Just a quick entry to let everyone know that we are home safe and sound!! We are glad to be here, and were thrilled to see a few friends and family yesterday afternoon, but we're already missing our US friends and family like crazy. Saying goodbye never gets any easier.

Maureen and Ali did wonders with our home, so coming home wasn't nearly as traumatic as I had imagined- we truly cannot tell them how much we appreciate all that they have done for us, particularly in this regard- from dealing with the police to making our home feel like home again, we cannot thank them enough. James had said to me that we have to come home and get on with our lives now and I know we have to, and I know that we'll be able to since we have such amazing friends and family who show us daily how much they care about us and support us!! Thanks guys, we love you!! It's definitely difficult being in our house (kind of creepy really) knowing what happened while we were absent but we'll get there :-)

Anyway.... James and I are both off until Wendesday and we have a lot to do in the next couple of days with unpacking and filling out insurance claims and police reports etc... but in amongst that somewhere I am feeling the urgent need to get my nails done :-)

I have been meaning to post a few pics of our time away, so here they are. I'll add more as time goes on but here are some for now:

Fred and I outside on the back deck the day after we arrived

James' dad Jim, James and his Grandma Hofmann at "the Hofmann Christmas dinner" at Bowman's

James and I on Christmas Day at Apple and Pop's

Apple and Pop on Christmas Day

James and his cousin Rob on Christmas Day

James and his brother Ben in Fells Point, Downtown Baltimore

Rob and Maria at their wedding reception, New Year's Eve

James and I with the horse who took us for a carriage ride around Central Park, New York City

Pop, James and Steven on Pop's 80th birthday, celebrated at Aunt Donna and Uncle Mark's house

James' mum Debbie and his step-dad Mike at Pop's birthday party