We are the luckiest family.  We get to have TWO homecomings!  And Washington DC in the middle of summer, when it is hot and full of thuderstorms and fireflies, is when we like it best.

Breakfast on our first morning:  Chocolate Waffles

A trip to the Building Museum

Taking Showers

Making M & M cookies with Mimi

Tacos!  (hey guys, you’re supposed to be drinking milk)

The Train Set!  Dede got the trains to work after a 30 year hibernation!

The Coffee Shop

Pancakes, biscuits, and gravy at The Cracker Barrel

Old Friends

And New Ones

When we look back and all the things we did, it is surprising that we didn’t collapse with exhaustion.  Actually, some nights after we finished our beers and bottles of wine, we did.  There is a weird bipolar aspect of our Foreign Service life; there is nothing slow and steady, no even spacing of events.  We spend two years away, then come back and fit two years of memories into 6 short weeks.

Saying good-bye (again) doesn’t get easier with practice.  We are not immune to change, we are not more resilient, and we are not stronger.  I know it is positive to say so, but I am not comforted by the phrase “see you next time.”  Coming and going, watching old friends change, seeing kids grow and time slip by in huge chunks instead of imperceptibly the way it is supposed to… None of this is easy.  None of this is glamorous or romantic, and none of it makes us feels good.

I guess we have no choice but to focus on what is really important in life.

Fortunately, I think we’ve stored up enough of these to make it for a little while :).  Thank goodness for our grandparents.  We wouldn’t be able to do this without you.  We can’t wait for you all to come see us in our new home!