August 7. 2010
Let’s just say, this last day, my angst from being in so many lines comes out in this posting…just sayin’…

We get up, pack and load into the taxi, and make our way to say good bye to the Charles de Gaulle airport. We were so happily surprised as to find out that Jarom’s status on Delta allowed us two 70 pd. bags coming to Paris, but operating on Air France going home, they didn’t honor that, and charged us $100 Euro for each of our bags. Jarom didn’t give up once we got home, and fought for it back, and he did it!

We have a short flight to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and enjoy the most beautiful airport we’ve ever seen, and are sad we can’t enjoy it longer. Let’s just say, when you see pic’s, it’s hard to believe this is an airport. My new fave airline is KLM for sure, which we flew from Amsterdam to Atlanta. The tiniest details, from toothpick’s, yummy free snacks, fancy wrapped delicious meals with stylish plastic ware, not like the U.S. offers in the least. While in and out of consciousness, we enjoyed food and movies.

Then, my favorite line of all-the airport-international side. After going through a line for customs, and getting in a gigantic line to declare our bought cheese in the Netherlands, we wait and grab our luggage off of the carousel, come around a corner, where we give our luggage to someone else, ride a bus with no luggage, and wait for our luggage a second time on another carousel. Loved that part!

We anxiously arrive home, share gifts and eat Parisian baguettes and Amsterdam goat cheese we brought back, and visited and caught up on the wonderful times the girls had with their amazing Aunt Valerie and cousin Noah! They had a party week, sewing purses, making button bracelets, going to a movie, shopping, doing other crafts, eating cake and watching movies, painting nails, doing hair, and who knows what else they did, but they had fun and I’m so grateful to a sister to come hang out with my most treasured possessions and make sure they are happy and safe! The family goes to bed, and Val and I have a little time to spend together, chatting and laughing. Her and Noah leave at 5:30am Sunday morning, and all I know is, Jarom gave a great lesson in Sunday School, even though we had been up for around 24 hours with the time change, and little sleep. But we can’t really complain, it was definitely worth all the sleep deprivation, blisters, and 2 pounds I gained.

Monday school starts, and we are off and running, making wonderful memories back home. Now, how do we get a job to travel Europe with the family…