We’re baaaaaack

Our hearts are full, our memory banks are spilling over.  We now have the dueling dilemma that faces everyone who loves people on both sides of the world: we miss the ones we left and we are happy to see the ones to whom we came home.

As I now type, I’m sitting in the oncology office (12 hours after landing at home) to get my Herceptin.  The irony is not lost on me that this is the first chance I’ve had to blog in a month.

I wasn’t able to blog in Australia because

1. I can only use my computer when Greta is not around, because the only thing Greta does with my computer is play a twisted version of Whack-a-Mole.

2. Greta woke up at around 5:00-5:30am every morning for four weeks despite her normal bedtime.  Darn jet lag!

3. Greta learned how to climb out of her crib (pack n play/portacrib) and refused to nap.

Suffice to say, I wish I’d left both the crib and the computer at home!  They were not worth lugging them across the world.  (And also, I am psyched that on my next trip to Australia, I will not be traveling with a toddler!)

We made a boatload of amazing memories with our family.  The girls were shy of everyone as they met them, but best buddies by the end of the month.  We have enough material to chatter about until our next visit.

• We got to spend more than half of our days with the family matriarch, Ma.  My girls know her, and love her so.  Seeing the four generations together was magical.
• Every single person in our Aussie family made huge efforts to spend time with us and celebrate our time together.  My family rocks people.  It was amazing to see it.
• We had amazing Australiana experiences: seeing kangaroos in the wild, boogie boarding at Coolum, beach walks at Mooloolaba, springtime blooms, bush walks, kayaking with sting rays, jellyfish, and humpbackwhales.
• The girls developed familiarity, comfort and ease with everyone and everything as the trip went on.  I am so proud of both girls and how well they did on such a big adventure.
• We shared many 5 o’clock happy hours and meals that were made special by the fact that we could share a table with people we love.

We are so grateful for the many ways that our family extended the table to accommodate us.  We love you and we miss you!

I need to sort through photos, but here is a 4 generation gem to share.