Ohio Vacation Blog Series: #1- Packin' up the Nest

Tuesday, May 19th

O'dark hundred hours:

Everyone had showered, packed and all in their pj's ready for the morning flight.

Um, yeah, no. BB, maybe (Before Bryce).

Of course I hadn't packed a lick yet and actually still needed to wash clothes and decide which suitcase (suitcaseS...who was I kidding) we would cram full of clothes and shoes we will take but not wear. Once that dilemma was taken care of, (we chose the old, floral patterned suitcase...the one that everyone over the age of 90 owns) the joy-o-packing began.

I was told by a certain MIL (you know who you are) that it was going to be frigid and Antarctic-like so it would be wise to pack parkas and snowshoes (dog sled optional). So I did. Fleece jacket, pants and socks, wool cap, jeans. Luckily, I slipped in a pair of shorts and a couple of t-shirts before we left. Would have been sportin' the entire Summer Collection from Wal-Mart if I hadn't(it was in the high 70's, low 80's the entire time).

I bought a ton of cute winter/fall stuff for Bryce to wear. So I packed all of that.

(yes this is only for one child and yes we were only gone

for 6 days...and this is only his clothes...)

Bryce, being the helpful little boy that he is, thought it would be a good idea to help us pack. Mike really appreciated it.

Bryce has a real knack for making everything fit. He uses the "jump, knee, repeat" technique. He then incorporated the Tuscany-grape stomping method. A little more effective I guess. (No Dad, this does not mean Bryce is allowed to drink wine at Thanksgiving dinner).

Instructional video on how to pack your entire closet into a single piece of luggage to follow (I was having issues uploading a video clip so it will have to be ordered for $9.95...but wait, there's more....)

Bryce is not only good at packing but he is also good at testing out the durability of your suitcase. I guess he wanted to make sure it was going to withstand the beating it was about to get from the guys who load up the plane.

"Yeah, it's good"

Bryce wanted to make sure we brought the essentials which include:

1) Box diapers come in (diapers optional...according to Bryce only)

2) remote control- "Don't leave home without it"

3) plastic Easter eggs (I think that was the best $1.20 I ever spent) "here, you will see a photograph of the rare, Baby Byrd and its newly, laid eggs.
Very hard to find one in its natural habitat anymore."

We managed to watch the last performance on American Idol while we prepared (pumped ourselves up) for what was Mikes' first experience with Bryce on a plane. (Bryce and I had flown to Indiana when he was 3 months old...please call me before you decide to tackle that one if you will have a 3 month old in the near future....Tonya, Jen, Katrina.....)

Brief packing intermission
We danced when Adam and Kris sang, packed, Bryce would unpack, I would re-pack, more un-packing. I never thought packing could be so much fun (take so long).

"I'm ready to go Mom"

...Man, you think someone could change that kid's diaper. It's almost dragging on the floor. His parents must have been extremely busy saving the whales or conquering hunger or something(or packing/re-packing times a thousand).