We just came back from our first visit back to the States.
It was a little surreal to be leaving London after living there for five months and return to life stateside. It's like being thrust from a Charles Dickens' novel to the set of "The Hill's". However, I found that things were just the way I left it and after the initial reintroduction to LA traffic, freeways, super chain grocery stores, and hot weather, I was home again.
I was tempted to compare life in London to the states, since it is so different. Life, overall, is easier in the States, with convenience written all over it. However, I did appreciate having a local market right outside my house and being able to walk 10 minutes to a park without driving as some of the things I missed about London while home.
Visiting Home
It was wonderful to be home with family and friends and surrounded by so many people. While in Los Angeles, Lucas had fun with Mochi (mel's dad's dog) and spending time with Poh Poh (mel's mother) and Gung Gung (mel's father) and his cousins. He also got to finally play with "Mei Mei" (Cousin Kaitlyn) after seeing only her picture on Gung Gung's iphone. I'm not entirely sure why, but Lucas has an affinity to younger babies, especially girls. He has a very nurturing quality about him.
While in LA, we prepared for Raymond's wedding and spent a lot of time with family as well as for wedding events. We had a wonderful time at the wedding and meeting Diana's (Raymond's wife) family as well as being a part of the wedding. Tony was a groomsman, I was a bridesmaid, and Lucas was a ring bearer. Lucas did really well, he made it to the end of the isle and back again!
After our trip to Los Angeles, we went up North to our home in Mountain View. Lucas spent time with Na Na (Tony's mother) and Yeh Yeh (Tony's father). He loved spending time with them, singing songs and going to the beach. Lucas also got to spend time at the local pumpkin patch with his friends Jo jo and Livi while he was there.
Turning 30
.....was exactly how I wanted to spend it. After an eventful week in LA, I spent the week before my birthday back in Mountain View. I got to see many dear friends and family. Since we ended up booking our flight on my actual birthday, I made sure I had a chance to ring in 30 properly. The weekend before I left, I met one of my best friends Esther in Vegas while Tony and his parents lovingly helped care for Lucas and also while mommy got to live up her last days as a twenty something. We had a blast! (i'll leave it at that ;) )
After returning home, we had dinner with the family for my birthday before we left. Kathryn (my sister in law) made my favorite, prime rib. Then, thinking the celebrations were over, my husband did the unthinkable. Tony planned a surprise party on the day we arrived back in London soon after getting off a transatlantic international flight with a toddler. I was thrashed....but so happy to see my small group. It was such a wonderful welcome back to London, especially after being back in the states and already missing my family and friends.
So here we are, back in London. Back in gloomy, coOold London to be exact. But it's good to be 'home'. =)
