The return

This is going to be a post with no pictures. Because when traveling solo with 3 kids, the last thing on my mind is taking pictures. Granted, I did think of it. But the camera wasn't handy. My phone was available, but it was too dark for it to get a decent picture. So I will have to use my words to describe it.

But what can be said about a journey that includes a 14-hour plane ride? There were inevitable delays. Which of course prompted Becca to have some travel stress. Our plane going into Detroit was delayed almost 40 minutes and made our connection for our Detroit-Shanghai flight a little tighter. Even though we had plenty of time, my girl worried about it the entire plane ride to Detroit. But then that flight ended up being delayed so it wouldn't have mattered. At one point during her worryfest, I gave her the worse-case scenario. We miss our connecting flight. Since it the airlines fault, they would put us on the plane the next day going to Shanghai and it would work out. I think sometimes she needs to hear the worse case to realize that even that is doable.

And then our long flight? Was long. And had no individual TVs. Be patient with me because I am going to rant for a minute. I just don't understand how the airlines can get away with showing movies that are inappropriate for children but then not giving any other option. This alone is the reason that I like the individual TVs so much. Because every single movie that was shown on the big screen was PG and most of them were PG-13. Thankfully, none were R. But even a PG-13, has more violence and inappropriate sexual content that I don't want my 5 year-old to see. I had to ask the kids to look away at several points. Because I know that if they were to see what was shown then it would bother them and possibly give them nightmares. And how can one of the longest flights you can take not have individual TVs? On our return to the US, one of our flights was 9.5 hours and we not only had the TVs, but they were on demand. Meaning we could pause and skip ahead in movies. But then this flight that was almost 5 hours longer really had no option for my kids. Just. So. Frustrating. Alright, rant over.

A friend emailed once we were back to ask how the flight went. I quickly replied, "OK." And then later remembered that one of my kids got sick twice almost at the end. But since that is a usual occurrence for that particular kiddo, I guess I just thought of it as no big and nothing out of the ordinary.

We are in the midst of battling the evil jet lag monster. But I have hopes that we will be victorious in the next day or two. Our first morning back Tori woke up at 2:30 AM and was up for the day. She had climbed into bed with us, but didn't really sleep anymore that night. During the afternoon as they are lagging we head for the pool and then after dinner we attempt to keep them awake with movies with doses of tickling as needed.

This time around either the flight (with its pressures changes) or jet lag or really the evil combination of the two gave me a two-day migraine. I was totally out for the count. I am so thankful that Andy was already on China-time and didn't have his own jet lag to deal with because he has been crucial in helping and taking care of the kids. I love that man. And just for the record, we are SO GLAD to be back with Andy. 26 days apart is a long time.

We now have a week to get back into the routine before school starts. Can I just say. . . it is great to be home!

Sunday Snapshot: everything but the kitchen sink. . .

seriously. That is what I feel like I have purchased and am getting ready to pack. We are in serious countdown mode: t-minus 5 days until we board the plane. And you know what? I am ready to go home.

But in answer to what so many people ask. . . what do you buy to take back to China? Each year, it is a little bit different. The one thing that is a constant is that I ALWAYS buy toothpaste. And lots of it. Just as a funny aside, the cashier rarely makes a comment, but just imagine someone buying a year's supply of toothpaste. At one time. Plus a ton of medicines. Yet again a year's supply. And I am surprised that I don't get more comments. I mean, I would notice and think it a little strange that someone was buying 15 tubes of toothpaste. Not to mention the 5 things of deodorant and all the medicines. It honestly took me two years to figure out exactly how much toothpaste we use in a year.

I feel like this could be an I Spy: The Travel Version
I spy 10 tubes of toothpaste, something you want with you when it rains, 4 things that will make you sneeze, and the remedy for a headache.

The great organizing begins. Notice that the duffel bags are still quite empty. Unfortunately, I have just a little more shopping to do. [sigh] I am really, really tired of shopping.

Surprising, we don't buy much food to take back with us. This is a change from our first couple of years. I would buy mostly food (coffee, chocolate, baking supplies . . . the list seemed endless). But now, I buy some things, but have really either been able to find what I need or have just learned to do without. As evidenced by the pictures above, I buy a lot of spices. After getting off skype with Andy, I realized more things I need to buy. This is NOT my favorite kind of shopping. But I think that I am almost done.

Just so you don't think all the packing is organized and tame. This is what it looks like way too often. Can I tell you how tired I am of living out of a suitcase?

The kids and I went out for ice cream tonight. Yes, we are still adhering to our daily ice cream ritual. 5 more days of ice cream left! While we were out, I asked them how they were feeling about going back to China. This is often a mixed bag. Their home is China. They have majority of their friends in China. All of their things are in China. Daddy is already in China. BUT, the U.S. is still their home. They still have friends here that they are sad to say goodbye to. Their grandparents and (some) of their cousins are here and they are definitely NOT ready to say goodbye to them. And this brings about a wealth of emotion. Essentially, they are kids who have 2 homes and are always somewhat torn between them. I really believe though that it is important to bring this up ahead of time and talk through what they are thinking and feeling. So we sat there with our ice cream and thought about all of the things that we were excited to return home to. Their lists were long. Including everything from their friends to their stuff and of course, Daddy. Josh is even excited to eat some of his favorite Chinese foods (namely, lamb kabobs and rabbit legs). But there will be many tears over the next week as we say goodbye to all that we love here.

Summer Poem

I just needed to share this with you. The kids have been playing school together recently. Of course, Becca is the teacher. She assigned a Summer accrostic poem to Josh. Here is what he wrote:

SUMMER:
Swimming, visit

U.S.A.,

Meet family and friends, eat

Meat,

Eat other yummy foods,

Read books.

By Josh Wilcox

And there you have it, through the eye of my boy what our summer is all about.

you can take our kids out of China. . .

but some behaviors are just second nature by now. If we have to wait in any kind of line at all, our kids drop down into a squat position.

Not even in line, just waiting for the rest of the family to emerge from the restaurant.

And Josh even found a bit of shade.

Tori is using her stirring sticks as chopsticks to get all the whipped cream our of her strawberry smoothie.