Departure Day April 2, 2011

So, I know you are all waiting with baited breath to hear how things are going so far so here it is!

Trying to get out of Tacoma was quite a challenge. I could not seem to get everything done. Thankfully, after sending out an SOS, Corey, Kate and Nick (and Nate too) came rushing over and helped me wrap up loose ends and pack up the car. Off we went. Crying once again to say goodbye to such incredible people.  The trip to the airport was uneventful even with 2 small children and 8 suitcases plus carry ons-  thank goodness for skycap Early who loaded up our luggage and helped us through ticketing.  Cooper and Tucker were awesome all the way to San Francisco.  Cooper spent the time working on some activity books I brought and flirting with every pretty, young lady sitting near us. Tucker spent his time putting stickers on his feet and laughing about it.  

We had a long wait in the San Francisco airport, but the time actually went relatively fast with several trips to the bathroom, dinner, a bloody nose for Coop and about a gazillion rides on the moving sidewalk- HUGE HIT!  Highly recommend it.  

Okay, so now to the coolest part- flying premium economy on Qantas.  It is amazing!  Better than first class on most airlines. The seats are enormous and recline almost totally for sleeping. There is a footrest too which I never really would have thought to be so amazing, but oh, it is.  Awaiting us on our seat upon boarding was an incredible menu complete with food that actually tastes good, a small toiletry bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste and a sleeping mask and a full service TV with a plethora of TV shows and movies to appease anyone.  Sound good so far? I gets better.  Beginning just after boarding, the stewards(esses) have come around with champagne, water, juice, cheese, crackers, cookies, chocolates, hot towels, a bag of activities for the boys and, yes, even a pair of sock.  Dinner was great complete with wine and kit kats.  Oh, and my early morning discovery- the seat has a massager.  Holy #$@&!! Again Coop did great- watched TV until 2:30am Tacoma time and Tuck passed out before we even took off.  Sweet!

So right now we are about 3 hours from Sydney and the boys are up. I am just waiting to see what they bring around next….

Departure Day April 2, 2011

So, I know you are all waiting with baited breath to hear how things are going so far so here it is!

Trying to get out of Tacoma was quite a challenge. I could not seem to get everything done. Thankfully, after sending out an SOS, Corey, Kate and Nick (and Nate too) came rushing over and helped me wrap up loose ends and pack up the car. Off we went. Crying once again to say goodbye to such incredible people.  The trip to the airport was uneventful even with 2 small children and 8 suitcases plus carry ons-  thank goodness for skycap Early who loaded up our luggage and helped us through ticketing.  Cooper and Tucker were awesome all the way to San Francisco.  Cooper spent the time working on some activity books I brought and flirting with every pretty, young lady sitting near us. Tucker spent his time putting stickers on his feet and laughing about it.  

We had a long wait in the San Francisco airport, but the time actually went relatively fast with several trips to the bathroom, dinner, a bloody nose for Coop and about a gazillion rides on the moving sidewalk- HUGE HIT!  Highly recommend it.  

Okay, so now to the coolest part- flying premium economy on Qantas.  It is amazing!  Better than first class on most airlines. The seats are enormous and recline almost totally for sleeping. There is a footrest too which I never really would have thought to be so amazing, but oh, it is.  Awaiting us on our seat upon boarding was an incredible menu complete with food that actually tastes good, a small toiletry bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste and a sleeping mask and a full service TV with a plethora of TV shows and movies to appease anyone.  Sound good so far? I gets better.  Beginning just after boarding, the stewards(esses) have come around with champagne, water, juice, cheese, crackers, cookies, chocolates, hot towels, a bag of activities for the boys and, yes, even a pair of sock.  Dinner was great complete with wine and kit kats.  Oh, and my early morning discovery- the seat has a massager.  Holy #$@&!! Again Coop did great- watched TV until 2:30am Tacoma time and Tuck passed out before we even took off.  Sweet!

So right now we are about 3 hours from Sydney and the boys are up. I am just waiting to see what they bring around next….

Movers March 31, 2011

Well, the movers are here. Right now. As we speak. Packing up all our stuff to send down under. Strange feeling- kinda relieved to be (almost) done with the moving part, but also it means that this is all real. My mom took the boys this morning, but Cooper insisted on staying around.  Thank goodness for Netflix since our tv is packed up already.  I am really loving having packers. They just do it all for you!  No lugging boxes-nothing.

So tonight the boys and I are "camping out" with the dogs in the living room. I know it will not be a peaceful and relaxing nite, but it is still home and it is where I want to be.

