Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Day 8 Birthdays & Planes

Some have noted Stacia and I take many more cool trips than I took with previous children. The difference - older siblings who keep giving her tickets. I am obligated to go along, as we are protective about our kids doing over-nighters without us  - long story we've learned the hard way over our 33 years of parenting. ::snort::

Stacia loves it here. She HAS had a hard time making friends. We aren't in base housing. We don't have a lot of girls her age at chapel or PWOC. We've attended several extended homeschool clubs and there either weren't girls there or they didn't "gel."  The one friendship which has begun is a bit tricky as Maddy lives an hour from us. This trip came at the perfect time. I could see her little extroverted love tank filling with each day she spent with Krista and Maria.

Krista is being as intentional as she can to maintain relationships as she lives quite a ways from Alaska. Stacia was a month old when she moved out of the home. I think this was a great trip for them to get to know each other better.  Stacia will turn 13 in August. Krista and Maria paid for her to come visit and planned all these fun things that they knew she'd enjoy....

One thing remained. The girls managed to get it done this a.m. before we began the drive to the airport in Raleigh. Stacia's birthday lunch and celebration @ Chick Fil A.
Krista and Stacia
It's not a pig hat - but it works the same! LOL 
Birthday lunch at Chick Fil A.  Tablecloth, crown, candles....they even gave her an extra cone on the house. 

Our girls can begin to wear make up at 13. They gave Stacia make up and brushes....
Group Hug
 We could no longer avoid the goodbyes when we reached curbside at RDU International. 

We had a great time and are seriously planning a trip next spring for Krista's graduation.  We left Lynchburg at 1:00 p.m. EST on the 22nd. We arrived home at about 9:45 a.m. AKST on the 23rd. I have no idea how long that is - but it is quite a trip. We nearly extended it by 12 hours by volunteering to get off our flight for $600 EACH in future tickets. At the very, very last minute they decided to put us on the plane. I tried to apologize to all for the wait - we were NOT late....it's not OUR fault you've been sitting here all this time. 

Stacia HATES security checkpoints. She is still 12. I was able to get her out of most of them. Though she DID have to pull out her military id to prove her age on a couple of occasions.  Our jolly clerk at Chocolate World thought I was joking when I told him she was 12 and should get the child pricing. He laughed. Then he was embarrassed when the id was produced. ::snort::


On the plane! 

What wonderful memories we made.....Mom and daughter, sisters....good times.