Really the end of our home leave and our crazy trip back to Manila

 For a funny breakfast since it was just me and the boys, I let them have ice cream for breakfast!  They thought it was great

 We got in a last few games with Grammy!

 important final kazoo playing!

 The Gross girls came for a spend the night party at Grammy's

 with a big pancake feast the next morning!

 and some last playing together in the basement!  Loved this thing the boys came up with-the green blanket on the floor is the grass and trees, the table where they built the lincoln log cabin is the mountain!

 Girls play primping!

 We had an all 6 Rummikub game!

 and a hug attack on Grammy!

 Some of the real goings on in the basement!!!

 more shows and dancing!

 This is why I hate to leave!!!!

 We just thought that was saying goodbye to the cousins-We managed to squeeze in one really last picnic run, swimming, paddle boarding, play in the sand evening at Lake Alatoona.  Below are Ashley and Grammy making brownies for the picnic!

When I took these pictures I had no idea that we would be in these clothes for 3 solid days and get to spend an unplanned night in Seattle before getting back to Manila.  Here they are looking fresh faced and ready to travel!

 The boys were SUPER excited about getting to sit in the bulkhead seats with the pull out trays and tv screens!

 We left Atlanta, had  flown across the country, got to see the glaciers of Alaska through the windows this time, and then the captain came on to announce that there was fuel trapped in a wing that could not get to the fuel tanks and without this fuel, we didn't have enough to get to Tokyo.  So we turned back to Seattle and 2 hours later landed there.  They had maintenance facilities there to make the repair that we needed.  We landed in Seattle around 9 I think, kids were already getting tired.  As the nearly 400 people were getting off the plane and they told us to take our blankets and pillows with us, they were getting ready to feed us pizza at the gate for dinner.  Ashley said "it was nice of Delta to give us pizza wasn't it mommy?"  Ryan slept through the pizza eating and we were told that we wouldn't be leaving until the next morning.  Unfortunately for us SeaFair-a huge boat and plane festival was going on and all the hotels I called were full!  Delta had a few rooms but they were going to handicapped and pregnant moms first.  I think it was about 10:30 when one of the agents asked me if we would like one of the hotel rooms.  Ryan and Ashley were both asleep by this point but I said yes anyway.  It took a while to get the voucher and actually get to the hotel but it was REALLY nice to have our own room and a bed to sleep in instead of chairs at the gate with lights on all night.  The hotel had a nice breakfast too and then we headed back to the airport, did some more waiting, and finally got on the plane and made it to Tokyo-no problems this time.  We had to wait a few hours there and eat at their McDonald's, of course, and then flew the 4 more hours to Manila.  Usually because of the time change it takes us 2 days to get from Atlanta but this time it took 3!  Greg met us in the new terminal of the airport and all of our bags arrived with us and we were all SO glad to sleep in our own beds that night!

Below is Ashley asleep in the Seattle airport and that head sticking out from under a red Delta blanket is Ryan-glad they were able to get some rest!

Here is Ashley a night or two later right after dinner, about 6:30 or 45-the jet lag caught up to her!

Visits to the Gregorys and the Gross'

 One day we took a road trip to Chattanooga to visit the Gregory's house!  Above is the crew of 6 at lunchtime.  Below are the 2 biggest Lego lovers that I know!

 They all love the trampoline!

 and the play fort too!

 and they have a terrific climbing tree in the front yard!

 On the way back to Grammy's we stopped at the Gross' to have dinner and leave Ashley for a spend the night party with them.

 quite a fancy dinner with placecards!  I love the new spelling of my name!  Also this is the house where I am famous-there is a doll named after me "baby doll Aunt Susie"

 The girls had their own table!

 Playing, swinging, and dessert-s'mores in the backyard!

 The evening was concluded with a show of dancing and cartwheels!  I am not sure that a summer day could get any better than time with all 6 of the cousins!