Every one keeps asking me if I am excited about the move since our departure date is so close. Honestly, I think I am in a serious state of denial about it. Hard to believe since we literally have only the clothes on our backs (and some in suitcases of course), borrowed TV, linens and toys left in our house. The movers came on Wed and took everything else. Some how though, the actual move to CA still seems so far away.

I think I am feeling this way because the knowledge we were moving to CA has been in my head for so long. We have known for about 11 months we were headed to Monterey, and nearly 2 months ago the packers took the majority of our worldly belongings. We have been in this odd state of limbo for so long that it is hard to shake. I have a feeling that the true excitement wont kick in until I get off the plane in SFO and know that we all (dogs too) made it back to "the homeland" safe and sound!

So much has been going on the past couple of weeks to keep our hands working and our minds busy. Alan's replacement for his job showed up (WOO HOO) and we did what we could to get them settled into their new life. Leah's preschool held a big fund raiser last week which took alot of my time and attention. Add to that, we were told this week that Hannah needs to have surgery when we arrive in CA, and that threw us for a loop. It isn't any thing major, she just needs tubes in her ears and possibly her adenoids taken out. Still, it was another thing to worry, think and plan about.


They came to get our express shipment on the 30th, and I had stuff to take care of this week with the dogs and getting all their paperwork ready to fly. By the end of the week, Alan took off to Kyoto for a last minute trip to the one place in Japan he really wanted to go. Lucky bastard gets a few days of peace and quiet in one of the most beautiful places on earth. LOL...and no I am actually not upset that he went, I am the one that pushed him out the door. Lord knows he has been threw enough the past 2 1/2 years, he deserves a break. Plus I need him refreshed and ready for the flight on Thursday!! Also, I figure I can hold this trip over his head in order to get the car I want when we get stateside!!

The plans for the move itself have gone amazingly smoothly since my last blog break down. We were able to set up everything with the Personal Property office, the movers, housing and so forth, all with in a couple days. We even managed to get the NAVPTO office to book us upgradeable seats for our flight. We traded in our air miles so that we have 2 seats (Alan and Leah) in business class for the flight back (Hannah and I are wait listed, so keep your fingers crossed for us). We lined up someone to buy our car and we are even able to keep it till the last minute here. We got London on some doggie prozac and he is doing great with his crate. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop because really the move itself is going much better than I had expected it, compared to how it first started out. Heck, we even have 2 houses lined up to look out in CA that are ok with us having the big old scary dogs!!

The girls are excited about the upcoming trip...ok really Leah is excited, Hannah is clueless. Leah keeps asking us if today is the day she gets to go on the plane and see Grandpa. She also has decided that she needs a bike once we get there. Guess Grandpa better be taking her shopping!

I think part of my excitement in squashed by a bit of sadness over leaving the home we have created here. The past 30 months have not been easy, our family as a whole has been through alot, but this is our HOME. We have good friends here, the girls are healthy and happy and for every bad event that occurred here, there is a happy memory to combat it. Some of the friends I have made here have become like family to us. Leah is still having a hard time grasping that Shay and Camden wont always live next door to us.

We are filling the next few days with final preparations for the flight and hopefully spending time with the people that have come to mean so much to us, and that have really helped us not only survive Yokosuka, but encouraged us to thrive here.

To all of you, thank you for your love and support. We will miss you. Know that our home is always open to you, no matter where it may be!

I will post to let you all know that we arrived in CA in one piece. Wish us luck! See you all in CA.

Why do we pack out so early you ask? Well, it takes about 2 months for our stuff to get to California. The NAVY base here will give us loaner furniture to use until our departure date. The living room items are seriously bad office furniture, but it works. We have a sofa to sit on, a table to eat at, and beds to sleep on, so I am NOT complaining. By packing out when we did, our household goods shipment should arrive in CA about the same time we do. We are able to keep toys, a small TV, some kitchen essentials, linens, and our computer until the end of the month. At that point we do what is called an Express Shipment, and that stuff takes about a month to reach us. All in all, not too bad.



Another milestone that day, Hannah moved to a big girl bed!! Both my little girls slept in twin beds that night. Neither have looked back since. Hannah LOVES her new bed and the princess sheets that came with it. Granted it only took her about a week to figure out she can get out of this bed all by herself! Still, she has stayed in bed all night with no fights (knock on wood)...lets pray that continues.



The family member having issues...yup, you guessed it...our boy London. Once again being too smart for his own good is biting him in the ass. Between that and just the general nerves in the house lately, it all got to London. So bad that while he was crated, Lou took to trying to dig his way out of a brand new crate. He managed to cut up his gums and paws and put a nice hole in the kennel. After the 2nd time of him trying to play Houdini, we ended up at the vet and left with a prescription for Doggie Anxiety meds. Sad to admit, but true. They seem to be taking the edge off, but honestly I don't like him on them. He has lost his high energy spark (the thing that London and Hannah have in common). I plan on keeping him on the meds till we arrive in CA, then throwing the bottle away. Luckily the meds are helping with the crate issue, he is no longer trying to dig his was out of Alcatraz and now goes into his crate on his own to escape the girls!



