Airports, plane rides & Mac and Cheese

Posted by Clayton & Company at 5:50 AM

Monday, August 31, 2009

It's official. I am now a seasoned traveler. I flew from LAX to Geneva via Paris with 3 kids, by myself and I'm still alive to talk about it. After months of dreading it and feeling sick to my stomach the day of, we actually did really well. That's not to say that I'd like to do it a lot, but at least I know it's possible.

Our first leg of the trip was a direct flight to Paris. Luckily we flew at night which meant that the kids slept for about 6 hours of the 11 hour flight. The bad part was the first 4 hours of the flight (when the kids were all awake) were the most turbulent I've ever experienced in my life. There were a few screams when the bumps got really big and the flight attendants couldn't collect our dinner trays for over an hour. Worst of all, we had to remain in our seats with seat belts fastened, which meant no trips to the bathroom. Not too big of a deal for me, but it's hard to explain to a potty-trained two year old that he cannot use the toilet and he does in fact need to go in his pull-up. We managed through it and luckily I didn't end up using that friendly bag in the seat pocket in front of me.

We arrived in Paris with lots of carry-on bags but no stroller to help us to the next gate. Unfortunately Air France makes you check your stroller all the way through to your end destination. Luckily someone was nice enough to carry Henry's booster until we made it through customs and could get a cart. From there I thought it would be smooth sailing until we were stopped at the front of the security line. The worker informed me that I would have to go back out to the desks to check Henry's booster. He told me I couldn't take it on the plane. I tensely informed him that I had just flown from LA with it on the plane, to no avail. Back we went to check-in.

Our next hiccup came as we went through security. The x-ray screener wanted to pull aside myself or the lady behind me (5o-something and traveling alone) to do a further security check. To my amazement, they decided it would be me (because a young mom with 3 small kids is definitely a terror if not a terrorist). So they proceeded to go through my carry-on bag as I tried to keep Henry from running loose in the airport. After confiscating a small bottle of face-lotion which I may have used to blow up the plane, we were again on our way. When we arrived at our gate the kids were thrilled to find out we would be taking a bus out to the plane. Fun, fun. I can assure you.

End of story: We made it safely to Geneva, where Pete was waiting to pick us up. Unfortunately, you cannot enter baggage claim unless you are a ticketed passenger and once you leave the area you cannot re-enter. So it was up to me and the three kids to gather all of our stuff (8 large suitcases, 1 booster seat, 1 stroller, 3 backpacks, 1 duffel bag, 1 purse and 2 pillows) and get ourselves to Pete. I sent Henry out first making sure that Pete was in view and calling to Henry so that he knew where to go. Then the rest of us followed. It was quite the procession and a very happy reunion. Excuse the blurry pictures below. They were taken on Pete's phone.

Ruby was first pulling her bag...
...followed by me with a cart full of bags calling to Alex who couldn't see...
...because he was behind me pushing his own cart full of stuff



After returning home and getting settled for a few days, I had the pleasure of unpacking and organizing all of the stuff we hauled home. Lots of people are curious about what we bring back to Switzerland from the US. It's mostly food items that we can't get over here, or that are really expensive. You can see several cake mixes, chocolate chip bags and fruit snacks.
Oh yeah. Don't forget the Macaroni and Cheese.

Dancing the night away

Posted by Clayton & Company at 1:15 AM

Sunday, August 30, 2009

We were lucky to be in town when my cousin, Donnie, was married. Our kids have had very few opportunities to attend wedding receptions because 1) they are usually not invited and 2) the receptions usually start after their bedtimes. This time not only were they all included in the festivities, the party started at 4pm.

Ruby was excited to see the bride, Alex was thrilled to be with his cousins and Henry was happy not be left home with a babysitter. We ate, we visited and most importantly we danced. OK, OK. So Alex really watched a movie in the kid's room with his cousins and I only danced once with my dad. But Ruby danced from the first song to the last and came home tired and happy.

