The long road to Kauai

Posted byfotinitheo1Posted inUncategorized
This lead up to Home Leave was a little different than most.  Usually when we’re getting ready for these long trips it’s me frantically running around after work getting us ready.  This time, circumstances meant that four out of five Alis were home most of the week before.  ASEAN and all the presidents were in town so Malcolm’s school closed for a few days.  It was Randy’s last week at work in the Philippines so he only went in one day for his goodbye party.  And me and Miral were home enjoying our maternity leave 🙂  Adam was the only Ali who went about his normal life.  But don’t worry Adam, we had no fun.      

I went to pick up a few things for the our trip since we would be away for six weeks and everyone decided to come with me.  Malcolm tried to sneak these into the bottom of the stroller for Miral….he has picked up a nasty ‘shop robbing’ habit as Adam calls it.

I spent the week hanging out with friends since my maternity leave will be almost over when I get home and organizing my packing cubes.  I am totally addicted.  Each child gets their own color and it makes packing so much more fun.  I am a total nerd when it comes to packing.  But packing for five people for six weeks and three different seasons is a whole new ball game.  It took some work to make sure we stayed in three suitcases.

But we did it!  Here we are on our last day in Manila before we left for the airport with our luggage.  Three suitcases, one baby bed, two car seats, one stroller and three little peanuts. 

Three flights later and 24 hours we had traveled back in time and arrived an hour after we had left and lived Friday, Nov 17 twice.  All three kids were amazing on the trip.  So good in fact I bought both boys legos because I was really that amazed. 

Oh yeah and when we arrived in Kauai our luggage did not.  So we had to wait an hour for the next flight.  Thank god for Kindles!

When we arrived we were all so happy with the little house we had rented in Kauai.  It was on a golf course and full of nesting Albatrosses.

 

A few days into our Home Leave Adam turned to me and said I like vacation.  I asked him why and he said because you don’t have to go to school and come back and you get to hang out all day.  Yup, that’s exactly right.  I love that we get to hang out everyday for six weeks as a family.  It’s pretty special and I know it’s rare.  I love watching Adam and Malcolm get closer.  I love experiencing new things with them and I love not going to work and back.  Here’s hoping the rest of our six weeks are as great as the start!

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