We took a super quick 28-hour trip to Wilkes-Barre, PA for my friend Jamie’s mom’s funeral a few weeks ago. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve heard parts of our crazy travel experience, but since it sparked so many conversations and messages online, I thought we should share the whole thing together in this week’s podcast episode! (See more pictures from our trip here.)
A few takeaways from our trip:
::We never got the opportunity to meet Jamie’s mom, but it was so special to hear family and friends share about how she impacted their lives. It was such a reminder to invest our lives in what matters and to not take any relationship for granted.
::Be sure to double check dates before booking flights. Ahem. Also, double-check the address to your hotel. And finally, double-check that you have your photo ID. Listen to the episode for more details on all that. 
::Flying with a two-year-old is never boring. Kierstyn and Micah both did well on the flights and the two-hour drive from Philly to Wilkes-Barre and back, but K was quite confident in her navigational skills at the airport and we quickly learned we needed to push her in the stroller lest she dart ahead of us and get lost in a crowd! Also: I have no idea how parents travel by themselves with a toddler and a baby. We felt like we were barely pulling it off and there were two adults!
::Wilkes-Barre is not pronounced like I expected. But the locals can’t seem to agree on the correct pronunciation.
::It was our first time for both of us to leave D. We missed him so much and can’t wait until he’s adopted and we don’t have to have prior written approval from DCS for him to travel! But our older three kids did an amazing job watching him.
In this episode, we also have an adoption update to share, I talk about a book I’m super excited about, and we laugh about recent antics of our toddlers.
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In This Episode
[00:35] – It’s time for more crazy travel stories today!
[02:03] – But first, life with toddlers is never boring!
[08:10] – We have an adoption update to share!
[10:40] – I just got a book in the mail that I am really excited about!
[12:29] – A tip to save you money for the Christmas season.
[15:00] – Crazy travel story time!
[20:50] – Discover what happened when we were getting ready to leave.
[31:47] – What went down when Jesse tried to check in to the hotel.
[34:02] – And last but not least, “losing” my ID at TSA security check-in.
Links and Resources:
- Our Craziest Travel Stories (podcast episode)
- The Crystal Paine Show – 100. Raising Worry-Free Girls (with Sissy Goff)
- The Crystal Paine Show – 175. Raising Emotionally Strong Boys (with David Thomas)
- The Worry-Free Parent: Living in Confidence So Your Kids Can Too by Sissy Goff
- MoneySavingMom.com
- YourBloggingMentor.com
- My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
- Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal@moneysavingmom.com
How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show
The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player here. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)
Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.