Caroline, Ruby and Margaux
Alex partaking of the feast
Lily, Caroline and Mary raise their glass of apple cider to the happy couple
Bea
Henry thoroughly enjoying an eclair
Charlene, Christina, Henry and Ruby
Mary and Ruby on the dance floor
Trying to keep up with my dad

Uncle Johnny and Mariel


Ruby and Liv

Ruby's Diner

Posted by Clayton & Company at 12:23 AM

We love to eat at Ruby's Diner on the pier. We have done it lots of times in Newport Beach and Oceanside. Since it was Pete's last day with us before he flew ahead of us to Switzerland, we decided it would be fun to head to the pier in Oceanside for a farewell lunch.

It was a beautiful, hot day and the waves were huge. We didn't take that into consideration until we had already been seated at our table. The waitress had just taken our order when everything in front of me started swaying back and forth. Thinking I was having a dizzy spell or something, I looked up at Pete for help. He had a huge smile on his face which confused me as I continued to feel sick. It was then that I realized it wasn't just me. The entire restaurant was swaying back and forth from the big swells outside.

For those of you who know me well, I get incredibly motion sick from everything: boats, planes, cars, trains...you name it. When the waitress came back with our drinks, I must have been pretty pale because she asked me if I was feeling alright. It was so bad that I had to go outside and walk around in the fresh air until our food came. Pathetic, I know.

Henry and Alex working on their paper planes
Ruby and Christina...before the waves hit
Pete and the kids
Our last family shot of 2009 in the US
Oceanside Pier

Give me five

Posted by Clayton & Company at 7:45 AM

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Every year Ruby's birthday usually passes without much fanfare. Maybe it's because it's in the summer or maybe I am just a bad planner. This year I decided to change. We invited all the family nearby to join us for a big bash at the beach. My dad and Uncle Philly manned the BBQ, my mom helped me in the kitchen and we pampered Ruby like the mini-Diva she's turning out to be.

The birthday girl with her cousins
Ruby with her best buddy, Margaux

Henry digging into a yummy cupcake

Ruby requested s'mores and everyone was happy to comply.
Cousins Blake and Guy
Mary and Aunt Kurny
Anne and Jessica
Ruby doo
Mmmm, Mmmm good

Henry: dirty and happy
Papa Jeff, Ruby and Grammy Margie
Papa John, Ruby and Mama Linda
Ruby and Uncle Johnny
Rachel, Allyson, Ruby, Jessica and Anne
Henry and Alex
The Clayton boys...
...and girls
Pete and Christina


Our many attempts at a family picture


Just keep swimming

Posted by Clayton & Company at 4:55 AM

When we weren't busy at the beach, we were visiting friends and swimming. We are thankful to so many people who had us over including Aunt Denise and Uncle Don, Aunt Allison and Uncle Greg, Uncle Johnny and Aunt Candi and cousin Allyson. It was like one party after another.

Ruby and Margaux diving for toys at the Holder's
Alex and Caroline


My best friend Allison and her husband bought a beautiful house last year, complete with this amazing pool. Alex kept saying it was a boy's paradise.

Henry, Alex and Tommy
Even though it was a million degrees outside, the kids wanted the jacuzzi heated up.
Crazy, right?
Ruby and Lilly
Henry testing out Lilly's cool swing



My brother's community had this amazing swimming pool complete with fun water toys/fountains. If you look closely, Henry is running through rings that were spraying out water. The buckets up above would also randomly drop water. Henry loved it.
Henry's favorite activity at any pool is to walk around and throw anything in sight into the pool. He also finds it useful to have goggles handy although he rarely gets in the water.
Ruby showing off her jumping skills
Got it!
Henry, Christina and Ruby
Guy, Jack, Caroline and Clark
Alex with a water launcher
Ruby making water angels
The Pink Ladies: Ruby and Margaux sampling ice cream poolside