: (hugs Anders) "You're my best friend."
Katya: "Hey! What about me?" (pause) "I'm sister's best friend."








We also gave him a bath on one of the first days that we were there. The girls were excited to help, but Drew and Michelle had to plan for the "girls versus boys" which might result. The question "what's that?" was asked, but the interest was fleeting and the question was soon lost in a sea of activity. The girls both had lots of fun helping to wash him by squeezing water out of the washcloth onto him.





Unfortunately both Corinne and I still had a backlog of work to do while on our vacation, but the grandparents were more than happy to take care of Anders in the morning while we worked for a few hours each morning and then again at night. At least we didn't have to take much actual PTO during the trip.

For the most part we just spent time at home and around town. One afternoon we took all three kids to a local park where Anders had his first opportunity to ride a swing. Corinne and I also managed to go on a "date" out to a movie, courtesy of Drew and Michelle. We probably hadn't done that in several years!



Rather than travel around to all of the other relatives in the area as we have on previous trips to NJ, this time my parents offered to host a brunch and invited everyone to come to us instead! Anders received several gifts, including a sock monkey handmade by my aunt Anita. (She also previously made us a set of three sock monsters, one for each member of the family.) Anders quickly figured out what to do with it: put the arms and legs in his mouth, of course. Anita responded, "I should have made him an octopus!"



We didn't get many photos of this event, actually, but we did get some group shots towards the end. Unfortunately it was after many people had already left.



I was able to spend quite a bit of time that day with my longtime friend Sean whom I hadn't seen in quite a while.



Have we mentioned yet that it was hot? We packed for April weather in NJ: probably some rain, but the temperatures should be somewhere in the 60s or 70s. But of course during our trip it got up to 90 degrees with 80%+ humidity. Somehow we just can't win with NJ weather. The unexpected heat actually prompted me to buy a pair of shorts on the trip.

On the day after the brunch we planned to go to an "Open House" at our old summer camp, Camp Speers Eljabar. Both Drew and I went for several summers, and the whole family would sometimes go at the end of the summer for "Family Camp". My great-aunt and uncle, Cookie and Dick, were heavily involved in the camp (Cookie still is), and we have a lot of great memories from the time we spent there. It was good to go back, and although some of the facilities have changed, there was quite a lot that brought back fond memories that I haven't thought about in many years.

The girls took a ride in a rowboat - complete with live frog - and helped to push Anders around in the stroller. What more could they ask for?



But now our trip to NJ was over... or so we thought. We boarded our plane in Newark, then proceeded to sit on the tarmac for quite a while. When we landed in Chicago, we sat on the tarmac again, only to miss our connecting flight. With no other flights available until the next morning, we spent a night in a hotel at O'Hare airport. Joy. What a way to kick off Corinne's birthday.


Anders's O'Hare Bed


Finally headed home

- Mike, Corinne, and Anders Rocket

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