Movers March 31, 2011

Well, the movers are here. Right now. As we speak. Packing up all our stuff to send down under. Strange feeling- kinda relieved to be (almost) done with the moving part, but also it means that this is all real. My mom took the boys this morning, but Cooper insisted on staying around.  Thank goodness for Netflix since our tv is packed up already.  I am really loving having packers. They just do it all for you!  No lugging boxes-nothing.

So tonight the boys and I are "camping out" with the dogs in the living room. I know it will not be a peaceful and relaxing nite, but it is still home and it is where I want to be.

The Countdown March 28, 2011

It has been quite a while since I last posted. The last month or so has flown by!  We have said goodbye to lots of folks- aunts and uncles, classmates, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses- the list goes on. A few more goodbyes and then we are off. Four days and counting.  The movers come Thursday to pack everything up and put it on a container ship to Australia. Think it will be about 8 weeks before we see our "stuff" again. Wow, that sure seems like a long time!


My sister and her two kids, Katie (10) and her son, Ryan (7) were here this past week. What a great visit!  Cooper and Tucker have had a blast with their "big kid" cousins.  Cooper and Ryan spent hours in the yard playing ball, digging up the yard and just doing boy stuff. Katie was a huge help with Tucker.  We also had fun doing some "girl stuff" like painting our nails, sewing and drawing.  It was so awesome to have my big sister here. We laughed a lot, enjoyed quite a bit of good wine (and some not so good wine) and even managed a spa day. She and the kids also spent quite a bit of time watching my boys so I could get those last minute appointments and errands taken care of. Thank goodness for family! 

Cousins Katie and Ryan at the top of the Space Needle 

As you might have guessed, the saga with the dogs goes on and on and on!  Too much to blog about and probably not the most fascinating reading.  But, the plan is 3 weeks of boarding at our wonderful vet hospital, a plane ride to LA and then to Sydney via Air New Zealand aboard a friendly cargo plane- yeah, loving that idea.  Once they have landed in Sydney, it is off to the quarantine station for 4 weeks of, well, quarantine.  Watch out Australia! Here come 2 of the world's most dangerous creatures- my pugs!  Yes, all they do is sleep all day, get up to eat and beg for food and then go back to sleep.  Good thing they are keeping them out of the mix for 4 weeks....

So, we head down to CA on Saturday with brief layover in San Francisco where we are hoping to meet up with my step-sister, Reeves, for a quick visit and then off to Sydney aboard Qantas Airlines.  We will arrive in Sydney sometime Monday.  Strange how we will completely lose Sunday in our travels....

The Countdown March 28, 2011

It has been quite a while since I last posted. The last month or so has flown by!  We have said goodbye to lots of folks- aunts and uncles, classmates, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses- the list goes on. A few more goodbyes and then we are off. Four days and counting.  The movers come Thursday to pack everything up and put it on a container ship to Australia. Think it will be about 8 weeks before we see our "stuff" again. Wow, that sure seems like a long time!


My sister and her two kids, Katie (10) and her son, Ryan (7) were here this past week. What a great visit!  Cooper and Tucker have had a blast with their "big kid" cousins.  Cooper and Ryan spent hours in the yard playing ball, digging up the yard and just doing boy stuff. Katie was a huge help with Tucker.  We also had fun doing some "girl stuff" like painting our nails, sewing and drawing.  It was so awesome to have my big sister here. We laughed a lot, enjoyed quite a bit of good wine (and some not so good wine) and even managed a spa day. She and the kids also spent quite a bit of time watching my boys so I could get those last minute appointments and errands taken care of. Thank goodness for family! 

Cousins Katie and Ryan at the top of the Space Needle 

As you might have guessed, the saga with the dogs goes on and on and on!  Too much to blog about and probably not the most fascinating reading.  But, the plan is 3 weeks of boarding at our wonderful vet hospital, a plane ride to LA and then to Sydney via Air New Zealand aboard a friendly cargo plane- yeah, loving that idea.  Once they have landed in Sydney, it is off to the quarantine station for 4 weeks of, well, quarantine.  Watch out Australia! Here come 2 of the world's most dangerous creatures- my pugs!  Yes, all they do is sleep all day, get up to eat and beg for food and then go back to sleep.  Good thing they are keeping them out of the mix for 4 weeks....

So, we head down to CA on Saturday with brief layover in San Francisco where we are hoping to meet up with my step-sister, Reeves, for a quick visit and then off to Sydney aboard Qantas Airlines.  We will arrive in Sydney sometime Monday.  Strange how we will completely lose Sunday in our travels....

Woooooo Hooooooo! February 16, 2011

                DOG PERMITS GRANTED!!!!