to Tokyo to Denver

Ok so this is my new favorite way to get to America.  I mean, this was our shortest, easiest, best, smoothest trip EVER!  It helps that we stopped in our point of entry city, and also our connection was short, and our trans-Pacific leg only 10 hours.  And our youngest is FOUR!  Ha!  After a decade of globe-trotting with the infant-toddler-preschool crowd we've turned a corner.

The last time we flew to the States the kids were 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7.  Oh, and Matt wasn't with me :)

This trip their ages are 4, 5, 7, 8, 10.  Elementary-schoolers rock the airplane, that's all there is to it!

And on the approach to Denver I decided this is where I want to live.  Gorgeous snow-capped peaks at the end of a "short" trans-Pacific flight and I'm sold.

Waiting for us right outside of baggage claim  - my parents!

Don't we look chipper?  The boys each slept a few hours, the girls pulled an all-nighter, college-style. We stayed awake all afternoon, energized by Grandmama & Granddaddy and the hotel pool.

We've now been in Denver almost 30 hours and are headed for bed.  Tomorrow morning we start a road trip to North Dakota (this is the downside of stopping in Denver! ha!) but as our plans for the summer came together the jet-lagging-road-trip was the best option.  We will be back in Colorado in about a week and depart from Denver July 30th.

So excited to see ND family and friends soon, and hopeful that the road trip will be as favorable as the flights!