USA - Week 1, in VA

We went 'home' to the USA for three weeks in November. We actually flew out of Copenhagen exactly one year after we had first arrived. The night before we left we were packing the suitcases (nothing like a little procrastination...) Tipton and Lilli decided they'd help us out -

Thanks to Dave's Super Platinum status (or whatever) we were able to hang out in the SAS lounge while waiting for our flight. As always, the kids enjoyed some snacks.

At first I brought over juice and cookies. Then I brought a banana. One banana. And the kids fought over it. They completely ignored the cookies and fought over the banana.

Then it was time to board our plane. We all got settled

Hey, Lilli - there's an elephant on your head! ha ha The flight was much longer than usual, due to really strong head winds. Instead of being an eight our flight, it was nine hours and 10 minutes. Lilli finally fell asleep about 10 minutes before we landed. Tipton fell asleep as the landing gear was deploying. Timing is everything.

Dave's parents met us at the airport, with two cars. Dave and his Dad took their (his parents) car and Kay and I loaded the kids into our van. Kay and I were so busy talking on the way home that we missed the exit we needed (in our defence, it was rather confusing with all of the construction) and we ended up having to take the long way home. So of course the kids fell asleep in the car.

Dave and his Dad stopped and got pizza for dinner on the way home. The kids, however, were so tired that they didn't eat much. In fact, Tipton fell sound asleep in his chair.

And the following morning he was up at 2:00AM - for the day. Lilli slept in until a much more respectable 4:00AM.

That afternoon we went over to Dave's brother, John's house. Kay and I stayed there with Amber and the kids and while Dave and John left to go help thier Dad with a project.

Tipton and Lilli loved getting to meet their new cousins, Cameron (Cam) and Truman (Tru) and playing with their cousin Jack. Here Tipton and Jack are exploring the busy cube.

Lilli was fascinated with Cam and Tru. She mostly hung out with me and Grama Kay and the babies. Here she is with Grama Kay and Cam.

Lilli also enjoyed trying out all the babies toys. Here she and Cam are playing on the activity mats.

Overwhelmed with sudden emotion, Tipton ran over and gave Cam a little kiss on the forehead.

Lilli took a break from 'babysitting' to be silly with Jack.

Just hanging out in the toy bin.

Cameron talking to Grama Kay.

Around 6:00PM Tipton and Lilli finally crashed - after getting up at 2:00 and 4:00 (respectively), with no naps, and playing all day with their cousins.

The next day they discovered Elf Bowling on Grama Kay's computer.

At some point we took the kids to play on a nearby playground. Lilli was all about the curly slide.

Tipton declared himself "King of the Playground!"

We had gotten Dave a Wii for his birthday, but were afraid to have it shipped to Sweden (I have gotten many boxes held together with string, litterally) so we had it shipped to Dave's parent's house. It was THE thing to do while we were in the US - someone was always playing Wii. Wii Bowling was the biggest hit (followed by Wii Golf.) Here, Tipton demonstrates his unique bowling style.

Papa took a more traditional approach.

On one of our trips to the grocery store, Grama Kay got the kids big helium balloons. Lilli chose an Elmo balloon. Those balloons cause no end of trouble... But I'm sure Kay thought it was worth it to see the happy smiles on her grandchildren.

We wanted to get the kids winter wardrobes while we were in the US, so one day we hit the outlet mall. Lilli's favorite was the purple striped dress and new mittens. In fact, when I was cutting off the tags she demanded to wear them. Here she is in her purple dress (on top of her other clothes), mittens and new slippers, with her Elmo balloon. Oh, and one of Grama Kay's hair bands.

We tried to get the kids outside every day to play for a little while (and burn off some of that energy.) Here they are playing in the backyard.

One afternoon we met Uncle John and cousin Jack at the airplane museum. We went up to the observation deck while waiting for them to arrive. Tipton liked watching the planes landing and taking off at Dulles. Lilli liked pretending she was an airplane.

Uncle John, Lilli, Tipton, Dave and cousin Jack - having fun at the airplane museum!

Tipton poses with the space shuttle in the background.

Truman and Cameron.

Enjoying the playroom (also known as 'making a mess.')

One day we went to have lunch with Great Grama. The kids were so excited to see her!

I love that the pillow behing Grama's head says "God couldn't be everywhere so he created - " and Grama's head is in front of the word 'grandmothers.' Perfect!

Dave and Grama.

It was a good first week. It went by way too fast.