Our trip to the U.S.

Hello everybody,

we are more than a week into our holiday with the family on hubby's side (well also my famliy come to think of it as we share the same great-great grandfather :) and it is lovely to have the opportunity to be here again this year.

A quick recap: We flew out on the 31st Dec around lunchtime and landed around 3pm US MD time. Bennet kept us busy on the plane by walking up and down the isle, flirting with all kinds of people for many many hours. "You have such a cute baby" is what we continuously heard after the flight on our way to the baggage reclaim and, whether they mean it or not, of course EVERY parent likes to hear it! :)

New Years Eve we spent quietly, stayed up until 2am our time, but only 9pm MD time. I'm not unhappy about that, as it was quite a lovely way to end the old year and begin the new! It took us a couple of days to adjust to the different time zone (guess we're getting old as not as easy as last year :)

The first couple of days were packed with visitors and a party Ryon held for his 33rd birthday on Sat. 3rd. On his actual birthday, January 6th, we celebrated with family and as I decided to show my love by actions rather then presents I let him choose a yummy dish from our newly acquired Vegetarian Cookbook (Xmas present) which was received very well by everyone. It meant so much to him (and me) to be able to spent this special day with family and grandma Mimi in particular! It was a great great day.

All the while, Bennet has fallen in LOVE with PopPop's (Ryon's father) 19V electrical train system. He could even regulate the speed himself now how good is that? Every time the train would shoot by, the cat would frantically move its head which made Bennet giggle with delight in return. He has even adopted the *choochoo* sound. Other sounds he has learned are *woofwoof* and since we are in the US he even says "Mama" on a regular basis. While he knows that I am Mama he also uses the same word to address almost everything else, but it's still exciting!

We are flying back next week Thursday and we are trying the savor the days that we have left as they or the memories of them will be our "nourishment" to keep us going to the next time we will meet up again. Ellen (sister-in-love) will have had her baby by then and gotten used to sleep deprivation (due end of February) and Scotty and family might have even found their own place by then as he might have snapped up a job. We are very much hoping to see Mimi again next year, but after her 2 heart attacks in October we are naturally afraid of what the future holds. We are SO SO blessed to have been able to see her and everyone else again this year.

So, all in all, our year is off to a GREAT start! Couldn't be any better!

I hope yours is, too!

All the best for 2009 and Thank you for following this blog and your loyalty in that. :)

Much love,
Milena x x x