Christmas in Miami Week One

Against all odds (and against negative travel advice), we made it home for Christmas and were beyond grateful. After Pete's COVID ordeal, we needed the mental break more than anything. We had flights booked from last summer to go to Miami from December 14-31st. Pete and the kids would need to return in time for a 10 day quarantine before going to school on the January 5th so we knew we had to move up our return date. The idea of having only 2 weeks home with all of the coordination involved had me bumming. So I moved up the flights for the kids and I to December 6th and took them out of school a week early. This would give us our first week to recover from jet lag, isolate, and get COVID tested before Pete arrived. Of course, I wasn't thrilled about the prospects of solo travel with the kids, especially when our direct flight was cancelled and we had to connect through Atlanta. It was a long day, but these kids were so easy and our overseas flight was only about 1/4 full so we had a lot of room to spread out. 

These kids hadn't been on American soil for 2 years!! A lifetime for 4 and 6 year olds. 

There had been so many days during the past year of worry for our parents and fears that we may not physically be able to return to the US. So my expectations for our reunion were extremely high and as tends to happen, led to disaapointment. There wasn't the joyous moment of running towards each other through an airport; hugging and celebrating this damn thing being over. There was a masked-up curbside pick up with quick hugs from the kids, a drive home with the windows down, and 5 days primarly confined to the cottage and my parent's backyard. That, on top of dealing with jetlag solo (hello 3:30am wake-ups) and the general fear that we'd picked something up on our flights, had me feeling out of sorts and low those first few days. I was able to connect virtually with a lot of US friends that week though, which helped lift my spirits. 

This trip was only possible thanks to the set-up my parents have with a self-catering studio apartment in their backyard. We knew we'd have a place to stay safely isolated until we were able to get tested. And a heated pool and warm weather to pass the time together outdoors while we waited. 

Our isolation paradise:

This one was quite the fish (with floaties) this trip! 

Neighborhood walks in search of coconuts

If the coconut milk is brown, don't drink it! 

Nana stockpiled craft supplies in our guest house and we did a lot of crafting in the early morning hours. Here are some ornaments being made. And when they weren't crafting, they were on their ipads because with jetlag, anything goes! 

Jude made friends with this little frog and many lizards! 

There was a lot of stockpiling on this trip since we hadn't had our usual suppliers to bring things over to us. There were also a lot of foods we had been missing. Jude in particular was excited that we'd be able to get more fake syrup. Pops created a taste test to see if we could get away with store brand ;) ... nope! 

The kids loved exploring the exciting flora and fauna. 

Flower girl

The lizard whisperer

Mid week, the temperature dropped to highs of 60 and lows of 40, limiting our activities. 

Nana's night time stories moved outside

Smores bundled up

Mani/pedi time

Chex mix making tradition

On day 4, Pops drove the kids and I to a Miami-Dade Covid testing drive through site. The testing was free, we could make an appointment online the day before and we were in and out in 10 minutes. The US-health care critic in me was very impressed. The testing was a self-administered oral swab with a long q-tip, a blessing for the kids. Friday late afternoon, the emails came through with our negative test results. We yelped in joy and I sent the kids running into my parents house to share the good news. The holidays could now begin! The kids moved into the guest room in the main house and I enjoyed the cottage to myself (and morning sleep-ins).

We didn't get a Christmas tree in Amstelveen so we were all excited to decorate Nana and Pop's. 

And bake cookies, start on Christmas puzzles and watch Christmas movies together. 

The joy continued the next day when Pete arrived at dinner time. He showered and changed clothes upon arrival and then we treated him like he was immune until his testing later that week. We worried that he may still test positive since it had only been 4 weeks since he'd been diagnosed, but his result was negative. The temps had also risen so we had our first socially distanced outing to Matheson Hammock Park.