Home Sweet Apartment

We have seen very little sunshine since we have been back, it has been overcast and rainy.  Some days have been damp and chilly, some cold and rainy, I'd almost rather it snow. . .but it will before long!

JFK to SVO

Playing cards while waiting to board our next flight.

Our transatlantic jet

Time for yet another game of cards.



Yep, another window seat!

These three were in the center right across the aisle from me. 

Sunset somewhere over Maine

Sunrise somewhere over Europe

Leaving the states is definitely easier than entering them!  When we arrived at JFK we did not have to get our luggage it was checked through.  We went to our correct terminal and only had to have our passports checked for correct Visas at the desk.  Again, everything was smooth and in order.  On board we settled in, watched movies, ate meals, read books on our kindles and barely slept.  Upon arrival we went through passport control.  C and I went through first, the girls next and M brings up the rear.  It seemed to be taking her a VERY long time with C and I's passports.  Finally, I saw her give the printer a thump, and open the front and close it before hitting some buttons.  Oh, printer challenges, not Visa challenges, that made my day!  We all got through Passport control and headed to pick up luggage.  All of it was there and in good condition.  We loaded up three carts and headed out through customs, Nothing to Declare, no one stopped us so we kept going.  R, the driver, met us in front of Arrivals.  We loaded the car and he brought us home.  We ate a quick bite to eat and napped.  Later we awoke for supper and an early bedtime, trying to manage jet lag is a challenge. 

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

For lunch we found A and W and they had cheese curds!  One more checkmark for our list:  Things to Do, Eat, See and Buy while in the States.

Our plane from RDU to JKF

Guess who was thrilled to get a window seat?

Guess who also got window seats?

We saw all our luggage get on the plane!  That is always a good thing.

 Wednesday morning the girls made monkey bread with Gramma for breakfast.  We put all the luggage in the cars and I headed out to pick up M and C and Gramma and Grampa J's home.  We then drove to the airport where we met Gramma and Grampa A and the girls at the Sheetz parking lot.  We drove into the airport and unloaded all the kids and luggage at the departure gate, everyone had one or two last minute hugs, kisses and " I love you"s before I herded everyone through the doors and we waved goodbye to all the grandparents.  We got through check in seamlessly and then through security without a hitch.  We found our gate and settled in to read or play cards for a bit before C and I went in search of something for lunch.  We found A and W ordered lunch.  Imagine our surprise when we saw they had fried cheese curds on the menu!  After we ate lunch we headed to the bathroom before boarding our plane.  Thankfully our seat assignments were all together on both planes this trip, I only had to shuffle everyone a bit to optimize behavior :)  We boarded and watched our luggage being put on the plane.  Soon we were in the air.  We could see the Sheetz parking lot as we climbed into the sky.  We looked for your homes, Gramma and Grampa and Gramma and Grampa, we didn't see them but we waved anyhow! 

 Thank you all, family and friends, for a wonderful visit.  Thank you for good food, laughter, laundry, memories, movies, hockey games and baseball games, trips to the park and the mall and the thrift stores, card games and art projects, science experiments and baking lessons, trips to the beach and around the block, pizza and Mexican, steak and quail, bedtime stories and snuggles, scouts and the 5K, birthday celebrations and Christmas gifts tucked away, chats, giggles, photos and plans. Thank you for helping us check off most of the things on our list, To Do and See and Buy and Eat while in the States.  Thank you for dreaming with us about our next visits to the states.  Thank you for supporting us in this crazy adventure.  We love you and we missed you before we left NC airspace. 

and Dessert at Sonic!

before another set of goodbyes, wonderful to spend time with cousins, thank you D for making time to spend with us!  We will miss you!

Picnic

by flashlight!

Sunset

photo taken by M out of the back window of the suburban, on the way to our picnic in Rolesville.

Posing on the Caboose

Although you could walk through the caboose you can no longer climb into the second story :( 

Because I didn't ride the carousel

I had an extra ticket, so C got to ride in the kiddie boats.  These remind me of the Chris Craft boats we used to watch on Lake Sunapee. . .now who is waxing nostalgic. . .

Not sure what type of tree this is. . .

I'll have to work on identifying it.

Train Ride

Yes, we had to ride the train, even if it is just for old times sake.

At the Pullen Park Playground

there used to be a concrete turtle and a dolphin that you could climb on.  I have pics of the kids on both of them through the years alone and with cousins.  Mom said the last time they were at Pullen Park they didn't see either of the climbing sculptures.  We spotted the turtle as we exited the carousel.  So we posed for a picture.  We couldn't find the dolphin, we hope he's just hiding somewhere and Mom will find him on her next trip to the park with the cousins. 

Pullen Park ~ Carousel

The last time we were at Pullen Park in January the carousel was still undergoing reconstruction. Today it was open and it is beautiful!  The children enjoyed their ride and I enjoyed photographing them!