Banana Boat Song

"Day-oh, Day-oh
Daylight come and I wanna go home!
Day-oh, Day-oh
Daylight come and I wanna go home!"
- Harry Belafonte

Bags are packed. House is clean. Taxi is reserved. The weather is in our favor, hopefully no delays. We are coming home! We now just have to survive 16 hours of travel time with the boys.

Upon our arrival into Texas, Grandma will anxiously be waiting for us at the airport. Our schedule is full during our stay as we try to see all of our friends and family, visit our favorite attractions, take a road trip to Oklahoma, eat at our most missed restaurants, get a "good" haircut, enjoy some sunshine, take advantage of our free babysitters, go to a real grocery store, and meet the newest member of our family, my niece and Godchild.

We are departing Helsinki on the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice. To imagine just 6 months ago we experienced 23 hours of daylight and now the sun rises at 0930 and sets at 1510. After tomorrow the days will slowly increase in length, reaching 23 hours once again in mid-June.

When we return back to Finland winter should be in full force. Temperatures around -20 Celsius, snow on the ground, and more daylight will welcome us. Safe travels to everyone this holiday season!