Mrs. Benson goes to Texas

I got back this afternoon from Texas for a visit with Katie, et.al. By the time I got home, she had already posted about the visit, including the very incident I was going to write about.
To read all about it, go here: http://www.everydaykatie.blogspot.com/
What she didn't post pictures of were our finds on the shopping trip. In case you haven't heard of SamMoon, you need to check out their website. We had fun browsing and came out with these beauties: I love this necklace... ...and this one (it even came with matching earrings).
Although Katie chose two different necklaces, we both picked up this purse (that's right, we bought matching purses). I hope I have something to wear to match this funky orange purse. If not, I might have to have another shopping spree.But the real reason I went to Texas is because I love the three little Smith boys. They each have very distinct personalities and it's fun watching them change from visit to visit.

PARKER has really grown up since my last visit in July. He started pre-school and I can't believe the difference it's made in him. I walked in to class with him one day and it was fun to meet his teacher and then watch him for a few minutes as he interacted with her and his friends.

REID is a little tease. He loves to tell jokes and make up silly words. Then he just cracks himself up. It was fun to watch him dance and play. He is such a happy little guy (doesn't he look like he's up to mischief?)

And I really fell in love with GRAYDEN. He is much more cuddly than their other boys and he would just snuggle up on my shoulder. I love that! It doens't last for long though because then he wanted to go explore. His favorite thing is playing peek-a-boo. Grayden smiles a lot more than this picture shows...it's just that by the time the picture clicked, the smile was over.

When Parker was one and I went to visit, he was very leary of me and would stay close by his parents until about the last day of my trip. Reid was cautiously interested in Grandma but still kept his distance. But Grayden (due to older sibblings) has no problem with visitors.

In addition to the visit, there were also some traveling adventures.

• When I got to the airport in Phoenix, I went to the kiosk to check in. The computer told me that I was too late to check in luggage. I had to arrive 45 minutes early and it was now 43 minutes before the flight. I talked to a check in attendant and she was very snooty with me and told me that my option was to leave the luggage behind or put in on another flight (for a price). Then she proceeded to reprimand me for not being at the airport 2 hours early (hello...this was a domestic flight!). Luckily, another attendant came to my aid and said, "I have a man here who is on the same flight and I can easily get the luggage on the airplane." As it was, I sat at the gate for 30 minutes waiting. I was definitely there in plenty of time!
• For this flight I used the last of my frequent flyer miles. Those of you who remember Kevin remember that he traveled a lot so had accumulated a lot of free flights. Those were all transfered to my name and I have been very careful with them...I made them last 8 years. Pretty good, huh?
• I love talking to people on an airplane. Today, I sat next to an especially talkative woman who was going on a business trip. She is working on her PhD, has an interesting job in education, has 7 children, including 3 foster/adopted children. It's interesing who you meet on an airplane!
• Dallas/Fort Worth is a seriously confusing airport. The roads leading in to the airport twist and turn all over the place and you really have to pay attention to get to the right place. We were reading the signs very carefully and Katie dropped me off at terminal B...United airlines. When I got in, there was no United Airlines inside. I asked someone where the United gates were. She told me to go out the double doors and turn left. Turns out I had to walk the length of a city block (with 2 pieces of luggage and high heels) to get to where I was supposed to be. I was worried that I would be 43 minutes before my flight again and have to go through the mess of maybe not getting my luggage on the flight.

But I'm home safe and sound tonight with 2 more days of fall break before I go back to school Monday.