On US Soil

Commencing Smith’s Tour de ‘Merica!!

We made it safe and sound, but not without a little excitement….
Nothing induces a leg cramp quite like having the pilot get on the loudspeaker once you’ve boarded your plane for an 15 hour flight and announce that “due to weather delays, our departure has been delayed 5 hours, so sit back, relax and enjoy our services.”

Sit back?
Relax?
Is that even possible in airplane seats for someone who is not 6’2” ??

24 hours of travel later, we excitedly de-boarded on US soil and have been soaking up California sunshine, consuming mass quantities of homemade guacamole and hanging with cousins!  Once we got over the first brutal night of jet-lag (in which Izzy, Evie and Gigi went to bed at 10:00pm and woke up at midnight wide awake and ready to play), we are slowly getting into our groove.

And….we had 4 year-old’s party within 48 hours of landing.  Because birthdays, they happen all the time at our house!!  I have to confess, it felt a little unpatriotic to be decorating with pink on Memorial Day instead of red, white and blue.

Monday was a fun pool-party cookout with C’s extended family. So fun to see cousins picking up right where they left off 2 1/2 years ago.   A little basketball rivalry, some competitive pool and card games and lots and lots of food!

Gigi’s hearts desire for her birthday was a mermaid tail. So, there was a mermaid sighting at her party….cute cousins in iridescent flippers and fins….pretty dang cute!

Happy birthday to the bookend of our family.  You have so many people who love you and we are so glad God gave you to us 4 years ago!!!