Ready or Not???

Well, last week my dad was asking me to write a note for my Papy's 90th birthday celebration in Canada... as I was sitting there thinking about how cool it would be to see all my relatives I haven't seen since I was ten and making sure I got to see my Papy again... Cameron said, "Just go!" I didn't argue with him. We have had all these frequent flyer miles (many from Cameron's company, and many from our personal American Express card), like seriously over 400,000 miles. We never use them because we travel with too many people or we plan in advance and it is better just to buy them. So, Cameron came home and booked me a flight, and now, VOILA... the little dude and I are off to Canada for 2 whole days.

It has gotten much more complicated since then... here's what I learned when trying to travel to Canada with a child these days:

• Apparently there is a law that states that all US citizens flying internationally including Canada are required to have a passport; however, with the enactment of this law, there was a mad rush for passports, so they extended the deadline to October 1, 2007. So, I don't have to actually have a passport for Spence, but I have to have proof that I applied for one, birth certificate, and ID.
  
• When you apply for a passport for a minor, BOTH parents have to physically be present (makes sense, but I didn't think of it, and ended up making 2 trips to the passport office).
• Birth certificates cost $15 a pop, and they keep it at the passport office, so I had to go back and get another for him to get an ID and for the airplane stuff. Well, you can get the second for $8 if you buy it the same day, but if you're like me and have to go back the next day, you have to pay the $15 again.
• It takes 10-20 days to actually receive the ID once you have applied for it. Would have been nice to know beforehand?
• You need an actual social security card to get a government issued ID... yep another trip back.

So, it has been crazy, but as of right now, I think we are going to be able to get back in the country. I am excited to visit with family, but nervous that I will get in trouble for not speaking enough french for Papy (I even took some online tutorials this week to review). Eeekkk! I will report on the events next week. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy this picture of my little dude eating spaghetti (courtesy of Caroline Photography). You may think this is cute and all, but he looks like this after EVERY meal, so it is hard to take this guy out to dinner. So, good luck to those sitting next to me on the plane. Fun days!