Well heres the last installment! I cant believe Im at the end, but then again, it has been 4 months coming!
We set the alarm for 5:30 am because breakfast was at 6:30! That is the one downfall of early seating. This was especially bad because our flight wasnt leaving until 1:55 pm. Mini Montana had gone to sleep the night before but then woke me at 12:30 am due to a parcel in her pull up. I love getting up to deal with those. Anyway, I had a broken sleep so I was really tired. So was everyone else. Somehow the adrenalins just not there for the trip home. We went to AP for breakfast and there was hardly anyone in our section. We had the big breakfast, eggs, bacon, toast. The eggs were cold and I said to geodoc, is this to prepare us for getting back to reality? We were finished breakfast by 7:15 and so we stopped for a bathroom break for everyone and I dont know if we missed the debarkation announcement or if there wasnt one. We went and sat in the promenade lounge for a while, I handed in the comment card and saw everyone leaving so I went back and got everyone and then we got off. So sad to be leaving, we had such a good time. We loved the people with the big Mickey hands and said goodbye. I know well be back but I hate getting off the ship and heading back to real life.
Oh we'll be back!
Sorry for the fuzzyness, perhaps it was my sobbing!
Say goodbye.
See you soon too.
We got through customs in about 5-10minutes snagged a porter and our luggage and we were on the bus.
Girls on the bus
Goodbye Magic!
View from inside the bus. I love the porthole windows.
Sleeping.
Sleeping.
We were at the airport by 9:10 and in the terminal by 9:20. We couldnt check in until 10:00 because of our flight time so off to the bathroom again. Dd7 had saved some of her money so she could buy a penguin at the Seaworld store at the airport so off the kids and I went to the store while dh guarded the luggage. Both the girls got a penguin, complete with a baby and dd7 found her name on a necklace. She was thrilled. Its the first time shes found her name on anything. Its not an unusual name but difficult to find.
Waiting at the airport.
Taking pictures.
What else can I take a picture of?
The new purchases.
We started in the check-in line at 10 and they had 2 counters open. The place is packed but they only have two people working. Good old AC for you. We stood in line for an hour! Luckily there was a family in front of us with a daughter who was 91/2 and we all visited and that helped pass the time. They were from some where in Nova Scotia. AC did finally add a 3rd counter person and we checked in at 11. Little did I know this was going to be but a glimpse of what we had in store for today. After check-in and getting rid of all of the luggage except the carry-ons we headed for the NASA store for dh. He found a hat, they looked around, and by then it was 11:30 ish and we thought we would grab a bite to eat since 6:30am was a long time ago. We ate at McDs and enroute to the food court we saw the check-in line for security went past the food court!
Yikes, it went further than this but I took this shot on the way to eat.
We ate as fast as we could, kids never want to eat fast unless they are going to do something fun. Apparently standing in another line and then taking your shoes off and seeing very unhappy people is not on anyones list of fun things to do. We got in line by 11:55 and were through security by 12:25. That was pretty good. They moved some of us to the other side and the line moved steadily. All of us had running shoes on because we were heading back to the frozen north. That takes a lot of time to take them off and put them back on and deal with all our carry-ons. The kids were great but the security is saying move along. I love airports! Our flight was on time and mini Montana slept at the airport so she had no intention of sleeping on the plane. She was sitting with me on the plane and all I wanted to do was sleep. She had her headphones on enjoying the HSM audio in-flight entertainment. We landed in Toronto on time. There were lots of people going though customs, which was expected, and we made it through. Then we went to wait to collect our luggage and put it on the connecting flight belt. Well the luggage belt didnt start, I repeat; start, moving for an hour! Looking around you could see a lot of people were going to miss their connections. I just wanted to get out of there. The kids were great but getting restless, who could blame them? Theyve been up since 5:30am. After an hour and a half we got our luggage and put it on the connecting belt. Then we encountered yet another very long line. We waited for about 15 minutes and then geodoc went to find out what was going on. Well this line, he found out, was for people who were missing their connections. If you had a connection in the next hour you were to stay in this line, all other connections could go through into the airport. Nothing like having someone come along and make an announcement to let everyone know what the line is for. We headed for a place to eat because by this time it was 7pm and we had arrived at 4:45pm! Our next flight was to leave at 8:55pm. On our way to dinner we noticed our flight was now leaving at 9:45pm. We were told at customs that it had snowed in TO the day before and we saw lots of snow clearing equipment at the airport. Of course it was dark when we arrived so we couldnt really see the snow. We ate and then headed to our gate to wait. We were all cranky and tired and now we had to wait. I called my sister to let her know we were coming in later and let the limo company know. I called her back and she said they were tracking the flight and knew about the delay. She also informed me they had heavy snow in TO yesterday and several flights were delayed or cancelled so we were still dealing with the backlog. We sat near a play area for the kids and dd7 was listening to her ipod and playing with her nintendo ds. We were originally supposed to land at 10:29 pm now it was obviously going to be later. I kept checking the flight times and our flight kept getting later and later. Interestingly enough, there was another flight to Winnipeg leaving at 10 pm ish and it left on time.
In Toronto
Finally asleep
Also finally asleep, I think
Our flight finally left at 11:30pm and by the time we left to the skies it was near midnight. Poor mini Montana finally fell asleep at the airport and dd7 tried. It was a small plane home and mini Montana was sitting with geodoc and she was so tired and restless she just kept screaming out. She was asleep but so uncomfortable, poor thing. When I get tired my legs get so restless and full of cramps. I was miserable too but had to be pleasant for the kids. We finally landed about 2:45 and the limo was no where to be seen. Do I sound happy? They apparently were trying to succond him for taking flight staff to their hotel. He was very apologetic but by this point I was just too grumpy to care, just get us home to our beds! When we walked outside it was super cold and that helped slightly to have some fresh air. We live on a cul-de-sac and the limo driver could not figure out which house was ours! I finally just said just stay here and well get out. I took the kids in and let dh deal with the luggage and the driver. The kids went right to sleep, followed shortly by us. It was now 4:30 am! We had been up for 23 hrs!!!! I felt so bad for the kids. I have never been so happy to lie down in my own bed. I did miss the ship rocking but I was so thankful for sleep.
We were woken the next day by my parents phoning at 9 am. They missed us. I got up and phoned my sister who came over with bagels and Tims for all and we then proceeded to wait for my parents and then we shared all our video and still photos, and pro photos. It took hours but was oh so fun to share and relive it all again, much like I have done here with all of you.
I hope you have enjoyed reliving this with me because I have enjoyed sharing it with you. I apologize for how long it has taken me to complete but life really does get in the way. Dd7 had her piano recital last weekend and yesterday she turned into dd8! We had a bowling party and then as a family we went to a ball game. Thank you again for all your kind words and hilarious comments. Please join us on our pre trip to WDW in August and keep up with that adventure. I would love to have you along for the ride.
You will love CC. It is the best thing in the world. Enjoy
