Sometimes when I haven't blogged in a while, it is intimidating to jump back in, especially when I have some big posts planned.
BUT, for now, I will ease back in with a post about our trip sans pictures. I should have some pics soon.
We just returned yesterday from an Epic Holiday in the States. Our trip had four parts:
1. We took the train to London and spent four days there(T worked for 1.5 of them). Highlights included the London Zoo; the Princess Di Memorial Playground in Hyde Park; the Tower of London; some epic tube rides; walking across the Tower Bridge; playing next to the Thames at dusk one night; and meeting up with my former roommate Emily. We then flew to Charleston from London (3 flights).
2. We spent four days at my parents' house in Charleston. Highlights included playing in their freezing cold pool; being reunited with our dog who was mostly glad to see us; lots of playtime with Mimi and Papa; attending church and community group; snacks and yummy meals provided by my mom; some nice reading time in the sun while L hung out with my mom and E napped; and lots of general relaxation.
3. Then we headed over to the beach house my in-laws so kindly rented at Isle of Palms and spent four days with them and the cousins. Highlights included lots of happy cousin play time in the house, at the beach and at the playground; a cookout hosted by Ron and Ellen for our friends and family; eating at Chick-fil-A; spending part of the day at Boone Hall's pumpkin patch--especially loved the hayride--with lots of fun people. Then we boarded a sequence of flights starting at 6AM and headed for a different beach.
4. After a long, long day of travelling, we made it to Maui, where we got to spend a fabulous week soaking up the sun (and boy was it HOT). We celebrated Hillary and John's marriage with party after party; played with baby Haylee who gets sweeter all the time; lived in a family compound of sorts; took daily trips to the beach and pool; ate several delicious lunches at Tommy Bahamas; gnoshed on fish tacos, shave ice and tropical drinks; had a wonderful date of sushi, iced coffee and a Safeway trip with my love; took a slightly treacherous waterfall hike with H and H on the road to Hana; had a luxurious pedicure with Hillary (thanks mom!); enjoyed reconnecting with friends and family who had come to celebrate the Sandbachs.
Then came three very long flights home but God gave us blessing after blessing and it really wasn't that bad! The kids slept a lot and rolled with a very long day of travelling beautifully (we left Sunday night and arrived Tuesday morning!).
Now we are battling jet lag--an 11 hour time difference will do that! We are excited to be home in Glasgow and are cherishing the fun memories and times with family and friends while we settle back into our routine here. We love Scotland and are happy to be back, and I am giddy at the thought that I no longer have to worry about all the traveling that trip entailed.
(In case this post was a little too "bubbles and sunshine," here were some of the less fun realities of the trip: time changes and lost sleep, especially for E; loooong plane flights; trying to explain to L who we were seeing vs. not seeing on any given part of the trip; more sleep challenges; and PACKING 11 gazillion times)
