After a tearful goodbye, we left daddy in Italy, and headed home to the US for the first time in 2 years!
We had a short flight through Istanbul and then a much longer 11.5 hour flight to Dulles. The kids were once again great travelers! Our first week in the states was full of doctor appointments and making sure we were all still in good health! It wasn't much fun but in between we also saw lots of old friends and some family as well! Grandpa Craft met us in DC and Aunt Katie came too so we could finally meet Maisie!
Aunt Annie drove all day to meet us for my birthday! And then drove us to our next stop, a beach house in Corolla, NC, in the outer banks.
The beach house was amazing! 3 floors and 6 bedrooms plus a hot tub and a pool it was meant for a large family and that is exactly what we have. Annie, Katie, Bob, and Rick and I all brought our families and it was the first time we have had a vacation all together in a very long time. Mom and Warren outdid themselves and we are all grateful for a wonderful time.
Grandma Craft picked us up from the beach house and we went to Greensboro, NC to pick up Grandpa. We then took a very long drive to Elyria, Ohio to see Great Gma Kuhn and Aunt Marsha and Uncle Tom Wilt. We had a barbecue and met Uncle Louie's new wife, Sheri, and even fit in a trip to Cedar Point!
From there we drove down to Columbus, Ohio to see Cousin Christie and her new baby boy Wyatt who just happened to be turning 1 that weekend! We had fun helping him celebrate and then spent the evening catching up with our good friend Curt, his wife Laurie, and daughter, Kate.
We said goodbye to Ohio and headed up to Michigan after a short stop in Toledo to see Aunt Bonnie, Uncle Brian and their families!
We surprised Papa and spent a lot of time with him going to Jeepers (Tyler's favorite indoor roller coaster place), LEGOLAND, Frankenmuth, and just hanging out with him.
We actually went to Jeepers twice. Once with Papa and again with Aunt Annie and our cousins. Going to Jeepers with our cousins is another time honored tradition and had to be done! It almost didn't happen.....there are now height restrictions on the rides....5'max! And 3/4 of the cousins are past that! Soooo.....I talked to the lady who sells the tickets and told her we hadn't been there together in 2 years and that the kids all really wanted to ride together so could she possibly lift the restriction for us? She did! And the kids had a blast riding together!
We spent a lot of time just enjoying what little time we had with all of our cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles and time flew by.
Next thing we knew it was time to fly back to DC so we spent the night before we left with Mike and Kourtney. They helped us shop for some last minute things we can't get in Baku and took us to the airport. We had 2 easy flights, one to Paris and one to Baku and daddy was waiting for us with flowers since the kids and I landed on Barry and my 18th wedding anniversary!
What a summer! Hard to believe how fast it went by, and that in one year we'll be back.
Tyler and Naomi on the banana flyers at his beloved Jeepers.
Grace and Isaac at Jeepers. Grace is more into the games and winning lots of tickets so she can get the toys.
Frankenmuth with Nana and Papa! A time honoured tradition!
Grace really wants a dog!
Ty really wanted a soft blanket....we got one later in the trip at Costco!
Another dog and G!
Frankenmuth wore Grace out!
I love this pic of Ty and his cousins on the Jeepers roller coaster that he loves so much!
Ty and Gabe
Finally made it to Jeepers!
Ice cream in Frankenmuth with Papa!
We were so busy the kids couldn't keep up! They slept in every morning!
The kids being silly showing us how tall they all are now, way past the minimum height requirements and getting close to the maximum!
Silly kids.
Grace and Ty cuddling with Gma Parsons.
The DeMay sisters....Stacey, Kathryn, me, and Annie.
ALL of the DeMay grandkids! They did NOT want to smile! But at least they are all together and mostly looking at the camera.
Another tradition, eating at Big Boy with Nana and Papa.
Grace and I holding Maisie! Hard to believe when we get back she will be running around and talking!
Mom had a party because Diane and I were both in town and wanted to see the Aubrys! It was nice to all be together again but there are actually many missing......
My little traveller!
Ty and Lucy happy to be shopping at Target! We miss you already Lucy and Target!
Ty's new glasses! Blue Nike flex that turn into sunglasses outside! He loves them! I do too!
This is what happens when you get only 4 hours of sleep in 2 days.....
Tyler at Cedar Point. This is the seat at Raptor. Ty was 1 inch too short and very disappointed but good about it. He says he will ride it next year with daddy.
Grace and Charlie Brown at Cedar Point.
Grace loving Target.
Grace playing with Sophie on the playground.
Brian and Lauren and Sophie! It was hard to say goodbye a day early to Daddy in Italy but it allowed us to see you in DC and we were sooooo happy to finally meet Sophie! She is so sweet and the kids loved playing with her!
Tyler and Mike and Tyler's beloved Circle Bluey.
Had to have dinner at our favorite Japanese Steakhouse with Kourtney, Mike, and Lucy!
After dinner fun with Kourtney, G, T, Lucy, and I.
After dinner we took the kids to a playground and none of us wanted to leave. We just had so much catching up to do.
We LOVED going to Barnes and Nobles and looking at all of the books.
We saw our first nanny, Safaa.
Shopping with Grandpa Craft at Harris Teeter.
Our townhouse is looking good. Had the same renters for the past 3 years and they will be there this year too! They have been great renters.
Caught up with our old neighbors too! Kailey and Kylie! We all met when G and T and Kylie were all just babies!
Neighbors! Karin and I!
Another playground, one we used to frequent in Alexandria....Ty met a new friend named Holly and asked if she could come back to our hotel with us to play! LOL
Caught up with our 2nd nanny and her little girl, Destiny!
Grace reading to her newest cousin Maisie who loves books!
I met up with my long time teacher friend, Andrea! We taught Kindergarten together at Vaughan Elementary for 2 years and kept in touch! She stood by me via email and phone calls lending an ear and a shoulder to cry on all through my infertility journey! Can't wait to meet her bundle of joy!
Grace feeding Maisie!
Mommy's 42nd bday! Dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse by our hotel! Aunt Annie was there with our cousins and Aunt Katie and Maisie and Uncle Bob, Aunt Lauren, and Cora!
Headed to the beach house in the Outer Banks from DC with Aunt Annie and Gabe. A 5 hour trip on the 4th of July weekend turned into an 8 hour trip but we didn't mind. We played 20 questions and sang and danced the time away!
Stopped for lunch on the way to the beach house and checked out this map!
Finally at the beach house!
One of our many big dinners at the beach house.
Grandma and 3 of her girl grand babies.....2 are missing..
Trying to get all the cuddles in with Maisie that I can, they have to last another year....
Fun at the beach house with our cousins.
A pic of those of us excited about the 4th of July!
Reading to Maisie. She loves books just like me.
All of the Parson Grandkids!
A double feature....which one to see? How about both?
