Adios, the Mexico!

I woke up this morning with cold symptoms - stuffy nose, cough, general cold aches and pains. Blah. Thank goodness for Penny, that woman braved the Mexico! on her own with two rambunctious toddlers in tow. While Megan read her Kindle, I napped on the couch for a bit. The night before was Henry's worst sleeping night, as in the little monster wouldn't sleep, but I was able to get the majority of our things packed and rounded up so the morning wasn't nearly as bad as it might have been if I had had to do all that while feeling crappy.

We dropped off the bag to be checked at the airport well in advance of our departure time and then headed back to Loreto for lunch. The place Megan had wanted to take us was closed (just one more reason to return, mi amigo) so we hit another spot Megan had been to before. The food was awesome. Because Huck and I were going to be traveling for the day, I didn't want to try anything daring only to have it backfire when we were on the plane so we got chicken and cheese quesadillas. Mmm.

By the time we got back to the airport both toddlers were sleeping in the backseat of the car. I was able to unlatch Henry's seat and pull it out of the car, walk to security, remove Henry from the car seat and walk through security, put him back in his seat, wait for the plane, walk out onto the tarmac, hike up the rickety ramp to the plane, locate our seats, and latch the car seat into place and HENRY STAYED ASLEEP. FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST FLIGHT. Holy schnikes! He didn't wake up until we had landed at LAX. And then he had to go to the bathroom. Uh-oh. Per usual, folks were clamoring in the aisle, grabbing bags from the overhead bin, standing to stretch, etc., and Hen and I could be found forcing our way through to the back. In true toddler fashion Hen refused to go in the airplane bathroom, it really freaked him out, so after about only thirty seconds into the bathroom, we turned around and headed back out. The plane was empty of passengers. We rushed back to our seats, grabbed our things, and trooped off the plane. We were still on the tarmac and had to get to the bus but before we could do that we had to successfully get down the rickety ramp. I had to do this while holding onto a toddler in one hand, with a bag on my shoulders, and carrying the big car seat, all in front of a crowded bus full of people waiting for me. A rather nice fellow hopped off the bus and came out to help me. I was more than grateful for him, and equally grateful that Hen had decided not to try any shenanigans during this phase of our journey. We made it through customs with ease and then camped out by the gate of our next flight after stopping to get some refreshments.

The second leg of our journey required more effort on my part because Hen was awake and wanting interaction but it went rather smoothly. I received several comments about what a good traveler *she* was. (Yes, yes, a haircut!) The gentlemen in front of us even expressed appreciation for Henry's rendition of the alphabet that he belted out before takeoff from LAX. He wasn't screaming but he was singing with toddler aplomb.

All this to say that we are home. Henry keeps asking for Avery and will look at me occasionally mention Megan and Penny in the long (for him), rambling toddler stories he tells, and he has said he definitely wants to go back to the Mexico! and that his pops should come with us. I hope to have pictures and video posted soon.