Where has the time gone?? Somehow the months have melted into one another since we arrived back in England at the end of August and it's now November. We've been spending our time settling back into our home and our routine, and reconnecting as a family.
I survived the flight back on my own. Two children, two car seats, one double stroller, three backpacks, and three suitcases. There were a few challenges, like when the gate agent told me they couldn't gate check my stroller so I'd have to pick it up in baggage claim (halfway across Heathrow and after immigration) - thankfully, as always, we had guardian angels looking out for us and the incredibly sweet flight attendants all banned together and told me they'd help us, as long as we did't mind waiting until all the other passengers had left the plane. So after a relatively painless flight, five flight attendants swarmed around us and took care of everything - two carrying a car seat and backpack each, one holding Cali, me holding Ceci (who of course fell asleep as the plane was landing and was not pleased with being woken up) and a backpack, and they escorted us through the airport, through special assistance at immigration (the customs agent was not impressed, lol), to baggage claim to help me collect my three suitcases and stroller, loading the bags onto a trolley and setting up the stroller, and then pushing both into arrivals to find Jay. One especially sweet flight attendant was eventually holding Ceci's hand (we gained a wheelchair for the car seats and bags and I took Cali in the baby carrier while Ceci walked at some point along the way), and as she heard the story of how long it had been since we saw Jay she got a bit emotional and offered to take pictures and video as the girls saw Jay. It was amazingly kind. I am so very lucky I had such a compassionate flight crew!
Saying goodbye to Boston
We do not travel light.
Our sweet plane setup.
Zonked.
Such a big girl watching in flight entertainment.
Tablets. For. The Win.
Finally gave into exhaustion and passed out with "huggy daddy" during landing.
Seeing Jay was pretty special. The girls were really excited, but also a bit shy and subdued (waking up 2 hours early and travelling all day has that effect on them). I nearly lost it but somehow managed to hold it together. We had decided to stay that night in a hotel near the airport since we landed late and strapping the girls into their car seats again for an hour plus drive, so soon after finally seeing their dad, seemed mean. So we settled into our room, had dinner in the restaurant (bumping into the flight crew who had helped us, believe it or not), and then all went to bed together. It was lovely.
DADDY!
Loving on Daddy at dinner at the hotel.
Our crazy crew, reunited at last.
We had a few days of Jay being home to get back into our routine and then he was off again. The girls and I got into a good rhythm, and even through both girls having a stomach bug in succession, we did really well. We started having dance parties every night after dinner while we cleaned up, we got into a new bedtime routine reading stories to both girls at once in Ceci's room, then tucking Ceci into bed before bringing Cali into her room for a story, song and lights out. The girls got back into ballet, which they are both loving, and they're loving having all of their own toys back. As Cali has gotten older, they also now really play with one another, which is not only lovely to see but means that they play independently for longer stretches of time - a huge upside for me, especially while Jay was away! They love playing with slime, and in their play kitchen, as well as with their dollhouse, dress up clothes, and instruments.
Enjoying playing with daddy.
Making the most of time with daddy.
Molding sand!
Running with each other is one of their favorite games.
The girls wanted to help get dinner ready, so they're washing the potatoes. Ceci washes, and Cali puts them in the pot. Ceci says "Here you go, Cali", and Cali replies with "Thank you, Ceci!". Too cute.
It wasn't long before Jay was home for good. He had a to work a few days and then had the whole month of October off which was blissful. We went on a family holiday, had some adventures, and generally just enjoyed being together as a family again. He went back to work for two short weeks, and now he's off again, just in time to get ready to join us on our trip to America for Thanksgiving!
Family vacation!
The girls were obsessed with the beach, and even though it was not warm, they got SOAKED splashing in the water and playing in the sand.
Family time by the sea.
Peppa Pig World!
Carving previously painted pumpkins
The girls chose the faces and daddy cut them out.
The girls continue to thrive. I think they're really happy to be back in their own house, and into a familiar routine. A few weeks after being home, out of the blue Ceci said to me, "I really love our little house in Lyneham." Which was really lovely to hear. Though they miss everyone (Nan and Gramps especially), they're so happy to have their Daddy back. I think Ceci is still a bit worried that he's going to leave again, but it's not troubling her too much.
They've both settled back into their school. Ceci is in the pre-school classroom now and goes five mornings a week (because Jay and I both work, she gets 30 hours a week for free - God bless the UK!) She runs into her classroom every morning without so much as a goodbye or a backward glance. She has several friends (I hear a lot about Felix, Kayla, Erin and Bobby), and according to her teachers is doing wonderfully. She loves riding the "big red bicycle" on the playground (it's actually a tricycle) and anything to do with art. The only struggle is that she occasionally refuses to eat the cooked lunch they provide - even when everyone else is eating and it means she won't get dessert. She's been doing better with it though, so I think in time it will come.
Cali goes three mornings a week and is back in under 2s room with most of the same staff from before we left. She still struggles with drop-offs, but we've had several tear-free goodbyes in the last couple weeks, so I'm hopeful we're nearly there. Before I'm even two steps out the door I can hear that she stops crying and the staff says she plays happily all morning, so I think it's more the act of saying goodbye than the actual going to school that upsets Cali. She has so much to tell me when I pick her up after school - she's gotten SO chatty in the last couple months. Instead of just naming things she sees or making a request, she uses her words to tell us about her day as well. It's so lovely, and I'm really enjoying getting to know her little personality better. She LOVES painting and any kind of messy play as well as puzzles and going outside.
Every night before bed I tell Ceci, "I love you all the way to the moon and back, forever and always." Cali has obviously been paying attention because the other night, while tucking Ceci in, Cali shouted ALWAYS! at just the right time. My heart melted. She does it every night now. <3
We have a few challenges awaiting us next year - Jay is transferring trades and will be relocating to Oxord (about an hour and 20 minutes drive from us), but we can't all move there until he passes a three month probation, so he'll be staying there during the week and coming home on the weekends. We also have to apply for a Reception place (aka Kindergarten) for Ceci in January, which is turning out rather stressful because of the move. But as always, we'll make it work. The huge upside to all this is that we should be permanently in the Oxford area until Jay retires and he won't deploy again - hooray! So the stress and annoyance now will all be worth it.
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