We Made It

and are finally getting organized and into a routine! Our bags are unpacked, the place is getting organized (Thanks to all of DJ and my mom's help), and the kids are just about back into their normal sleeping routines. Not bad considering we have only been here a week :)






Our trip over here went really smooth. There are not any funny or crazy stories to tell except to report that the flight was nice and the kids did AWESOME!!! I wish Tessa would have slept a little more but I guess you can't have everything! We managed to make it through both flights without any temper tantrums, only one minor injury (Tessa fell and hit her head climbing over my foot rest...klutz), and only one wet through diaper! Poor Tessa tried to tell us that she needed to be changed and of course we didn't listen. When I went to change her her pants and seat were soaked :( So she looked a little funny with no pants on sitting on a blanket for the majority of the ride (and yes I packed extra clothes but I didn't want them to get wet from her seat). Brady was a champ... all he did was sleep and eat! If only he does the same on the way home !?!?





I truly have the best husband ever!!! Usually when we land in Tokyo we have a very stressful time (as most of you know or have read about), trying to get off the plane with our carry-ons and go through customs, get all of our many bags and transfer them from the international airport to the domestic airport, and recheck in for our domestic flight and go through security and somehow make it to our gate to catch our last flight. But this year, my awesome husband knew how hard it would be with just my mom and I trying to manage the 2 kids and all of our luggage and still do all of the above, so he arranged for someone to meet us off of the plane to help. But to our surprise when we got off of the airplane that 1 person turned into 6 people who carried all of our things, pushed the stroller, took us through the back way of customs, got all of our luggage, personally escorted us to the domestic airport and check us in, took us through security again, and walked us to the lounge for our layover. We didn't have to lift a thing!!! I swear they would have carried my kids for me if I wanted them too :) So our usual stressful time was so so easy and it took no time at all! It was fabulous!

Our layover was 3 or 4 hours, but even though it was so long the time went by faster because we met up with our friends the Falkenborgs (another family from the Hawks) to help pass the time.

Our last flight went well. My mom and I could not keep our eyes open during this one, but of course Tessa was going strong! I think the flight attendant felt bad for us because she gave Tessa a Magna Doodle to play with. She just sat on the floor and entertained herself for the 2 hour flight. It was wonderful. We arrived in Fukuoka at 10pm, which made for a very long day of travel, but we were all so happy to see DJ. I think Tessa was a little surprised to see him in person. He just stared at him for a minute or so in awe and then waved. (In Japan the baggage claim is locked off and no one is allowed in so we have to wait to get our luggage before we could go and see DJ.)

After 3 months of being apart it was so nice to finally all be together as a family again!!!