Bachelorette Weekend!

Eddie's youngest sister, Tricia, is getting married in March and her bachelorette party was this was this past weekend in Texas.  We had it in Fort Worth (where they are from) so we could knock out a bunch of things that weekend-- a shower for the bride to be, her wedding portraits, etc etc...

I have been SO excited for this weekend.  After our trip from hell flying to Arizona, I was more than a little excited to sit on an airplane BY MYSELF and walk through an airport without anyone else to hang on to/hold/watch over/wipe bottoms, etc.  It was starting to sleet/ice/snow outside, but I was sure I'd get out before the worst of it. 

peace out, boys! momma is outta here....

Eddie was going to super-dad it for the weekend.  I was flying out Friday at 12:45 and he was in charge until I got home Sunday around 5.  I have left the boys before, but this is the first time Eddie had them by himself for more than 24 hours.  He did GREAT! I knew he would, but after the first few phone calls on Friday afternoon (where is Andy's other shoe? what time do they eat lunch? what do they like to eat for lunch?), I was a little worried... but, again-- Eddie was a super-dad!

I got to the airport with time to spare on Friday.  I walked down and grabbed some lunch and then walked back to my gate-- funny story-- I love a big fat fountain diet coke, but when I am traveling with kids, I have to get my DC in a bottle to prevent spilling it everywhere.  I got a huge diet coke and was walking down through the terminal, dragging my carry on suit case, with my purse on my shoulder...then my phone rang.  I tried walking with the phone on my shoulder, but my coat was pretty big and it just wasn't happening.  I got three phone calls in a matter of 5 minutes.  I was in full on sweat mode when I got to my gate and I wasn't even traveling with children!!!! HA!

My first flight was through Charlotte and they announced that Charlotte had put a hold on all flights-- they couldn't get flights out, so no flights were allowed in.  If we had a tight connection in Charlotte, we were to get in the line so they could try to rebook us.  They also posted a 1-800 number we could call while we waited.  I called the number and got through right away and they found a direct flight that wasn't leaving for another 3 hours, and got me into DFW at 6:00-- roughly an hour after I was supposed to land.  I wanted to avoid Charlotte as much as possible since it sounded like that were having ALL kinds of issues, so I took that flight then promptly found a bar and propped myself at it to enjoy a few bloody marys!

My flight finally boarded at 3:45. I was in zone 5, so of course there was no room for my carry on bag in the overhead bins, so they took it and checked it to DFW.

  The weather continued to get worse, and our plane was frozen.  Once everyone got on board, they had to de-ice the plane, which took over an hour. 

ice everywhere

 Once we were finally clear of ice, we were ready to hit the runway.  We got the the end of the runway and the pilot hit the brakes instead.  There was some kind of malfunction with the plane and we had to go back to our gate to get it checked out.  However, when we returned to our gate, there was another plane there, getting de-iced, which we now know takes over an hour.  So we waited on the tarmac for over an hour for a gate to open.  We got the gate and everyone wanted OFF of that plane.  By that point, we had been on the airplane for over 3 hours.  We were told not to go far while the assessed the problem.  A friend I made on the flight was a platinum member and he was on the phone with the airline.  He pulled me aside and told me they were about to cancel the flight altogether.  They gave him warning before others so he would have time to get to ticketing before the others to try to rebook.  At this point, it was 7:30...I got the airport at 11:15.  

I got to ticketing and somehow got on a flight that was taking off immediately.  I sprinted back through security (much faster without my carry on bag-- which they would not pull off of that flight) and made it to the gate.  Once on board, we had to de-ice, of course, which took forever, of course. 

Longest story ever, I know.  Anyway, I made it to DFW at 1am (2am here time).  No bags came off.  Seriously, not one.  I called a shuttle to take me to the bachelorette party-- who were all in bed already after a fun night out to dinner and a lingerie shower! I missed the first shuttle because I was filling out the missing bag forms so I had to call again.  The second shuttle came and had to circle around the airport looking for other passengers to pick up.  Finally, I arrived at the hotel....I was BEAT and thrilled to get in a bed.

We woke up Saturday morning ready to go to the bridal shower! Having no bag made it super easy to get ready- ha! I got on the phone immediately tying to locate my bag.  It was picked up in DFW at 6am and should be delivered to me...well, we were switching hotels and checking out that morning.  I gave them the address of the first hotel, not the second.  Soooo, I tried discussing this predicament  with the company, but they must not have understood...

The shower was really nice and Tricia got some amazing gifts!  I felt like to tool bag wearing jeans to the shower, but hey, what's a girl to do?! At least I didn't wear nasty workout clothes traveling out there!

the bridelette and her MOH opening gifts

the bride with MOB and MOG

The bride with her bridesmaids and house party

the bridesmaids

 After the shower, we loaded up the cars and headed to the Gaylord Hotel in Dallas.  While in the car on the way there, I got on the phone again about my bag.  The new address was not entered into the computer so they were going to have to send my bag BACK to the warehouse to re-enter the address for the delivery.  Are you KIDDING me? I was given the number of the delivery company so I called them directly and all but propositioned him to skip the warehouse and just bring my bag.  Thankfully, he was a good sport about it. 

 We checked in and had some downtime and then it was time for DINNER! We had a ton of fun at dinner and the dinner was yummy! We went back up to the rooms to further pre-game and then we headed over to the Glass Cactus and bar/club place that was SO.MUCH.FUN! They had a band playing, Le Freak, that was a ton of fun.  They played all of my favorite songs like Dancing Queen and other really fun 60s songs.  We had a goal to get Tricia up on stage and we succeeded! She was adorable up there and looked sooooo happy!

I really don't even know. Just including here for humor. 

THE carrie elizabeth williamsons.  seriously. same name.  bffs.

longest arm ever

the pregame appears to be successful

i love my sister in laws.  how lucky am i?

the lead singer and i had a connection.  i think it was his wig.  or his tight pants.  either way- it was real.

that's my shoe he's holding.  see? connection.

It was way crowded in the club and getting really hot (and, um, I am really old).  When the band took their break, we got some fresh air and then grabbed the shuttle back to the hotel.  This old lady was spent!

Coming home on Sunday I did not have one hitch at all.  Every plane was on time, my bag stayed with me the entire way and my arrival gate in Charlotte was next to my departure gate-- could not have been easier!

Eddie and the boys were waiting for me when I landed and I was sooooo excited to see those sweet faces.  I held Andy's hand the whole way home. 

It was SUCH a fun weekend and I was honored to be a part of it all! Can't wait to hang with these ladies again in March!

PS- as I write this, it is 2:30 on Wednesday... NEITHER BOY IS NAPPING! Andy naps every single day for 3-4 hours and he is NOT NAPPING today.  omg.  this evening could get so so ugly.