South for the Summer

Crazy story today...so we get to the airport, get all checked in at the counter. The guy at the counter checked my pet carrier bag with Koda in it. Asked him to turn around and he did. (What an obedient dog.) Koda was cleared to fly. Next we went through security. I had to take Koda out of the bag and carry him through security while his carrier went through the bag check. All clear there. Koda climbed back inside his bag so good. We walk to the gate and wait to board. As I go to board the lady at the gate said Koda looked too big for his carrier. She asked the other girl at the gate and she agreed. They said Koda couldn't fly. Not only does he have to be able to turn around in his bag but also be able to stand up in the bag. Well he can't. He's too tall. So apparently, pets have to be able to have all the space in the world to move and stand and sit while on a plane but not us humans. We're packed in small spaces like sardine. The lady at the gate started putting in the system why the dog couldn't fly. I wasn't arguing with her I just was stating how we went through two other checkpoints and Koda was cleared. She said it wasn't worth her losing her job over this if she let Koda fly. I told her I agreed and I wasn't asking her to do that. I just was saying that it didn't make sense how he made it through the other points. She asked if someone could come pick him up. I said I have no one to come get him for at least an hour (that was if someone in my family like mom or Lori would come get him.) The lady said she'd wait with him. Uhhh there was no way I was going to get on a plane and leave Koda at the airport with a stranger! I told Jaime and the boys to go ahead and go. I would try and fly out another day. Jaime said no he wouldn't do that. Maybe we will rent a car and drive down with Koda because I couldn't leave him at a kennel for that long. The lady asked how long we were gone for. Jaime said three weeks. She was surprised. No wonder I was crying! So I said it's fine, I won't go. Jaime get on the plane with the boys. Then I went and sat down with Koda trying to stop crying. Jaime was on the phone with his dad explaining the situation. He said the boys would be flying in but he and I wouldn't. The ladies at the counter heard all this. I have no idea what gave them a change of heart. But they deleted the computer entry of Koda's denied flight, printed his boarding pass and walked over and gave me the boarding pass. I said no I can't do this. I agree it's not worth her losing her job over. She said she won't and to go get on the plane. I was shocked! It was a miracle! I wasn't fighting her or trying to persuade her to change her mind. I understood her decision based off directions she had. I was so grateful to her! I said thank you. Jaime gave her a hug and we got on the plane. Jaime and I were the last ones on. So stressful! And the amazing thing, our debacle didn't delay the plane any. We got on and there was still time before departure. Not a lot but there was. I felt like we were left standing at the gate for so long after every other passenger got on the plane. It's almost like time froze still. It really was a miracle!

Koda did so good on the plane. He was nervous for sure. He didn't lay his head down once. He just laid in his carrier staring up at me the entire flight. But he never made a sound. I was grateful it was a short flight. As soon as we got off the plane we went straight to the pet relief area. Koda got out and went to the bathroom, had a drink of water, and then on his own climbed back into the carrier. We put the bag on top of the roller suitcase and rolled on out of the airport. I left the top open so he could sit up and look out of the bag. He was so cute. 

Marty picked us up at the airport. Koda was so glad to be in my lap and finally laid his head down and relaxed. :) I'll say I was so grateful he was with me as well. He really is my dog and he does so much for me, more than I ever thought possible with a pet. I didn't know I needed him.

 We grabbed some lunch and ate in the car since we had Koda with us, and made the 50 minute drive to the house. As soon as we got our things settled and food in our bellies we were off to have some fun! We went to Andretti racing to ride the go karts, have dinner, then play some games. 

The teenagers went first for their round of racing. They had the karts that went up to 20 mph. 

Liandrew was going to ride the larger karts with his cousins but when they went through their "training" he decided he was too scared to drive one. He did get to ride the karts for the little kids and he thought it was awesome and had a blast. 

Next up the adults and older teens went for their race! Our karts went up to 25 mph. 

Our racers. Lisa, Jaime, Aidan, Marty, Marcus, Valeria, Tyler

Bel, Elizabeth, Penny, and Aide.

1st Elizabeth (she disappeared to the bathroom so Liandrew stepped up 😂. 2nd Jaime. 3rd Aidan. It didn't tally up your entire race time. It was won based of the fastest single lap. Everyone was shocked Elizabeth had the fastest. She did cut a lot of drivers off. 😂

We had quite the setup for dinner. Bel really set out to get a good package for us that included a very nice dinner all laid out for us as soon as we were done racing. This place really knows how to treat a party for the right price. 😉

After dinner we were given cards to go play on the arcade games. Liandrew wasted no time getting his games going. He had a blast. 

Jaime and I had fun stepping in to play with our kids. 

I do enjoy a good race game. I won one against Jaime! 

Brothers racing. 

I got a kick out of watching Tyler, Marcus, and Aidan play Pac Man. Marty is to the side of Tyler watching. They did a good job! I think it's great my kids get to enjoy things like this with their aunts and uncles; still kids at heart!

It was a long day for everyone. Including Koda. He could hardly wait for us to get back from Andretti. Poor dog has been through a lot mentally today it seemed with our travels and then being left alone at the house while we were gone shortly after we arrived. He had a hard time being a way from me and wouldn't stay in bed. He wanted to be by me. So I put his blanket on the floor next to my bed and he laid right down and went to sleep. I thought it was funny he his head under the bed and fell asleep.