The bags are packed—-all eight of them. The alarm is set. The children’s clothing is laid out on the bed for our early departure in the wee morning hours. The kids are used to this, are pro’s at getting up and out for long-haul journey’s.

But today had been different. Excitement had been replaced with resistance. The kids are sad to be leaving. Kai was even teary, my Mr. Emotion.

We reached Heathrow Airport in plenty of time. Boy is that place a zoo!! I was glad we were equipped in our HOPE attire. I coordinate our dress on all of our holiday trips but the airport, that’s the #1 easy-to-lose-your kid place:



Do you have the passports?, tickets?, can you please seat us together?, Can you check to see that our vegetarian meals have been requested, four carry on’s, yes, do you have a pen so I can fill out these luggage tags?, When are we going to get on the plane?, Yes I packed my own bags, No, nobody gave me anything to carry on, Can you check our luggage to our final destination? 10 pounds a kilo for overweight luggage!, let me re-pack them, Kids, pass me your carry-ons, here put on your hat, hold your teddy bear, put your jacket on, I’m hungry, leave your sister alone, put everything in the tray, I want to push it through the machine, take your shoes off, ma’am can you open your bag please, put your shoes back on, stay right there, hold your backpack, Is there a play structure in this airport?, Can I buy a toy?, When are we going to be there?

Yes, the airport is not exactly a focused place so dressing alike is just an easy way to say we go together, and certainly no one is going to run off with a kid who is wearing a matching outfit to their mom! Not easy prey.

So after the airport check-in hubabaloo we were off for what turned out to be the most annoying plane ride to date. Deva whined the entire time about her “bunny family” that Grandmere had bought her and how she wanted to play with them RIGHT NOW. Instead of saying she was going to miss her grandparents, we had to obsess about the bunny family—on all three planes save napping. Allow me to add that she is still obsessing about these bunnies 3 days later. If it’s bedtime and she hasn’t played with her bunnies, a tantrum will ensue. AND THEN, heaven forbid, someone separated the bunnies from their little bathroom and it was all over.







Meet the Bunnies!

We’re not quite over the jet lag. But getting there. There are many things to tend to: getting the kids settled in school, grocery shopping, the workshop, mosquitoes, mold. To be continued……

Cheers & Ciao for now, Gina