Lake Tahoe: Day One

Our trip to Lake Tahoe started at the glorious time of 6:00. We packed up, loaded up, and went to the airport, where we stood in line until Ben turned 16 while a family argued with the ticket woman about taking their pet turtle as a carry-on (they could not). Because we're not doctors or architects, we fly Southwest. So we sat in the terminal until Ben turned 21 as half the passengers boarded the plane, waiting for our turn as "families." The upside: there was a mom and her eight month old little girl also waiting. She and Ben hit it off. Eventually we were able to board the plane and, in a surprise treat with Southwest, we were all able to sit together. We planned the flight for around Ben's nap. The last two times we flew he fell asleep as soon as we boarded. This time we were not so lucky. Ben didn't see the flight so much as an opportunity to sleep as an opportunity to take the stage. He sat in his carseat for about ten seconds. The rest of the 90 minute flight was spent climbing all over Matt and I, trying to climb into the seats of the people behind us, "performing" for all of the other passengers, and, in a grand finale, throwing a bag of pretzels at the woman in front of us. So to the passengers of Southwest flight 932, I'm sorry. But hey, he flashed his chipmunk cheeks and batted his long lashes for you, so hopefully that made it all worth it.

Plane-zilla

Ben and his lady, Adeline

Upon landing we were retrieved by Matt's dad (thanks, Bob!). We said goodbye to Ben's new girlfriend and her mom and made the 45 minute trip to Citrus Heights to pick up the truck we were borrowing from Matt's brother (thanks, Paul!), loaded up, picked up diapers at Target, had lunch with Matt's mom (thanks, Bev!), and got back on the road to Tahoe. After seven hours of travel, we finally arrived. We spent the rest of the day and evening with our family swimming, taking a walk, and enjoying the fresh mountain air.

The girls LOVE their cousin

To be continued...