From bad to worse but a good time in the end

As a continuation of my precious post, here is what happened on the rest of my trip. I think every aspect of my trip to Columbus went awry. It felt like that scene in Home Alone where the mother is desperately trying to get home to her son and she ends getting home at the same time her family does.

1. Phoenix to Denver: Plane was delayed by an hour making me miss my connection to Columbus. Was put on a red eye that took off 7 hours later.

2. Called a friend to pick me up from the airport. What should have been a 15 minute trip turned into a 40 minute ride because of an accident on the freeway

3. Phoenix to Newark, NJ: Go figure...why would they send me further east to have to go west again? I was on the VERY last row of the airplane and was woken up by every person who needed to use the restroom. I think I slept for 3 hours.

4. Newark to Columbus: delayed by 2 hours, then 2 1/2 hours, then 3 hours. I finally followed the lead of a couple of businessmen and hopped on another flight because we didn't trust that the flight would ever leave.

5. Finally arrived in Columbus at 1:15. Katie dropped Grayden off at school and said she would be there in 10 minutes. Ten minutes turned into 30 due to road construction and freeway exits closed. I finally got to her house at 2:00. Ironically, had I just taken their suggestion and flown out the first flight of the day, I would have gotten there at the same time. Sigh!

Anyway, I had a BLAST! Katie and I were in the living room talking when Katie's friend dropped the kids off after school. Grayden peaked in the window and saw me and started shouting to his brothers that he could see Grandma. They were jumping up and down and so excited. How refreshing to have someone so excited to see me. Somehow I got a second wind from my lack of sleep and they showed me their school work, we jumped on the trampoline together for a while, and had dinner and bed time.

Katie is in a community choir and they were preforming at a local nursing home so I went with her so I could see her perform. It was fun to hear beautiful Christmas music and see her doing something she enjoys so much (even though they have to wear sequined scarves).

I got to spend more time with this guy than the other two because he just has afternoon school

Grayden is a cute, fun, and smart little guy. Although I am going to miss his school Christmas performance, he sang for me (many times) Santa Clause is coming to Town...actions and all.

I'm not sure why the kiddos are so familiar with "we are going to a Hukki Lau" but that song was sung over and over during my visit. Parker and Reid did the hula for me

Parker even did a magic show for us. He's quite the magician! I loved his "magic words." While most magicians use abacadabra, Parker used "Captain Underpants" and as luck would have it, changed a colored scarf into underwear!

Grayden even got in on the magic and even surprised himself when he could make it work

Friday night Katie and Spencer had an evening out on the town and I partied with the boys. It started with pizza and then we put on our PJ's and watched a movie (along with new Christmas pillowcases)

The movie was followed by a dessert of snowman ice cream (thanks Pinterest). The boys loved this and look how cute they turned out:

As always,the time went by WAY TOO FAST and it was soon time for me to come home. Grayden asked if I was coming back for Christmas. He told me I HAD to! I sure wish I could! But it was fun to be there during the Christmas season and see their house decorated for Christmas (including a tree in their bedroom), and feel their excitement.

I'm already planning my next trip to Ohio!