Homeward Bound!
Homeward Bound: The Journey Back
We woke up early, while it was still dark, with all of our bags already packed. The day was here … the trip was ending. We headed to the shuttle and rode it to the airport, ready to start the journey home.
The airport adventure, of course, came with its usual family chaos. Ezra had several meltdowns, Luca was trying to run wild, Elijah was chasing Luca around like some sort of predator, and at one point I thought I had lost my phone in the bathroom. But somehow, we made it through and got on the plane. The flight itself was surprisingly smooth, and the flight attendants even let me move so I could sit in a row with just Arabella and Ezra. We caught a beautiful sunrise above the clouds (It was stunning and magical and breathtaking), and for a moment, all of us felt a little sad to leave.
When we landed, we grabbed a delicious breakfast before heading down to check on our lost car seats one more time. Multiple airport staff tried to track them down, but after another hour and a half of walking from one suggested area to another, we came to a bittersweet conclusion: yep, they were lost. Oh, so very lost…somewhere in the mysterious land of lost car seats.
We caught the MAX train home, and the silver lining? We didn’t have to carry the car seats. Ezra was reluctant to leave the “train” and threw his glasses at me in protest. Meanwhile, Jay took an Uber with the big kids, and I waited for him to return with the Pacifica and our extra car seats. Once he arrived, we loaded everyone up and, before we knew it, we were home.
Home sweet home. Our own beds, our familiar spaces… but still, our biological clocks firmly stuck on Ohio time. Tired, happy, and full of memories, we finally let ourselves rest.
Quick Reflections:
Looking back on our Ohio adventure, it’s hard not to smile at all the memories we made, the unexpected fields of corn, giant snails, neon signs, and life-sized dinosaurs. There were the messy moments too: meltdowns in airports, lost car seats, and a few injuries. But those are the stories we’ll laugh about for years, the moments that remind us that travel isn’t about perfection… it’s about the adventures we share as a family.
We saw history and science, explored quirky towns, and discovered parts of ourselves along the way. The kids chased fire hydrants, climbed on tractors, learned about heroes, and got lost in museums and playgrounds alike. And through it all, we were together, making memories that are now etched in our hearts.
Ohio, you were full of surprises, both big and small. You taught us patience, gave us laughter, and even challenged our patience at times. Most importantly, you reminded us how much fun it is to explore, learn, and simply be together. As we settle back into our own beds, on our own time, we carry a little piece of Ohio with us and a lot of stories to tell. Who knows what the future holds?….?!
Until the next Dewey adventure…heaven knows… #WeDewTravel