Trip Home!

Being half-way around the world for 6 weeks really makes you appreciate and cherish all of the joys of your family, friends and home! Words can hardly even describe my time at home, but hopefully, some of the wonderful pictures I captured can help explain!

I got to take a whole week off work and my sister and I decided that this was almost more special than if I would have been home when Grace was born because I never would have been able to take that much time off at once. I got to spend my whole first weekend with just my sister, Luke and baby Grace and I enjoyed every single minute of holding and hugging my precious niece and nephew and I loved the way that my sister and I could slip back into our easy, finish each other's thoughts type of conversations that we always have.

Here is the first picture I took of baby Grace, as she and I shared a few minutes of quiet time on the floor! Look, she is even looking at me and trying to figure out who I am and where I have been!

On Sunday, my mom came in town for a few days...mostly to bring MY big baby home to me, Evie! I know that she is having the best time with my parents and Izzy and they are taking such good care of her...but she looks pretty happy to be back home (and back on her red chair), doesn't she?!

That whole first week, I spent every waking moment that I could with family and friends. One day, I even got to take Luke to the zoo for some special Aunt Becca and Luke time! We had so much fun and it was a beautiful day. We especially loved seeing the elephants and giraffes, riding the train and seeing all of the fun Halloween decorations at the zoo!

I mean, seriously...look at this face?! Luke has always been a very sweet little boy, but he just keeps getting sweeter and cuter and smarter and funnier by the day. From reading him books at bedtime...to his hugs and playing with my hair...and his sweet little voice saying, 'Becca, I miss you when you go to Austwayia'...and his constant creativeness and funny sayings or songs...I am pretty obsessed with him right now and he was definitely the hardest person to say goodbye to...

I got to meet one of my best friend's new baby...also named Grace! We had Katie and her Grace over to Allison's for lunch one day, so that the 2 Graces could meet. They are both so precious and we all know they will be good friends! Their mamas are both so special to me and I am lucky to get to have 2 little Graces in my life! Here I am with the 2 beauties...

I got to spend lots of good time with my girlfriends too! Coffee with Maggie, dinner with all of the Kappa girls, park time with several of the girls and their kiddos, dinner with my Jr League girlfriends (we missed you, Kate), time with Katie and baby Grace and a very special goodbye party for one of my best friends, Nikki. Nikki is moving with her family to Switzerland for 3 years and I am so thankful that I got to be back in the States to help see her off. She has another week to go before their big voyage...Nikki, I am thinking of you all the time and know that things will be so amazing once you are settled in there. Kansas won't be the same without you...

Here are the girls at Nik's goodbye party...

I was so lucky to be able to celebrate Luke man's birthday right before I left also...he had a great day! I don't have any pictures of the birthday boy on his big day...but I did get lots of last minute holding and cuddling time in with Miss Grace!

My time home was amazing and it really made me realize how much my family and friends do mean to me! As I have said before, I am very thankful for this great opportunity to live and work in Australia for 6 months, but I do miss and think about you all every day! Luke and Grace, try not to change and grow too much while I am gone...or at least have your mommy take lots of pictures to send to me!

I am planning on having a pretty relaxing weekend for my first weekend back in Australia, but I promise I will get back to more fun Australia posts and pictures soon!