4 + 2 = 1: Trip HOME!

Thursday, barely Thursday, we left Lithuania. Our taxis arrived to take us to the airport at 3:40am. We woke the kids at the last min and dressed them. They were all a little groggy but in good spirits- THAT is an answer to many prayers, I am sure! We were so blessed to have our new good friends the H's traveling with us on the first 2 legs of our journey. It was nice to be able to have adult conversations, gain parenting advice (they have 2 other adopted older-children and were a wealth of information), and even divide and conquer in search of food.

We left Lithuania at 6:30am and arrived in Frankfurt at 7:30am. There was an amazing playground not far from our next terminal, and all 7 kids (4 Perrecas and 3 H's) played pretty happily for most of our 5hr layover! The flight from Frankfurt to DC felt like it would never end. Asher's diaper leaked all over soaking him, his pants, and his seat. Annalise, we discovered DOES get airsick when her dose of Benedryl wears off- poor Rebecca. I also pity the 2 people on the next flight who get assigned to Asher and Annalises seats.... The flight from Dullas to DC, while delayed, was thankfully a very quick one (20min in the air!). Given that the twins had never been on a plane before, I would say they both did remarkably well! Annalise was enthralled and Asher, for the first 5min or so, freaked out- after that, he was ok.

Almost exactly 24hours after we woke-up in Lithuania, we landed in Richmond (our flight was delayed 1.5hrs). We were greeted by an amazing group of friends- almost 70 people! What a blessing that was- for Asher and Annalise to know from the beginning, how loved they already are, by so many people! Asher, who has been sleeping on the plane ride there, got a 2nd wind and he was happy and chatty- especially after he was given some balloons! Annalise, who had been given a dose of Benedyl to help her air-sickness, was groggy and may or may not remember anything from this big home coming celebration.

It was one heck of a day- and one heck of a way to celebrate our 1 week anniversary of being a family of 6! The twins have sure experienced a LOT of change in this week!

When we arrived at our house, Annalise's face lit up- she recognized the house, her room, the playroom, the living room, the kitchen- all from the pictures we had sent. You could tell she "got" that this was her home- and she was stoked! Asher was excited too, but wasn't as verbal about it as Annalise- it could be that he was running high on his 2nd wind fumes....

All ready to leave- and it's only 3.30am!

Annalise saying good-bye to Lithuania

Asher was NOT a fan of seat belts and being awake so early in the morning- he did end up ok, it just took a little while to convince him of that!

This is the amazing playground that kept our kids sane for the almost 9hr long flight from Germany to DC. They all had a blast and actually made a few kids names!

Here is Mrs. H showing her boys an old-school Fred Flintstones cartoon- my 4 also enjoyed it!

US Citizens!! When we touched-down in DC, the twins instantly became US Citizens! They enjoyed the Star-Wars-esque bus we rode from our arrival terminal to the Customs terminal.

Soaking in what America looks like

A while ago I had a friend make these A shirts- and right before our flight took off, I changed everyone into them! My "A" team!!

Such cuties!!

Since our flight kept being delayed, Annalise and Alden lay down and went to sleep- it was past midnight for them both!

At the airport we were greeted by so many amazing friends! There were banners, signs, balloons, and friends taking pictures and videos- all of which we will cherish. What sweet things to share with the twins as they get older- about how loved and wanted they are but not just their family, but their church family and close friends!