Getting Ready for Travel

We're off to Arizona on the 17th for my ironman on the 22nd to return to Richmond on the 24th. We've been thinking all along about how we are going to get all that we need for the girls (not to mention all of my equipment) to AZ in the easiest way possible. Lots of thinking...a bit of research...a bit of arguing...and not much has been decided.

What a lot of crap...stuff...they have!!!

Aside from the car seats, strollers, breast pump, diapers, wipes, etc., etc., etc. we are trying to manage how much milk to pack in carry on, in checked luggage, and how much Gwynne can provide once we arrive. It is all a guessing game at this point.

The good news is that the stroller and car seats will be checked at the gate with no penalty to us and their diaper bag is allowed as a free extra bag. TSA has also eased their restrictions on the 3:1:1 liquids to exclude breast milk and formula. Getting through the gate will be interesting as they expect everything to be broken down and the girls in arms going through the detectors. Hopefully we are in front of some understanding folks.

We did find a place in Phoenix that will rent everything we need and deliver it to the rental house, that option is still a consideration. Their prices were remarkably reasonable for weekly rentals.

To add to the fun of the experience, we will be making a rushed trip to Norfolk on the 15th and 25th to drop off and pick up Titan from his sitter. My parents' neighbor is generously keeping him for the 10 days...and he really enjoys being there. We are going to ease our burden a bit on Tuesday morning by staying in a hotel next to the airport Monday night. Since our flight departs at 5:45a, it only made sense to save us the 45 minute drive to the airport in favor of spending that time prepping the girls and their stuff.

I will be sending two bike boxes to AZ; one with my bike and a second with all of the wheels (five in total). These have to be sent out this coming Tuesday (11/10) so that they arrive in time.

The final straw to all the fun we're having is that or flight has been re-routed from a layover in Cincinnati to Atlanta...I hate Atlanta's airport. I hate it especially much around the holiday season.