Lessons from the airports

--If you don't explicitly instruct your very bouncy 4 year old to stay with her father, she will unexpectedly follow her mother through the security thingie, then start wandering in restricted areas. This really raises the dander of TSA agents (because we all know what high security risks 4 year olds are...). This, in turn, will upset the 4 year old who will cling to her mother, crying inconsolably.

--While it seems altruistic for Fisher Price to set up a play area in the airport, it is actually a not so cleverly disguised marketing ploy. Were it altruism, they would not have encased the oh-so-very interesting (albeit far too noisy) toys in a plastic display case, annoying both the 4 year old ("I want to see what they feel like!!"), as well as her parents since they have to answer numerous times why the case is there.

--The airport is so very interesting when you're an airplane-enthralled child. It ranks faaaaaaaarrrrr higher than eating. This means that when it comes time cope with some less-than-fun aspect of flying (like your little sister needing the window seat because of the car seat), you are too hungry to cope with this well and crying loudly seems the only reasonable option. Your parents find this to be beyond frustrating, but are at a loss of how to make it different- short of physically stuffing food into your mouth.

--It is difficult for both Dave and Dillon to fit in the airplane bathroom.

-- Even with what felt like a distinctly un-fun experience for the adults, being in the airport and on the airplane were Dillon's favorite, favorite, favorite activities and she can't wait to do it again.

So, here we are in Indiana, outside of Indianapolis. It's a nice place & I'd forgotten how nice Midwesterners are. Dave interviewed most of the day yesterday and is doing so part of today. We're planning to go into Indy some this weekend to do some touristy things. As neither of us are big-city people anymore, I'm sure it'll be fun for a while, then all that concrete and cars will get old and we'll start wanting something a little less crowded.