It’s officially the last day of our 125 day European road trip.

//Stefan note: goodbye my espace, you took care of us.

We wake at 5:30, finish loading everything in the car and wake the kids around 6:20. We carry them directly to the car and buckle them in with their pajamas still on. Even though they wake up and don’t go back to sleep, they’re able to wake slowly and relaxed as we ride for an hour and a half to the Copenhagen airport.

//Stefan note: please o please take all the bags?1!?

Stefan’s dad helps us check-in, with 11 bags and a dog. Considering the circumstances, it’s actually calm and easy. The kids and I get muffins from Starbucks because we are starving. SAS has an amazing fast track security line that is almost empty. It too is easy and calm. So far this is the simplest travel day we’ve had with the kids.

We go to the SAS lounge for only 30 minutes. Long enough for the kids to hit up the breakfast buffet and for me to grab some magazines. The kids are way too excited to be on the airplane. Oly even asks if we are now on a giant airplane.

We board our plane. Luckily we are in SAS Plus which is amazing. I highly recommend shelling out the extra money for it. It’s not business class, but it makes a huge difference. Oly sits next to Stefan, and Lillian and I sit behind them. The kids are so excited. They immediately check out the movies and games available. And that’s pretty much how it remains the entire flight. We each watch our movies and enjoy good swedish snacks. It’s easy. Unbelievably good. We are fortunate. This is an amazing time with the kids these ages.

We land in New York around noon. As we go through customs, I have a strange feeling of being home. Of all the countries we’ve visited, this one is ours. I didn’t expect to feel this way.  

After collecting our bags, we get into an Uber and head to my parents’ apartment on the Upper East Side.

My mom greets us downstairs. Thank goodness for her wonderful doormen, who help unload the bags from the car and take them up to the apartment.

We immediately begin unpacking our 11 bags. My mom wonderfully prepared the closets for us so we are able to put all the clothes away. And there’s a bookshelf waiting for the kids’ books and toys. We get all but one bag put away! Amazing. The kids are completely engrossed in playtime with the few toys my mom had already. The novelty is so fun for them.

//stefan note: my new hat

We’re all going to fall asleep soon, so we head out for some dinner around 5. Mexican food! My margarita is a fantastic welcome to New York. Yum. The food is good too, but I’m almost too tired to fully taste it. The kids start going crazy. Lillian gets manic and Oly just cries. Jet-lagged kids are the saddest. We keep them awake until we’re home at 7pm. Perfect.

//Stefan note: while ordering a 15 dollar margarita, i remember yelling in stockholm about how expensive a 140 SEK margarita is.

Stefan falls asleep shortly after on the couch, but my mom and I talk until 10. She’s the best at keeping me awake. I’ve missed her, and I feel we could continue talking for hours longer. But I’m probably delirious, so it’s time for bed.  
Stefan and I are sleeping in my mom’s bed while my mom sleeps on the couch. She’s so sweet. And the kids are each on a pallet between an edge of the bed and a wall. It’s cozy. Welcome to New York.