California Here We Come - part 10 - Coming Home

So it's January 2nd, 2009 and it's coming home day. Our first flight leaves @9am so we're up with the chickens again to shower and finish packing to make sure we get to the airport in plenty of time.  Flight 1 members of the band, including Hailey, are also up and heading out to the airport to catch their flight. They are flying out of John Wayne/Ontario, we are flying out of LAX. I've been very concerned that Hailey might get back to the school before me but looking at our flight schedules I've already determined that it looks, on paper, like I would be able to get there just a few minutes before she does. We have a layover in Houston but she has a 2 hour drive from the Atlanta airport to the school. It's going to be close!

We get checked in fine but Hailey texts me to tell me that they took her Victoria Secret body spray because it was in her carry-on. She also tells me that their flight is delayed because they are waiting on a flight attendant. This is good news to me because I really want to be there when their buses roll in!

We take off on time and have a nice flight with another movie and meal. I felt cramped because I was in the middle seat! We have the same hassle in Houston and once again I DON'T find 'outside security' in time to have a cigarette!

The sweeps and dips coming in for a landing in Birmingham make my stomach do flips but we land fine (Thank God) now I just gotta get Hailey on the ground and through that 2 hour bus ride and we will be HOME!

We get our luggage, I get my car out of the garage with $50.00 (wow) then we head to the school. It's around 5:45pm Bham time and the band is supposed to arrive at school around 6:30pm.

Just as we were turning into the school Hailey called me and said they were 15 minutes out. I couldn't believe it worked out so perfectly! Some of the 'stay in Bham' band parents had erected a Welcome Home sign for the kids. It was AWESOME!

Welcomesign2

Mom was anxious to get home so she headed out and I anxiously awaited the buses arrival. All of us parents were out of our cars waiting for the buses (and if I'd had a nut in my head I would have pulled out my camera, but I was tired and goofy). When the buses pulled in they received a round of applause! I got my girl and we stopped by the Pig for some food because I knew she didn't eat hardly anything there (she's picky) and I knew there was nothing at home to eat...then we headed home.

The animals went absolutely nuts when we came in (especially Heidi). Michael and Alyssa had made us a Welcome Home sign as well...

Welcomesign

How sweet!

It was a fantastic trip but it was good to be home. Mom called and said she had made it home so all was right with the world. We all 3 made it there and back safely.

So that's our trip. Thanks for checking it out!

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