Super Spring Break

Last week was Spring Break and we made the most of every minute of it. We started the week on Monday by driving up to Burlington, North Carolina to meet my parents. We did some shopping and mostly just hung out having fun. Baylie and Jalen were so excited to see Grammy and Grandad. We see them more as missionaries than we did when they were at home.

Play area at the mega shopping center in Burlington.

The main purpose for this quick trip up north was because my brother and his family were coming out to visit my parents. We met up with them on Tuesday. It was so good to see them and the cousins had a great time together. I love that my kids love their cousins. We didn't want to intrude on their time with Grammy and Grandad, so we just spent a few hours with them before driving back home. I tend to forget that my siblings don't get to see my parents while they're out here. My mom gets so homesick for her kids and grandkids. She got teary eyed every time she thought about them almost being there.

This photo is just so I have photographic proof that Jalen can pout anywhere.

My brother is a history teacher (he will want me to mention that he also teaches psychology and coaches football) and really wanted to go to the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro, located in the F.W. Woolworth Co. store where the first sit in for civil rights took place. It was a very moving exhibit and really well done. It is almost simple in the way it is laid out and presented. The simplicity makes the message more powerful. I also like that the museum has elected to focus on the works of those who stood up for civil rights rather than sensationalizing the violence that occurred. It would have been easy to take that approach. The short hall of shame that they do have is more than enough to convey that horror.

I sat down with Baylie before we toured the museum and talked to her about what we would be seeing. We've read several children's books on segregation, slavery and black history in the United States, so she has heard of these things before. While we were standing by the actual counter where the sit in took place, Baylie told me that her white cousins would have been able to sit at the counter and that I would have been able to, but that she and Jalen would not. It touched and also hurt me that she realized what we were talking about and that reality had sunk in a little bit. On a lighter note, she also thought my brother wouldn't be able to sit at the counter as he is unusually dark.

The Kress building just down the street was also the site of sit ins.
(I combined a horizontal and vertical photo here, so you'll note some doctoring of the image.)

When we left the cousins, my kids cried and cried, especially Baylie (see funny at right). She really wanted to stay with them. We drove the four hours back home and got in around 10 p.m. Then we woke up at 6:30 to head to the airport and catch a flight to Las Vegas to visit more cousins. Last month I gave Baylie the choice between a birthday party and going to visit her cousins, she chose her cousins.

We got to Chicago without a problem, but then proceeded to get bumped off three flights. It was a LONG day. I love the Chicago airport because of the children's museum located in Terminal F. The kids can play, make noise and since the gate is locked, I can read a book.

When the museum failed, we watched movies and took naps. (Look soon for a blog post on flying with children.) 

We finally made it to Las Vegas around 10 p.m. My sister brought her kids to the airport and everyone was very excited to see one another. I was just excited to finally be able to sleep in and try to recover.

The next day, Baylie used the birthday money Grammy gave her to buy ice skating passes for all the kids. My kids had never been ice skating before and they loved it. This rink has walkers that the kids can hold on to help them keep from falling.

Jalen didn't walk. He ran on the ice. He'd get up on the little toe pic and run.

Baylie would stick her leg out far behind her like a ballerina. There were some ups...

...and downs.

But the kids really did enjoy it,

especially having hot chocolate afterwards. (Hot chocolate with 80 degree weather outside!

The hot chocolate was then followed by Icees. Go figure.

The weather was beautiful, but the pool was still ice cold. That didn't slow the kids down at all. They could get warm in the hot tub when the pool was too cold.

And of course after swimming, you have to take a bath!

One thing Baylie really wanted to do was break a piñata, so my sister got her a princess one - perfect!

Note the bloodshot eyes from swimming.

Jalen was very focused on his candy eating.

After a too-quick, two-day visit, we got up at 4:00 a.m. to catch our flight back to Columbia. On the way home, our plane had mechanical issues and it took us 19 hours to get back! (Note: I am NOT a fan of Dulles Airport for several reasons. I wasn't happy with the airline either, but I'll keep that to myself since we fly for free and I won't bite the hand that flies us. I should also note that people were so helpful and kind this trip, which is a big change from some of our previous trips.) We were so grateful to finally see David. Jalen ran to his daddy and almost knocked him off his feet.

I'm so glad to have a loving family. I love being with them. I love that my siblings married people that I truly like and that together they've had amazing kids. My sister is my best friend and every time I'm with her I vow to be more like her. I'm so grateful for flight benefits - even when the flights are difficult - so I can visit my family on a regular basis.

I'm still trying to catch up on sleep...