The girls and I took a break from moving stress and joined some friends in an Easter Egg Hunt last Sunday. It was great fun to watch. I laughed so hard watching Leah and Hannah and how differently they approach life.



Leah had previously seen the eggs I bought for the hunt. I explained that I was giving these eggs to the Easter Bunny and so were all of her friends Mommies. Then the bunny would hide the eggs for all the kids to find. To Leah this translated to the idea that she could ONLY find the eggs I gave the bunny. I didn't know this though, so I was baffled as to why she started to get frustrated and began crying at the hunt. Leah was upset because she didn't see the eggs I made, she was only finding everyone elses. Poor Leah...she is so good, that she didn't want to take eggs that weren't hers, she thought that would be stealing from the other kids!! What a sweet kid. It took a minute to explain that the eggs were for everyone and that she could take whatever eggs she came across. After she found one of "her" eggs, she was all good, then went about gathering as many as she could find.



Now Hannah on the other hand, she went to town as soon as she realized there was candy inside. That amazing find came after the first eggs she picked up and popped open. I think Hannah spent as much time eating candy that day as she did gathering eggs. She also didn't waste anytime, and would often double fist her candy and eggs! I love this kids zest for life!!



Back to the moving front...



We had our pre-move out inspection already. The housing office came thru to check out how much damage we have inflicted on this unit in 2 1/2 years. Surprisingly all went well. With that done, we scheduled our final check out for May 6th.



I also made our reservations at the Navy Lodge for after we check out of housing. We are spending the last few nights in the lodge and the dogs will stay with friends. I don't have much longer to scrub these damn white tile floors. WOO HOO



The Navy was actually nice enough to finally pay for our airline tickets. There is no turning back now. We were able to upgrade 2 of the tickets to business class (the other 2 are wait listed). At the very least, Leah and Alan will be treated like royalty while Hannah and I are walking the isles in economy! This is a good thing though. With Alan and his back, having the room to stretch out will make all the difference in the world. He had just better be bringing me all of Leah's free alcohol for the flight.



That being said, there is a chance our day of departure may change. I will fill you all in on that more when I am able.

Along with that suspense, I am asking for some prayers and healthy vibes from all of you please. Some other major things have been happening and we need all the support we can get...no matter how far away.

We are counting the days till our time with 7th Fleet is over. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, now we just need our sanity to last that long!

May 8th 2008. Mean anything to anyone? To my family and friends it better. It is the day I turn 32 (gulp). It is also the day that the NAVY decided would be fitting to send this California Girl back home!


I swear I didn't plan this (although I would have if I could have). But the NAVPTO office picked that day all on their own, what are the chances?


What is really funny? My b-day will last 2 days this year. How freaky is that? Hope it doesn't mean I will age twice as fast?!!? We are due to leave Tokyo Japan at 4:50pm local time on the 8th. With the 9 hour flight and the time difference, we actually land in California at 9:15am on the 8th. Yes, we go BACK IN TIME! I love that!!!


All this good news does come with a price. And the reason why I went MIA the past week.


Meet our problem child...London.





Our 5 year old, 85 pound - freakishly long - German Shepherd mix - four legged child. London is a great dog. He deals with us and puts up with the girls. He is WAY to smart for his own good (can unlock and open our sliding glass door and windows...seriously NOT kidding). The bad thing...he really is FREAKISHLY long. This normally isn't a problem except when it comes to the size of his crate. He needs the Giant size Vari kennel, the one made for Great Danes. This is the size kennel he was crate trained in when we adopted him and the size kennel he traveled to Japan in.





Well, thanks to some screwed up policy at United Airlines, London can not travel back to the states in the manner to which he has become accustom. Ok, not true, he can travel back in the Giant kennel but to the tune of $3,500. Um yeah NO!


Don't get me wrong, I love my dog but I love my marriage more. Spending $3,500 on a dog would end it. I did it once, spending that on Bubba's knees and that I snuck in under Alan's radar until he couldn't say no! I know not to do it again. Honestly though, that is money we just don't have. With the major expense of the move itself, having to spend nearly 4k we weren't prepared for just is not in the cards (not even the credit cards).

I will admit between that and some other family issues surrounding our arrival in California, I was in a bit of a funk the past week. Then I guess in my old age I am growing up. I realized that not everything works out the way we want and some people will continue to disappoint us no matter how much we wish it different.

After wallowing in my sorrows for a bit, I took page out of London's book and adapted for the sake of my family. I put the focus back on the positive. Back on the fact that my birthday will last 2 days, that I can actually enjoy a yummy Carne Asada Burrito in my favorite place on earth with my amazing husband, my adorable kids and 2 goofy dogs!!

I did make 1 additional birthday request to Alan. For my 32nd birthday I asked for 2 hours in Barnes and Nobles (or Borders, I am not picky) ALONE. No kids, no hubby; just me, the smell of books and enjoyment that is a book store on a grandiose scale that only America can provide!