We're BACK!!

After 3 weeks in the States, we're back and ready to blog about it!! Here's what's been happening:

Here's a picture of us in front of our house…with a German entourage! They went from house to house playing music…and asking for drinks! Romas did a shot of rum with them, we took a picture, and then they moved on to the next house.

Little Miss Maia is an American citizen, yet at 7 months old had never set foot on American soil! She doesn't realize yet that in America it's not normal for people dressed up in traditional clothes, playing the accordion to ring your doorbell and ask for alcohol!! I needed a picture for proof for all of our American friends and family.

Anyway, that is NO longer the case!! The Bee has now officially graced multiple states with her presence.

Luckily we were flying on US Military orders and American Airlines has *VERY* lenient rules on baggage allowances and weight. We left Frankfurt with:

1 stroller

1 car seat

4 carry-on bags

3 suitcases

One of those suitcases was clearly overweight but they just put a special tag that said 'HEAVY' on it and loaded it up!!

We didn't get to choose our airline. Our tickets were purchased by the government as part of our agreement to extend our stay overseas. Because we volunteered for back-to-back overseas assignments, we are given the opportunity to fly home once. In keeping with military tradition where everything has an acronym, it's called COT travel. COT stands for Consecutive Overseas Tour. Anyway, our tickets are purchased on our behalf and we are booked on whichever airline is currently contracted with the US government. In this case, it was American Airlines. (When we first moved here in 2007, however, we flew with Delta. It changes often.)

American Airlines treats the US Military like royalty. Soldiers are allowed 5 bags and each can be heavier than a standard passenger's (as was the case with mine!) Uniformed military also get priority boarding - they board with First Class passengers! And, the big one, any soldier traveling on orders can use their First Class Airport Lounges! How great is that?? We had access to it, but I didn't think the 1st Class passengers would appreciate Maia bopping around in there!!

We landed at Logan International Airport in Boston on June 30th after an incredibly long and trying trip from Frankfurt, via London. Maia is a natural traveler and (luckily!) was the least of our problems! In London, we had boarded first and once we were seated, the flight attendant took Maia up to the front to greet everyone else as they boarded!! She spent more than 30 minutes up front while Romas and I relaxed and read our books.

We were met by Romas' mom and step-dad and we headed straight for their house in New Hampshire, where we were staying until Maia's appointment in Boston on July 5th.

I LOVE this picture of the Bee. She's so stinkin' CUTE!