Moving!!

Well, the big pack out is finished! It took them 1 full day and about 3/4's of the next day. They have some unusual packing practices here - apparently the goal is to get your stuff into the least amount of space no matter what. So, if there is a spot in a box with kitchen stuff, they go get a toy from the kid's rooms to fill it. They also packed our stuff IN drawers of our furniture - like crammed as much in as they could! The movers who packed us to send us here did not do it that way, so it alarmed me a little. I really can't imagine how long it's going to take me to unpack that unorgaized mess!! I tried to focus on the fact that at least *I* wasn't having to do the packing and moving boxes myself! I've done that enough times to know how much work it is!








Now, we have the loaner furniture back again which is called "boonie furniture" here in Guam. It's functional, but not the most comfortable and our house now feels much like living in a hotel!! We do still have our kitchen stuff, bedding, clothes, etc. that we will send in an "express shipment" right before we actually leave and we are thankful to have all that.
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The Challenges Ahead....

Well, I got "orders" today which will allows me to officially begin the details of the moving process. Now begins the somewhat overwhelming task of getting us and our stuff back 1/2 way across the world while navigating paperwork, processes, and regulations. There are SO many details involved in this move that all have to work together. I found out today that we have to pay $450 to have our house cleaned when we move out in order to pass the "inspection" and we also have to stay in a hotel for several nights while the cleaning and inspection is taking place, so those are expenses that I am not looking forward to. I know it will all work out, but right now I feel like getting on a plane and going back to Disneyland!! :) Moving is not my favorite thing... most of you know that I am a person who likes to have everything in it's spot and the disorganization and upheaval involved in moving is difficult for me. Prayers for sanity and patience would be greatly appreciated!! :)

Mimi's Adventures in Guam - part 3

On Wednesday, we took Mimi to the Chamorro Village. It was lots of fun and we all enjoyed the eating and shopping. The prices are great at the Village which was refreshing after the expensive prices in Tokyo!!







Mimi is so very interested in all the plants and flowers EVERYwhere she goes and always has been!! She had a million questions about all that stuff and I am the WRONG person to ask because I just don't pay much attention to that kind of thing! I did manage to get a few pictures of plants/trees that Mimi was intrigued with here in Guam and maybe some of you other plant lovers will find them interesting too!!








We had SOOOOOOOO Much fun hanging out with Mimi both away and at home!She left for her long journey back to Texas this morning and we miss her SO much already!!! We were SO blessed to get to spend 2 weeks together - we enjoyed every minute!! We LOVE YOU MIMI!!!!

Mimi's Adventures in Guam - Part 2

On Sunday, we went to Underwater World and then to eat at one of our favorite Chinese food places. After that, we enjoyed another beautiful day on the beach. The photographer got the first 2 events, but forgot the camera at the beach and was too lazy to walk to the car and get it! :)











Today, Mimi got to go to Adysen and Allie's school and have lunch with them. She brought them lunch from Burger King which was such a huge treat for them! They were SO excited to have her there and to get to show her their classrooms!!

Mimi is in Guam!!

We have had SO much fun showing Mimi around Guam for the last few days!! On Friday, we took a little tour of the base. We saw the wreckage of an old plane that was flown in Vietnam. It was thrown into the jungle in 1987 during a typhoon and wasn't found until 1997 when another storm uncovered it!






We also went to the "scenic overlook" which is a beautiful place to see the ocean. They happened to be doing some military excercises below us and we heard and saw what we think was a bomb exploding - that was cool!! You can kind of see the smoke in the picture below...





After that, we went to the beach on base and had a picnic for lunch. Mimi and the girls had fun gathering seashells.




That night we went to the dinner show at the Pacific Island Club. We got a picture of Mimi with the cute boy dancers!! :)






The next day we took Mimi snorkeling for the first time ever!! She took to it right away and absoultely LOVED it! She stayed in the water for 2 and 1/2 hours!!! The beach where we went is the best snorkeling place we have found around here and the weather was so nice - it was a little windy, but not too bad. We saw lots of beautiful fish!






We had lunch at Jeff's Pirate's cove which is an outdoor resturaunt that is right on the water. It's a beautiful place!!