On the Ground

We left Alabama at 2:00 am, Sunday, January 27th, and we stepped in the door of our new home around 8:30 am local time, Tuesday, January 29th.  The four, yes FOUR, legs of our flight went smoothly.  We slept soundly in the airport hotel in Istanbul during our longest layover... not the cheapest option, but the shower and bed were worth every Euro cent.  (If only I would have packed deodorant.)  It took about three nights for the big boys to get over jet lag, five nights for me, and unfortunately about a week for Max.  Our internal clocks are on the new time now, and we are working on settling our hearts here.  The goodbye was hard, oh, SO HARD, but we were greeted at the airport here by familiar faces.  A gift.  Oh, and our house is in our old neighborhood.  Another gift.

Boys with jet lag

Friends and Babies

Our last week before the big move, Craig, Max, and I traveled to DC for Craig's work.  I went to stay with my dear friend Susan who had sweet baby #2 January 1st.  Susan and I met in Korea a few years ago.  As it turns out one of Susan's neighbors (and now friends) is my friend Merrill from our days at South Alabama in Mobile.  What a sweet little gift.  Craig and I gathered at Merrill's with another friend from college and former roommate of Craig's. It was not exactly restful with so many little ones, but it was delightful to be with old friends.  -- We did have some pretty difficult travel on the way home, delayed flights, a major sobbing breakdown at the gate, lost bag, etc.  People were so nice after my breakdown, or they avoided eye contact.  
We had about 14 hours between arriving back at Mom's and departing for Atlanta and the big trip.  Craig's bag was delivered to Mom's at 12:45 a.m., less than 2 hours before we left. 

Max's newly mastered crawling skills

Susan and Kyle's sweet #1

Susan and Kyle's sweet #2

Susan and Babe

The gathering at Merrill's, each couple with their youngest, tired babe

Gatherings

We are now on the other side of the world... I'll have photos to share soon.  Before we left we gathered with family as much as possible.  Here are some photos from my sister's house. 

Max (with his favorite two fingers), Aunt Tane (my dad's sister), and Gee

Big people at the little people table

Serious Lego Business

Vic, Seth, Tyler, Lila, Max, and Pops