Back in the USA

We made it back to the USA without a hitch.  I think I'm getting the hang of the 30-hour travelfest involved with flying from Austral-Asia to the USA.  We sold most of our stuff but couldn't part with a surfboard, kiteboard, 2 kites, 2 snowboards, and a few items of clothing.  We've been back for 3+ weeks and still haven't felt the need to buy anymore clothing -- I think this nomadic lifestyle is really starting to stick.

1am at the Detroit airport.  30+ hours of travel and we still squeaked out a smile. 

After a great week visiting with my parents, sister and nephew, we took my dad's truck down to Indiana to visit Scott's sister, Becky, and her family.  We had never visited Becky at her home.  It was also our first visit with Nick, her husband, and their two kids Cayden (4) and Camren (5).  After a bit of hiding upstairs, the boys introduced themselves to Uncle Scott with a baseball to the skull. We had so much fun with them over the next 24 hours -- playing Cayden Ball, watching T-ball, and eating at Shake 'N Shake (because it's all about the shakes).

Next, we drove to surprise Scott's brother, Skip, at his college graduation party.  Skip is no ordinary college student.  He is 39 years old with 4 teenage kids.  We are so impressed that Skip stuck with it for four years during an incredibly hectic time for his whole family.  They thought we were still in New Zealand, so the surprise was priceless, as was the look on Skip's face (see below).

We are back at my parents' house in Ann Arbor.  I call it the 5-star resort -- all-you-can eat and drink, fluffy bed, a free gym membership, manicured lawn, spa-like showers, our own car, wireless internet, a TV in every room, fresh coffee waiting in the pot every morning, and our favorite orange kitty.