Together Again

Christmas 2007 with the Forrests
December 2008 with the Baddeleys

Today we are leaving for our first family trip back to Australia since leaving in February 2007. The list of all the people we want to see, the things we want to do & the food we want to eat seems to grow longer each day. We will only be there for 10 days, so some things on the list will have to wait until the next trip.

I love being back in Colorado near my sisters, mom & family, but I do miss Australia. It was our home for 6 years, and in those 6 years, we had many "firsts" for our family - Jillian's first day of school, first tooth fairy visit (though the Christensen tooth fairy was really lame), first bikes, first school camps, first time camping as a family, best friends, piano lessons, Mallory's first pair of glasses, first go at field hockey, cricket & netball, Mallory's first solo trip overseas, etc. Leaving Australia was bittersweet - happy for our new life in Colorado to begin and sad to be closing a chapter in our family's life.

I am especially excited for this trip because: a. it's totally unexpected & not planned & b. we get to see the Baddeleys & the Forrests!!! These two families shared some of our greatest moments & our smallest moments, our highs & lows, celebrated birthdays & accomplishments, ate more lunches, dinners & afternoon teas togther than I can count and shared some amazing bottles of red, good beer & endless cups of coffee. They were an extension of our little family and made our life in Australia richer & fuller. I have missed being a part of their daily lives and am looking forward to all three families being together again.