Our trip back to the US was fantastic!!!! It was so wonderful to see our family and friends!

Our trip started off with two very LONG flights for the kiddos and me! Chris came about 9 days later so we could adjust to the time change and have a more enjoyable family vacation.

I must say, I was a little nervous about this part, but it went so well!! As I'd mentioned before, I got an iPad to help me and act as a quasi-babysitter. The kids did use it so that was great. However, they were occupied with coloring, reading, play dough, Star Wars figurines, etc. It really was just like a day at our house...only cooped up inside two airplanes for a 24 hour period!

I don't know why Max does this, but he always reads the emergency card during flights. This flight was no exception!! And, here's a picture of Siena preparing to nap.

We had a couple of episodes, but nothing I couldn't handle. It was all about my mindset. This trip was going to be good/bad depending on my reactions to everything that happened. So, my attitude was very easy going and I prayed (and asked many friends to pray for) patience for me. Well, God is good and patience was given!

We had a 6 hour flight from Bangkok to Narita, Japan and we were on an older 747. Therefore, we did not have individual movie/entertainment screens, which are a super plus for the kids. We did have them for the 16 hour flight from Japan to Newark! Not that the kids really watch it - in fact, Siena just stared at the movies and didn't even have the headsets on. But, it's a nice distraction for short periods of time. Or, Max kept "trying" movies and after 10 minutes or so decide he didn't like it.

I was scared that boarding the plane in Japan would be a nightmare because the kids would not want to get on another plane. But, it was okay. In Narita, there is a very small baby play area which allowed the kids to burn a little energy. So, I think that helped. However, I felt so bad for Max because 2 hours into our second flight, the pilot gave an update. Max started jumping up and down in his seat saying, "we're almost to Oma's house!" Little did he know we still had about 10 hours to go!!

The kids slept for about 6 hours of the second flight, although from the flipping and flopping you could tell they weren't very comfortable. Neither was their mom who had one arm holding Siena's head straight and the other pulling Max's legs back onto the seat so the flight attendants didn't hit his leg with the cart!

When we arrived in Newark, I was exhausted. The kids were too. But, we were all very excited to see my mom and brother, Jim, at the airport. As usual, Jim had lots of messy treats, including lots of lollipops! :) He also had cupcakes for Siena since it was her 2nd birthday. He even had candles for her to blow out! What a sweet uncle! After becoming one giant mess when she ate her cupcake, Siena went through every flavor lollipop until she found a chocolate lollipop. Now, it's the only kind she'll eat! :)

I was a zombie when we got to my mom's house and could barely keep my eyes open!! It takes us a whole week to get adjusted to the time change, and this trip was no different. But, it did seem a little better than last year. However, I think that was because Siena, Max and I were all on the same floor of my mom's house and I didn't have to rush up 4 flights of stairs to tend to Siena.

As we got use to the time change, the adventures begun!!!

On my side of the family, all the grandkids were born in October. So, Oma had birthday cakes made for each grandchild - Max (4), Collin (15 - who can believe he's 15 already?), and Siena (2). Max especially loved his Star Wars cake with Darth Vader rings on it!

One day we also went to the "pumpkin patch" at Country Junction - the world's largest general store. Collin had off from school and Uncle John was in town visiting so we all went. Plus, Amanda and Nick and their mom, Khris, came too. Oh how Max and Siena love Country Junction. The store is huge and has anything imaginable, there is a play ground outside, and lots of pumpkins to buy!! Aunt Kelly took Max and Siena last year and they had a blast. I think this is now a tradition! :) Below are some pictures of everyone having fun!


When we got home from Country Junction, the kids decorated their "little" pumpkins with Aunt Kelly and Oma. Didn't they do a nice job? :)


The next morning was spent painting the "big" pumpkins with Oma. Max even colored some Darth Vader pictures to attach to his pumpkin!!


We spent a lot of time outside and took many, many walks at my mom's house. Aunt Kelly oversaw a lot of the outside time - bless her heart! Max raked the yard most of the time we were there and was big enough to ride Collin's John Deere tractor. He and Siena also enjoyed many wagon rides with Aunt Kelly. The kids also loved playing with Maddie and Star, Kelly and Collin's two cats. Siena also tried to fit inside a bookshelf and loved her new baby doll stroller!



We also spent time collecting leaves during our walks. This picture below was when we were arranging leaves for our wax paper crafts and Max and Siena decided to just glue random leaves and nuts onto the paper. And, yes, Darth Vader was included in these crafts too!

We also spent time at Uncle Jim and Aunt Sharon's house. Collin and I took Max and Siena to the creek behind his house. The kids had a blast! I was a little scared Max would fall in though!


One night, Kelly, my mom, and I took the kids to McDonald's to play. Siena and Max quickly made friends with another little boy there. It looks like Collin even had fun!

Jim took the kids swimming a couple of times at the Shawnee Inn. The first time just he and Max went and the second time Siena tagged along. Both kids are definitely little fish!! Max was practicing for his upcoming snorkeling trip with Uncle Jim and Aunt Sharon when they come to Thailand. Oh we can't wait!!!!



Max and Siena (and Mommy) were SO happy to see daddy at the airport!!

One Sunday while Chris was in PA, my dad wanted us all to go to Cabela's. It's a huge outdoor store - with everything imaginable for hunting, fishing, and outdoorsy things! Max, of course, found a Star Wars fishing pole. What a wonderful birthday present from Pop-Pop!!! Max wanted two and even tried to convince Siena that she wanted one too, but to no avail. He left the store with only one.... The store is huge and they have stuffed wildlife of ALL sorts there - even African animals. You can also feed the fish in a pond in the middle of the store.


We went up to Pop-Pop and Grammy Ellen's house and had lots of fun playing in the leaves and in the huge yard! They had rescued some kittens so it was fun to watch the kittens play. Max helped Pop-Pop clean his gutters again this year and rake some leaves. But, the real excitement was when Grammy Ellen showed Max her son's Darth Vader mask from about 30 years ago - it was the real deal. Max was in awe! Siena also helped Grammy Ellen get the last of the cucumbers and peppers from the garden! The kids just love playing outside...it's not like Bangkok at all -- there's clean air!


My mom and I also took the kids to visit and have dinner with one of my oldest friends, Sherri, and her mom and family! She is such a great friend and her two little ones, Madison and Tyler are twins who are Max's same age. All the kids had a fantastic time playing. It's so nice to see Max and Siena enjoying the outdoors, and Sherri and Helio's house is awesome for kids! It was great to see Sherri's mom, Pat, too!



The kids also enjoyed bath time at Oma's. They really do love the bath tub!! Max loves putting on a bubble beard and Siena loves to swim.

Then, sadly, it was time to say good-bye....Here are pictures of Siena saying good-bye to Pop-Pop and Uncle Jim.

We had a great time in PA!!! Oh how we miss it! But, our next stop -- North Carolina!!