We had a crazy time getting out of England but we made it! We arrived at Heathrow many hours (as Andrew likes to be even earlier than the madatory early time) before our flight as as we checked in they told us we would miss our flight as it was leaving in 25min. Apparently Air Canada sold us a ticket for a flight that leaves at a different time in the winter than the summer and they gave us the summer time as we bought the ticket in April. So, we got the last 5 tickets on the next flight to Canada (Montreal instead our direct flight home). We weren't sitting together but the excellent flight crew managed to move people around so that everyone was happier (a lot of people had been re-booked to this flight due to missing a connection and were not sitting together). We tried to phone home to let them know of the change but were only successful in making the matter muddier so Karen, Hannah and Dad ended up spending hours at the airport waiting for us. (sorry again) We arrived in Montreal and had to get our bags to go through customs. Well, we have never waited so long for our luggage to come (almost an hour) including the baggage carosel breaking down 3 times and them bringing out a drug sniffing dog! At this point we only had 25min to make it through check in, security and RUN to our gate (all the while it is 3am for our us in European time). As we got through security we heard the final call announcment for our plane. We RAN (for the second time that day-Heathow is very big!)and were almost the last ones to make on to our flight. The woman I say beside had been on our flight and had just left her luggage and got on the plane hoping Air Canada will get her luggage to her rather than miss the plane. Needless to say we were very happy to land in Ottawa at 8pm. (only 1/2 hour after we were originally to land) We were even happier when we hear later that after we left Heathrow had to close for four days due to fog! We are so thankful that we made it home in time to spend Christmas with our families. So we have been staying with Andrew's brother Rick and his wife Ange who have been very generous to open their home to the 5 of us. Morgan enjoyed having a sleep over for his birthday. The girls went to school to see their school Christmas concert and to see their friends. They have all enjoyed seeing our family and having time with their friends. We will be leaving Ottawa on the morning of January 4th to fly to Orlando and then on to Panama City to spend a week with Andrew's parents. On the 16th we fly out of Miami to Quito, Ecuador. We are hoping to spend our first week there in a homestay/spanish class program. We hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you nothing but the happiest and safest of New Years. Julia
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