This past week has been a whirlwind of travel, milestones, and reunions—with different branches of our family heading off in different directions for a bit before coming back together with new stories to share.
First up, Michael and Henry set out on a detour beginning in Istanbul to pick up Henry’s long-awaited Invisalign trays. After a delay while some of Henry’s baby teeth made their exit, he’s officially started his orthodontic treatment! He handled the whole process like a pro, and we’re excited to see how it turns out.
From Istanbul, they flew to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, checking another country off their travel map. There, they met up with our friends, the DePalmas and the Carlsons. Michael and Henry enjoyed exploring Sarajevo’s rich, multicultural history—wandering through the cobbled streets of Baščaršija, sipping Bosnian coffee, soaking in the unique atmosphere of this storied city, and learning about the recent war. Meanwhile, Henry had a blast hanging out with his friend Leo.
They had an Invisalign issue while they were in Bosnia. While they were at an aquatic center with friends, two of Henry’s brackets came off that hold his trays in and connect his rubber bands. It was a scramble, but Michael was able to find an orthodontist the next morning who fixed the issue. Running into problems and emergencies is inevitable, no matter where you live, but with a little creativity and work, you can usually solve the issue.
While they were off exploring, Lucas and I had an adventure! We took a two-day road trip from Bran to Zlatibor with our amazing travel family. We hired a private van to take us from the mountains of Romania across the border into Vršac, Serbia, where we spent the night. The border crossing was a breeze—just 20 minutes, and we didn’t have to leave the van!
The next morning, a second van picked us up and brought us the rest of the way to Zlatibor, our new home for the next stretch. In total, the drive took about 10 hours, but with good friends, scenic views, and lots of road trip snacks, the time flew by. Road trips are always better with friends.
Now reunited in Zlatibor, we’re all catching our breath and getting excited about what this beautiful mountain town has in store for us.
Onward!
