Vacation adventures

Catalina started packing for our Romania trip way before mommy and daddy did. She has her cute ladybug suitcase, that we really hoped she'll just leave home. Let's say that when handling 3 big suitcases, backpacks and purses, one does does not want another suitcase that does not hold much. This was however not an option. Catalina was very adamant about having her own suitcase. Worse even, she insisted on carrying it everywhere by herself.

But she did have the sweetest smile on her face and so many more from people watching her riding the cute ladybug.

At the end of a tiring trip, we all got to mommy's mom adn dad, or bunica Milica and bunicu Gelu as Catalina calls them. And bunica was in full preparation for Christmas. Catalina loved helping and "learning" new romanian recipes.

And then the holidays came. What a delight! Good food, family and joy all around. Santa himself paid a visit and brought Catalina the long desired pet shop.

Hm...aren't we all pretty? I certainly think so :)

This is the cake bunica and bunicu got for Catalina for Christmas!!

 Mommy got to spend some time with her cousins, and it was so refreshing! Such such a nice get together!

 And look who's dancing their shoes off!!!

 It's a family tradition on mommy's side of the family to visit grand grand ma first day after Christmas. So we all packed ourselves and left for the country side. On the way to grand grandma, we visited aunt Lenuta and mommy's cousin Ionut brought Catalina entertainment for a whole weekend. Just look at this cute bunny! Catalina pet him, had an apple eating contest with him and watched him quite entranced!

 And we got then to mommy's island of peace and love. Grand grand ma was there, waiting lovingly for us. The encounter was bitter sweet. There is so much joy in my heart every time I see her and hold her. It was though so sad to see her so weak, barely walking, and crying much more than usually. But her hugs, her house, that backyard always recharge me. It's magical.

 My mom, the perfect daughter, the perfect mom, the doctor of all hearts.

And off we left and continued with some more good food, loving family and partying

 Mommy's small, humble town

And this is how Christmas flew away. And off we went for the second part of our trip, to daddy's mom and dad, or bunica Mariana and bunicu Nicu as Catalina calls them. We were all ready for New Year celebrations!

 Happy New Year, my darling!

 Eating cake....much yummier than what it looks from Catalina's face :))

New Year's day we went out for a little fun.

  And we stopped at a play yard. We had to face some of our old demons. Catalina did not mingle easily with the other kids. It took quite a bit of convincing on mommy's part, but in the end we had a happy little girl ready to jump and slide.

  Much easier, the second time around when dear friends joined her. It's a contest! Who gets to the bottom first??!!

 Lovin' time! :)

  And who's tongue is longer?

Mommy and daddy went looking for this hat all over the town. But who's the cutest girl in town now? Huh??? :)

 Holidays were short. Time flew by. It was time to pack once again to come to our new home. And look who found bunica's hat and is cute as a button? :)

 Saying bye bye to bunica Milica and bunicu Gelu. Not long, and we see them again!

Yeah...we have a long trip ahead of us.

Mid way across Atlantic...and we are back home.

Trips back to Romania are like a dream. We are transported to a different world. The world of our childhoods, of our parents and grandparents. We remember all this like it was yesterday and we hope to find it the same every time we go. It just that it is not yesterday that we were children, it is not yesterday that we left. Things change, we change, so we are left with dreaming of our young times, when ice cream was the best thing that happened and a bad grade was the worst.

Back to reality, where we are mommy and daddy on our own. And this, still feels like a dream to me :)