The journey home!

 Zeland watching the big game!

 Coffee Ceremony & Football

 Chilling at the airport waiting for our flight

The journey home was less exciting than our journey to Ethiopia however it was just as long. It could be that traveling for 30 hours with an 8 month old is the equivalent of running a marathon, with an 8 month old. We arrived at the airport and all of the systems were down so they had to process everyone’s tickets manually. Needless to say that took hours so yet again we were delayed. At this point we were not very concerned about missing our connecting flight from Frankfurt to Boston since we were going to have a seven-hour layover anyway. Once on the flight we were given bulkhead seats with a bassinette, which was really nice for Z and legroom for me!  Zeland did very well on the first flight. He slept for five of the roughly seven hours and did not cry once. We arrived at Frankfurt airport at 5:30 am so needless to say there was not much to do. We stopped at a cafe for coffee and then tried to find a quiet place for Zeland to nap, actually for Mommy to nap. Although it was only 5:30 the airport was packed and buzzing with excitement. After realizing that neither Zeland or mommy were going to get a nap we paced up and down the terminal until it was time for our flight, which once again was delayed.  Once we boarded the plane Zeland began to cry. At this point we knew it was going to be a long flight. Eight hours and 3 Warstiners later we were in Boston. After landing we preceded to immigration. Once Zeland's passport is stamped he is officially a citizen, not that easy! We were escorted from immigration to a holding room for suspected terrorists (and as it appears adopting parents and their children). After waiting our turn in a hostile crowd with an even more hostile staff it was official, Zeland is now a citizen! Now for the car ride home. We were very apprehensive about the drive home and Zeland's reaction to being in a car seat for the first time. Fortunately for us the kid was completely exhausted. Tanya put him in his seat, he looked around and he was out in a matter of minutes. He slept the whole ride home. I was pretty jealous because at this point Tanya and I were completely exhausted as well. However the excitement of seeing Lily’s face when she finally got to meet her little brother was enough to get us home, in record time I must add!

More to follow!

The O'Briens