Mommy To Bees

Japan blog

I've decided to start a second blog. It specifically is for journaling my life here in Japan.

Kris

http://mommytobees.typepad.com/yankee/

Jet lag

Anyone have a cure?

We've been waking up very very very early!!

Today I was up at 3 am and could NOT go back to sleep!!

Lori was up at 4:30 am.

I think we'll have a nap, but early.

Kris

Journey: next step

So, back to our journey.

We took off at 12:30 pm and were in the air for 9 hours and 45 minutes.

All in all the trip wasn't too bad. It wasn't pleasant by any means, but it wasn't bad.

We landed at Yokota AFB at 2:45 pm on Friday.

Both kids were asleep, which was rather amusing. They woke to the force of the plane landing. Immediately, Lori opened the window and Ky said, "It looks just like Washington."

It took about 20 minutes to get off the plane and we all had a FIRST!

We had to walk down steps out of the plane!!

From the plane we went into the AFB terminal. It took about 15 minutes, but we cleared Customs and found our luggage. It turned out that the kids and I were the only GW dependents on that flight. Go figure!! We hopped on a bus and took the 2 hour trip to Yokosuka. We arrived at 5:30 pm.

By this point the kids and I were POOPED. Ky fell asleep on the bus and had a very hard time waking up. He finally did and we met our sponsor. We were assigned to a wonderful woman, Isabele. She was great!! While we headed to the Navy Lodge, she went and picked up McD's for the kids.

After we ate, Isabele drove us to the Commissary and then drove us the 25-30 minute trip to Ikego base to see our new home!!

We finally arrived back at the Navy Lodge about 8:30 pm and were in bed by 9:30 pm.

Kris

We came all the way to Japan for....

On Thursday/Friday we flew 4792 miles or 7712 km.....to be able to.....

Pictures say a 1000 words....

Eat at:

or at...

Because there aren't enough of these in the US:

Every boy needs a pill bug to play with.

And, of course we need to have a:

and a:

And the best for last:

Kris, who is thinking of getting pictures of the Wendy's just off base

Every journey begins with a single step...

As I am sure many of you can guess, traveling with the military can be an adventure.

Well. That is an understatement.

The kids left Bangor the last week of May.

I left on June 1.

We spent about 6 weeks in Albuquerque NM with my in-laws. It was fun.

On July 8 we flew out of ABQ and went back to SeaTac. The plan was to spend Tuesday night at a hotel just off the airport and then leave on Wednesday morning. But, when we first went to the USO there at the airport. Thank heavens we did!

Come to find out that the chartered AMC (military) flight (on a civilian airplane) was delayed 24 hours

GRRRRRR.

I was, thankfully able to change my reservation at the Clarion for 2 nights, so our beds for the delay was set. BUT, that still left us with all of the plans and arrangements. So, after finally getting in touch with my sponsor (wonderful wonderful lady) my household goods delivery was rescheduled.

We are now set to receive HHG on July 15 and 18. Though we don't know which is coming first, Express Baggage or the bulk of the HHG's.

The kids and I hung out for the rest of Tuesday. Wednesday was a "fun" day. It started early, I was up at 4 and had the kids up at 4:45 am. We lugged all of our luggage to the airport. Three large suitcases, two small bags, 3 carry-on's, my purse, both kids, and myself.

When the kids and I got to the airport we quickly found the airmen and our line. The airmen insisted that we need not head straight to the line, but go and hang out at the USO until 7:30 am. Uhhh, ya. The line was already about 25 family groups deep. It was NOT going to get any shorter. So, we headed to the line at 5:15 am.

At 7:30 am they started the check-in process. We reached the counter at 8 and were out of the airport 15 minutes later. On a good note, we left with only the 3 carry-on's and one of the small bags. We were able to check the other 4 bags.

We headed back to the Clarion and got breakfast. After breakfast we all napped. After nap I took the kids swimming at the hotel pool and we had dinner.

Thursday morning was rather like Wednesday morning. We were out of the hotel by 4:30 and arrived at the and our line at 4:45 am. Thankfully, the airmen didn't wait until 7:30 to start checking people in. By 8 am we had our boarding passes, cleared TSA security, and arrived at our gate.

The plane took its time getting everyone and everything on board. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 10:50 am, but we didn't leave the ground until 12:30 pm.

The flight took 9 hours and 45 minutes and was LONG.

Kris, who will be back later today or tomorrow for the next step

I am slowly going crazy......

AHHHHHHHHHHH

I get to the USO today with 3 large suitcases, 2 bags, 3 carry-ons, 1 purse, 2 kids, and myself to talk to this lovely gentleman who says:

"You on that AMC flight for tomorrow?"

Ah, yaaaa....

"Well, you aren't leaving until Thursday.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

That means I can't get there in time for my household goods delivery.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Kris

Note to self:

Next time we move, remind children of household policy:

NO GROWING DURING THE MOVE.

My dear online-friend said this a few months ago and it applies here:

When you decide to curse your children with the threat: "I curse you with children just like you." Do NOT give that curse to your son.

"...because then when your most challenging son marries a sweet compliant girl, guess who gets stuck with the brunt of raising those boys just like their dad?????"""

Kris, who's son is just like her

We have a home!!! And, pictures!!

The kids and I leave in 10 days and...

We have an address and generic pictures of what our home will look like!!!

We will be living in a tower on Ikego Hills. Iso tower #41.

Hallway to the unit:

Kitchen:

View from the kitchen:

Livingroom:

Diningroom and patio:

Diningroom and lovingroom from the patio:

Bathroom:

Master bedroom:

Those "cabinets" are the closets!!

Kid's bedroom (there are two):

Here are a few sites which have interesting information on where we're headed!!!

Ikego-depot ( arial pictures of the housing towers)

Zushi is the city where the housing is located: Zushi City

Yokosuka City

Kris

Itchy, itchy, Itchy Mommy

OOps!!!

I'm still allergic to airborne red peppers simmering on a pot!!

No pictures, I figure you don't really need to see me covered in hives.... since I took Benadryl before they left my chest. But, a few blisters, hives, and REALLY annoying itchy skin reminds me:

I am STILL allergic to peppers.

Kris

June 21, 2008

Lori napping on June 20 after a morning of swimming:

June 21, 2008
First thing this morning:

Ky listening to his Ipod.

Lori dressed up.