Well, we made it!

Finally, after 23 hours and 59 minutes of traveling with our one and three year olds...a 2 hr car ride, 15 hr plane ride, 3 hour customs debacle, 8 minute bus ride, 1 hour flight...and lots and lots of waiting in between, we were greeted by 16 loving, open arms as we arrived in Tamworth.  

The trip itself may require a bit of therapy to get over; I don't think I am ready, or maybe will never be ready to talk about it in detail.  I think the best way is to just throw out some words that kind of sum it all up:

anticipation.
bulk. (4 50 pound bags, 3 70 pound bags, 1 set of golf clubs, 2 car seats, one stroller, two backpacks, one diaper bag, a nikon camera bag, a purse. oh yeah and two kids)
tears. (goodbyes are hard)
dramamine. (apparently we got the placebo)
tears. (tired)
snot.
vomit.
benodiazepines. (for the parents)
tears. (frustrated)
blood. (mine)
urine soaked pajamas. (not mine.)
borrowed children's benadryl. (offered to us with a pleading look in her eye)
excitement.
long lines.
tandem tantrums. (a bad enough scene in the Sydney airport as we the two of us collected aforementioned bulk as tandem tantrums erupt, that we acquire an escort, and guy directing traffic for us,  and special back door circumventing the final leg of customs.  Australians are SO kind.)
police dog. (Beagle)
HUMIDITY.
sweat.
blood shot eyes.
tears. (relieved)
tears. (happy)
smiles.
smiles.
smiles.
relief.

After settling in with the family, we eventually ventured outside, where the kids ran naked through the sprinklers, and the adults enjoyed a much needed and hard earned cocktail.  Overhead, a king parrot and flock of lorakeets swirled and sang.  Anthony and I looked at each other and silently agreed that despite the nightmare of a trip, we did the right thing.  

Tamworth on descent

finally asleep

All the cousins together for the first time! Played like they'd known each other for years :)