Passports

We've wanted to get passports for the girls for a while now. Though we've never needed them (we've only traveled in the US), it's always been a pet-peeve of mine. I can't believe how easy it is to travel with kids without the need to prove that they are yours. But this post isn't about that vent.

We have dreams that some day we'll wake up and have the opportunity to take the girls to Europe AND actually have the guts to do it. When that happens, we don't want to have the silly excuse of "they don't have passports" holding us back.

The first attempt at getting the passports failed. Not quite miserably but it failed non-the-less. We went on Saturday because it fit best with our schedules. Once we got there it quickly became apparent that Saturday worked best for everyone else's schedules too. We told Ellie ahead of time that we were getting a passport for her so that she could go on trips with Mommy and Daddy. She was quite excited, but after waiting in line for 15 or 20 minutes without moving, we could see the excitement melt into boredom.

We decided to avoid any meltdowns (from either Ellie or Addie) and just schedule an appointment for some time during the week, but as soon as Ellie realized we were leaving without her passport she got quite upset. We had to explain to her that it was ok because we weren't going to go on a trip without her. We would wait until we got her passport. She sadly said "OK."

The next week we went in again and got pictures taken and sent away the paperwork for passports. Again Ellie was super excited to finally get a really cool passport (she loves ours) and was upset when she realized we were leaving the post office without one. We explained to her that we had to send the papers to the passport place and we had to wait until they made her passport. They would send it to her in the mail. Another sad and disappointed "OK" and we were on our way back home.

Since then she has asked us about her passport probably every 3 days or so. This girl was very excited to get it. She knows it's something official and there is something important about it that will let her travel with us. She does not want to take the chances of us going without her.

And when the passports finally came in the mail, she proudly held hers up for Addie to see. "See, Addie! Is soooo booo-ta-ful!"

Well Ellie, you have no fear. Your parents no longer have an excuse to leave you at home.