leaving on a jet plane... heading home...

On the way to PHX airport

Hi ho... hi ho... to Israel we go... July 13, Friday AM

On the way to PHX to PHL Flight (almost 5 hours)

By now the boys are experts in commercial flights... I've lost count on how many times each of them have flown... which is interesting since my first ever flight was not until I was 13... lucky kids indeed... 

goodies from a friend

We had two hours of layover at Philly. We ate some  yummy home made goodies from a friend and had lunch/dinner at Chickie's and Pete's. We ate Philly cheesesteaks of course and their famous crabfries. 

goodbye USA

And then it was time to go... here's the last pic taken before boarding our flight to TLV

PHL to TLV flight nearly 10 hours!

Time to get comfy boys... we will be in this plane for 10 straight hours... dun..dun..dun...

The plane ride is as comfortable as you expected. We all tried to sleep. "Tried" being the key word. There's an inverse relationship between your age and the amount of sleep acquired in a flight seated in economy. Case in point, Caden probably slept for 5.5 hours, Gavin 5 hours and me a measly 2 hours and Jason probably an hour and a half. Of course this does not apply to first class. Fortunately there were movies available to entertain us. 

After many thoughts of:

"are we there yet?", 

"what it's only been ten minutes since I checked my watch!",

 "close your eyes and sleep", 

"if I can just slightly move my arm to get more comfortable not to wake up Caden. Ugh, that didn't work. He's awake and I'm less comfortable",

and

"what we're not even halfway there",

"stop thinking and just close your eyes",

"am I going make it?"

"ahhh!!! I am going to die.."

Ok so I exaggerated toward the end but that was a very long flight. But alas! the plane landed (insert imaginary clapping sounds here). 

 Time to disembark.

Pick up luggage.

Haul luggage.

Stand in line.

 Go thru passport. Denied.

 "you must follow her".

Followed personnel.

Waited for a few minutes.

Phew, visa checked and extended.

Walked thru customs. Nothing to declare. 

Look for guy with McDaniel sign.

Found him.

Hi. Hello.

Load luggage.

6 check ins, 2 carry ons, 3 backpacks, 1 purse

We're on the move.

40 minutes drive to apartment from airport.

Lots to see. 

Fast forward.

In Apartment.

  After almost 21 hours of travel time, we made it to our new apartment.

Big inhale! How surreal! We are now physically on the other side of the world, in a different country, different language and different culture and yet this is the place that we'll be calling HOME.

Home sweet home.

We made it! the only pic we had on the day of our arrival.