January 3

Pretty much the day after Christmas I switched gears and started packing and logistically trying to prepare for spending 3 weeks in Phoenix and pack for a toddler and baby for 3 weeks. And of course I got sick in the middle of it just to add to the chaos.





My parents arrived on December 29th and as their car pulled into the driveway I handed them the kids and said, "Here are the kids. I have to run errands and shop for the next two days. Good Luck." It didn't go exactly like that but they had lots of bonding time with their grandchildren.





We flew out on the 2nd of January leaving negative degree weather in Chicago. It was an absolute mob-scene at the airport but the kids were angels. I couldn't have asked for it to go any smoother. I think it was Tyler's 14th flight so he is an old pro at navigating the airport. He was so excited to ride on the airplane but wanted to be sure that Grammy held his hand while the plane took off. After we were airborne, we popped in a Diego DVD in the portable player and some Cheetos in his mouth and that was that. Mia spent the 3 hour flight nursing and sleeping and of course she also had a small nuclear explosion in her diaper. Thankfully we have done this enough that we know an extra pair of clothes for each child is a carry-on necessity. We arrived in sunny Phoenix to 80 degree temperatures and were practically stripping off our clothes when we walked outside.





Santa visited Grammy and Papa's house that night so we awoke on January 3rd to a third and final Christmas. We are celebrating Christmas Hanukkah-style this year. Every night when I put Tyler to bed now he says to me, "Merry Christmas Mom." and he keeps checking under the tree just in case Santa decides to make another surprise appearance. Mia still is content to sit back and watch Tyler open her gifts which is he is very happy to assist with. He keeps saying, "See Mimi. See how this works. Oh wow!"