Day 1 in Texas!

Well, maybe not the first day we have been in Texas (as we arrived yesterday) but today is our first full day here. Oh, and rest assured, I won't be posting a blog of photos for each of the 21 days we're here! ;-)

So yes, we survived the long journey from Scotland to Texas! We took a train to Aberdeen on Tuesday morning - we had a good trip there and very helpful staff on the trains. We stayed overnight in a Travelodge and then got up at 3:30 am on Wednesday (9th), got a taxi at 4:30 am to the airport, which was only a few minutes away. We were glad we got there as early as we did (1.5 hours before our flight) as just before check in we were told Peter needed an "ESTA Visa" to be allowed to fly to USA. We both panicked a bit thinking the idea of a Visa was a long sort of process! The KLM lady told us where internet computers were at the airport and told us to search for the visa online. We did this and after 10 minutes and $14, we got the necessary visa to allow us to board the plane! So we flew from Aberdeen to Amsterdam, and then boarded a plane for Houston at 10 am. As always, the KLM flight attendants were very helpful and friendly (they really are the best for flying with!). We had paid for our 4 seats (and 2 of the children as lap passengers) but due to there being a lot of extra seats on the plane, they gave us 4 extra seats. It was great to have 8 seats for the 6 of us and a wee bed for Deborah, which she loved to be in for the first half of the flight! It was still a bit exhausting to keep the children occupied - and Benjamin didn't even sleep for 60 seconds! But we survived.

Oh, and I won't bore anyone with details of all the panic attacks that Benjamin and Clement had - basically every time they were going on and off of trains and planes - and Clement screaming for the last 20 minutes of the flight into Houston. At the time of it all, I was wondering why I was so crazy to think of going on such a trip. But now that I'm here, I'm nearly forgetting it all, because it was worth it! :-) ... Oh, and I get nearly 3 weeks before I have to go through it all again.

So, a few photos from today:

My sister Sarah (middle of my 3 sisters) with her 2 youngest nieces, Brooklyn on left and Deborah on right


My "baby" brother Gerrit (who is very much not a baby anymore!) building block towers with Benjamin who is making a goofy face


Gerrit and Benjamin again, with Shona (my oldest niece) in the middle


Clement and my niece Shona - C is two weeks older than S


Clement (looking rather tired, having been awake since 5:30 am here) and Shona


my sister Sarah with 3 of her 4 nieces: Abigail, Brooklyn and Deborah


Brooklyn and Deborah relaxing together! Brooklyn is 4 weeks older than Deborah and it's really lovely to see them playing with each other


a lovely smile from Brooklyn

Brooklyn and Deborah again


My 2 younger sisters, Sarah and Anna, with their 4 nieces: Abigail, Brooklyn, Deborah and Shona

So yes, as you can see, we're having a lovely time here. We're staying here with my sister Leah (Shona and Brooklyn's mama) and the children are really enjoying each other's company.