The Plane Ride

So I thought it would be the easiest if I took the past week and broke it into smaller "chapters"!

To start with, the day we left Erick had a final in his last class. So my parents and the kids and I met him when that was done and had a really nice lunch before the long journey. We were so glad to have my parents there to help us, because we had a lot of stuff. We were at the limit as to what we could take, so that ment 8 checked bags, and 8 carry on items! We were LOADED! So we got to the airport, and luckily made it through security pretty easily. We had all our electronics in one bag, so that we only had to unload on bag. However I had stuffed my backpack clear full, so they also had to search that. I guess they couldn't see past all the treats on the scanner to see what else there was. Oh yea, and I had an Iron in one bag and didn't know that had to be taken out so we had to remove that and send that bag back through. It was quite a site! Everyone was commenting on how much stuff we had. One guy told us we must have the record on how many of those little gray totes we used:)!

So the flight from SLC to JFK was really good. The kids were amazing, and didn't complain once. Bryn, however fell asleep right as we landed, and stayed asleep. We got there at 11:30pm and didn't leave the next day until 7am. So we had a hotel room to stay at for a few hours and Bryn was so excited to stay there. We finally found out how to get to the hotel. They wanted us to walk to an air train to get there, but the security guy told us to tell the fromt desk that we had kids and they would come pick us up, so that is what happened, we had a wait a few extra minutes but they came right to the front door and picked us up. Bryn was asleep in the stroller and we were able to get the stoller on the bus with removing one tire and keeping Bryn in and asleep. We got to the hotel, ckecked in and found our room and moved Bryn to the bed. After four hours we got up and didn't the process again in reverse. When we got to the airport, Bryn woke up, and asked when we were going to go to the hotel! She was very upset that we had already been there and left!

The line in JFK for international travel was insane and they kept letting people in front of us, which was very annoying especially since the kids were hungery and we were cutting our time pretty close as it was. However we made it through that line and security pretty easily.

Both kids slept the whole way from New York to San Juan. It was a really short night and we were very grateful that they were able to sleep.

When we arrived in San Juan, there was a lady from Ross University there to help us with the customs forms and answer any questions. That was really helpful. There we took a bus out to the plane and the kids thought that was really cool. It was a really small plane, and actually a little scary. We got on and took off and that was the easy part. When we arrived in Dominica, I thought we were going to die! The plane circled around a few times and was really close to the trees and mountain and then went to land, however all You can see is dirt. They do have a runway but it is very small, and can only hold one plane at a time, so you can't see it out the window. It litterally looks like you are going to crash and feels the same. The wheels touched the ground and the plane was swaying from side to side. It didn't effect the kids however, Bryn kept saying, "This is so awesome!"

So we got off the plane and headed into the airport if you can call it that. It was one room with a desk to check passports and then a big open area, where the guys would set your luggage after they took it off the plane. Yep- there is no conveyer belt to watch for luggage! You just watch the guys, holding your breath hopeing that everything got there. Once again with 16 bags we were sure we would miss something! But Thank goodness we got it all! All 16 bags, a stoller, 2 kids and 2 adults. We were very thankfull especailly since there were 4 people there that didn't get ANY of their luggage. I am sure they were looking at all of our stuff and thinking, "If you didn't have so much my stuff probably would have come!" But that's life, I sure before this adventure is over it will be our turn to be in their shoes!

I am going to stop there for now and continue with the story tonight!

Dominica from a bird's eyeview

Getting the luggage in Dominica

Our stock pile. We stayed out of the way while Erick got the luggage. Our best idea yet! (and yes kyler is wearing jammies, we are still working on breaking that habit!)