Keep on keeping on...

I'm sure just about anyone (and everyone) who lives abroad feels at some point the same thing...you're not quite home in your adoptive country and you're not quite home in your native country. Where does that leave you? Always traveling or always searching for a home? At this point for us, I think it's both.

We've been in the States for a long time this summer. We were supposed to fly back to Delhi next week (for the second time). I had already changed our return date once and did it again. I wanted us to have our family vacation in Malaysia this summer--some place new and exciting for us since the boys and I have been away from their papa for most of the summer. But, it proved a bit difficult to plan the trip the way I wanted, so at my husband's suggestion, we're having our vacation in the States. He booked a ticket using his miles, so the miles dictated the destination and...we're off to Boston and Cape Cod next week for about 10 days.

At least Dorian is excited to see Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their ducklings.

But, no matter where we are there are reminders of were we've been or are going...this made me stop in the street in Portland last month:

A few firsts...

It's been great being in the States for most of the summer (and it's not over yet!). The boys have seen and done so much and have grown in so many ways. What I love is seeing them see things for the first time.

Dorian loves waterfountains.

Popsicles = yummy.

As is corn on the cob.

This yellow watermelon was a huge hit.

They've never had a sprinkler to run in before.


And, last but not least (even without photo), my favorite so far has been while at the ice cream shop, "mama, what's that car doing at the window?" Oh, yes, the drive thru...

Chillin'

Arthur is very much enjoying his time in the States. Here he is in one of his rare moments of sitting still...

Cowtown

On the north side of Fort Worth, aka Cowtown, sits the Stockyards. It's a fun place to visit with or without kids, but if you're with the little ones be sure to go at 11:30am for the daily cattle drive. Now a stampede it is not, but it is fun to see the cowboys and longhorns walking down the street. Sure, we see cows on the streets of Delhi, but it just never gets old.


Fourth of July and Dorian has his flag:

Catching up with some long-time friends and their boys:

Story time...

One thing that I love about visiting my parents during the summer holidays (besides seeing them, of course) is that there are so many activities for the kids. A favorite takes place on Wednesday mornings at a nearby museum, the Amon Carter. It's an hour filled with listening to stories, looking at art, doing an art activity and eating a snack. What could be better than that? Sometimes, I think I enjoy it more than my boys. Anyway, we've been to the last two Wednesdays and the themes have been people in art and music in art. Great stuff. Can't wait for next week!

Museum entry, waiting for the stories to begin...and, luckily, my assistant Pop Pop, was there to wheel Arthur around because at his age, he's more interested in looking than listening.


Dorian has his snack:


Then gets busy on his portrait:


All done:


Another great thing about this story time is that Dorian loves looking at art and hearing the stories behind the paintings. The evening after our first story time Wednesday, he sat on his Pop Pop's lap for almost an hour looking at the Amon Carter's catalogue and talking about art.

Children's Museum

A few months ago, we enjoyed walking around and exploring the Children's Museum in Delhi. It is spread over a vast campus among various buildings all housing different exhibits. It's interesting but dark and dusty at times. The Portland Children's Museum was a completely different experience...totally hands on. The boys loved every minute of it and we visited it twice in our ten days in Portland...but, if Dorian had had his way, we would have gone every day.

Dorian being a vet:

The boys digging:

Arthur in the young ones playland:

Cooking and serving:

The ultimate for Dorian...the stage:

It was "his" stage and he still talks about going to back to it.

The Japanese Garden

After the colorfulness of the Rose Garden, we headed up a wooded path to the Japanese Garden. Beautiful just as the Rose Garden, but a stark contrast--green, wooden bridges, trickling ponds, goldfish and peacefulness.

The Rose Garden

Portland is a beautiful city. I would love to live there, but for now we can just visit. For the first time we visited the Rose Garden, bursts of color in full bloom. It was amazing to see and we had such a gorgeous day to see it.


Dorian's mission was to find the biggest rose:

Arthur explores:

Roses bring out the best:

Three flights and a wedding...

We left Delhi just over ten days ago to go to my brother's wedding in Portland, Oregon. It took three flights of 15 hours, 2.5 hours and 3.5 hours. It's not worth going into the details of that, but all I'll say is that the boys were good travelers and, at the end of it, we were so happy to be on solid ground. Portland was a welcome change with its blue skies, fresh air, green trees, mountain views and rose-lined highways. The weather was beautiful and the wedding gorgeous. We caught up with friends and family we hadn't seen in forever. I got to spend time with my awesome new sister-in-law. And, I got to be Best Man for the first time.

Dorian enjoyed the tree swing:


Arthur watched the cows:


Grand finale on the trampoline:


Seriously, every wedding should end with a jump on a trampoline: