The Gainor Family: Last Days in the US & First Days Back in India

The very beginning of July (um...last year), we went back to Raleigh

for last couple of weeks in the US before we left for India.

We loved Gigi and Grandy's backyard SO much!

They also have a zipline on down in the woods too!

Gray, at that time was remaining Fantasy Football Champ

for a league he was in with his brother and friends.
He said goodbye to the trophy and left it with his brother.

The kids put hilarious post it stickies on Gigi.

I have NO idea where they got this idea!!!

We got together with the Gainor side of the family!

Sam was caught red-handed with a frog in Gigi's house (and on her bed!!)!

Dressed alike, ready for the 4th of July!

Entertained while waiting on the fireworks

Matchy-Matchy

Happy 4th!

We left his & Wint's rocking horse behind,

but here he is getting a few more rocks out of him.

Gray tricked me in a serious way that Andy and Lauren's baby girl had been delivered.

I fell for it at first, but the "name" gave the prank away pretty fast!

I had a big shopping day (or two)

Packing is always fun! I really do enjoy it (I know--weird)!

I brought back all the kids Christmas presents and birthday presents for the next year!

I got a perm?!?!

Probably would never do it again--it was a little much the first year (with my thick hair).

But, I've loved it this year (but don't know how much is perm and my natural waves).

Then we set off on a plane for some wonderful--long travel!!!

We started off in RDU with a major delay--it was such a bummer to be sitting in the airport for so long knowing we could've had extra precious hours with our family, just 5 miles away!!!

The good thing from that was that they gave us so much in food vouches (kids given the same amount as us adults), so our last burgers in the US was at 5 Guys Burger and Fries--courtesy of the airlines....and dessert....and snacks!!!!

We made it to London--halfway!

With more delays and flight changes, we had more vouchers that paid for 2 meals--again, we received so much cause of our large family! We spent a lot of time in restaurants! We opened up the travel goodie bags from Papa and Nanny and with all of this airport time, we were even more thankful for their gifts.

And...we were thankful to be in the terminal that has a playground too!

It was such an exhausting day of travel!

And, we had too many hours in the Mumbai airport--SO exhausted and desperate to get home!!!

We finally made it home to Indore!

Amy welcomed up back and brought fun signs Rachel made!

I spent time talking with Amy and Rachel--

so glad to come back home...and have friends here!

Before we were even unpacked, the kids were hanging out with their friends and getting reacquainted with their toys and home! Sweet to see this feel so much like home to them.

Just because he's a cutie!

Eating last of snacks from America!

Electronics helped us get through some transitional, jet-lagging, unpacking days.

Wasn't long until the power was out!

Friendship Day--exchanging bracelets with friends...

some of the kids even gave me one.

Got my "Indian Clothes" out ready to wear!

We came back to monsoon season, but we were ready for it!

Wint has crazy, cute curls in monsoon humidity!

We were blessed by a wonderful group at Providence, and given a clothes dryer!!!

I knew I wanted one pretty soon after we got back,

but the humidity of the monsoon expedited and sped things up quite a bit!

The awesome stand we have for it. ;)

Oh, yes!!! We all love it...

I just don't know why in the world we waited so long to get one!!!

We celebrated my birthday just a couple of weeks after getting back,

and my hubby always surprises me and makes it a fun day!

Then, we left for a week of a Hindi Language Intensive where we get to have language classes in the mornings and afternoons everyday while the kids have a VBS program. It was a great blessing (and embarrassment to speak, haha) to have this boost in language after being in the US for 5 months.

Jackson found this super big frog while we were there.

The kids and their friends showing off what they learned during the week.

Can you see my big 3 in the above and below pictures?

I LOVE these beautiful Indian lanterns at this hotel we stay at for the language intensive.

One day...yes, the very next day after we returned home from the language intensive, Gray left for a 17 day trip to the US for some training for a new role in his job! It was the longest we'd been apart. I could only imagine how hard those 2 weeks were going to be after returning from the US, getting reacquainted with India, and beginning school...etc. So, I asked a dear friend, Beth, that lives a few hours away for some help! She sweetly came and stayed with me for many of those days that first week he was away, and it was such a blessing to my soul. She especially helped me with the little ones as I got school with the bigs off to a good start!