So much to say!

There are so many things I want to say. Yet, the people that need to hear it them most either don't care or can't care. Does it really mater which?



In the past week I have watched my family disintegrate. Did they all wait until I arrived so I would feel a part of it all? Does my sister understand that when she walked out on her kids they would feel it? Does my 16 year old nephew understand that I love him, even if I can't take him to live with me in Japan? Does my 14 year old niece feel loved and whole where she is? I watched my 9 year old nephew drive off with his dad, knowing I will never see him again. All the while his mother was on the phone with this weeks fling!



I have tried to connect with my father but he seems so locked in savior mode, that he has had no time for me and my kids. I know this should not hurt as much as it does. After all I am an adult and my nephew needs him so much more then I do. But, somewhere deep down I just can;t GET IT!

Tomorrow when I leave will I be running away all over again?????

So much to do!

How do you decide what to do? Things to buy? Which way to turn down a road? There are so many choices they become overwhelming. We are all adjusting well to the many (and I mean many) choices we have. 24 hour fast food, shopping, and fun. We have picked the top 10 or 15 places we want to visit and see. Starting with today. Laser tag, and rock climbing was a blast! Not to mention the 20 foot high slide for Peyton.

Ian's parents live near some of the most beautiful parks. We have walked to a few in the neighborhood and let me tell you.... I want to pack one up and take it home with me. Colorado has more wetlands, and wide open spaces then I remember. Today the boys and I got to watch a mama prairie dog and her babies. At the park we spotted a bunny rabbit. Peyton is loving the backyard. It did take him a day or 2 to get used to walking barefoot on the grass. Are my kids missing out? Ian and I can't give them access to play lands, parks, sporting events (minus Japanese baseball). Not like what they have to offer here. Spending just a few days here has sold me on the idea of retiring here. It is a bit of city, with a lot of country mixed in.

Tomorrow we are headed to the Natural History Museum, and the Aquarium. With lunch somewhere in there.
There is talk of us spending a day of 2 sleeping in a tepee. I am not sure if that will happen, but I am sure the kids would love it...

Are any of you my readers (OK, all 3 of you) from Colorado, or have spent time here? What do you suggest for fun with 3 active kids?

Have a wonderful Colorado Day!!

Good Morning From Coloraodo!!

We have arrived, and let me tell you Colorado never looked so good. Or, smelled so wonderful. Colorado is the epitome of fresh air. Or course living so close to Tokyo, maybe any city would smell good. Our flight was wonderful. We fought the jet lag, ran the boys for a few hours and slept like babies. This morning we have enjoyed Grandpa's pancakes, and will soon be heading off to the mall.

Grandma and I braved a run to walmart last night ( I needed coffee supplies in the worst way). OK, can I just say HUGE! How does one decide what to buy when there are 50 to choose from. I walked around in utter amazement. I am sure the mall will be just as chaotic.

Have a great Colorado Day!!!

Coming to you live...from (up to the minute information)

The floor of the terminal in Yokota!  Things are looking good for us to fly today... If all goes well, I will soon be updating from Seattle, Washington..

NO BIGGIE! We have the AIR FORCE.......

By now I had hoped we would all be on a plane bound for Colorado. After all we have plane tickets.. We woke up (Shit what day is today) umm.. 2 days ago to find out our flight has been delayed.  No biggie, I will just extend us at the Navy lodge.   

As it turns out that was not an option.  It seems even if we are PCS'ing on orders we do not get  priority for a room.  And they were full.  No biggie!  I will just call the Lodge in Yokota and see if they have any rooms.  Yes, success, they had a room.  The kicker, we all had to be up at 3, at PSD by 4 and the bus would leave at 5.  Yes, ladies and gents that is 3 AM.  I spent the day washing our laundry. (more like getting robbed blind). It took hours for our clothes to dry.  NO biggie!  I trudge on, get things washed, dried, packed, and wrapped.  The boys were all 3 showered, and feed.  Christopher had his last party at a friends.  Kim and I sang our song, made sticky pictures, cried, hugged, said goodbye and I was ready to go.  

We make it to the bus, arrive in Yokota only to find out we have yet again been delayed.  No one is sure how long, but it shouldn't be to long.  Said the nice wonderful Air Force man.  No biggie.  We can head over to the Lodge, take a nap and by noon we should know something.  

Here is where I HAVE TO give credit to the Air Force.  THEY F'ING ROCK!  The nice gentleman that meet us at the terminal went out of his way to take care of us!  He made  sure we had an entitlement briefing.  He arrange for transportation to the lodge, and got the boys a pop tart.  I know that seems like small potato's but when you  have been up for hours with 3 starving kids it makes all the difference in the world.  They even loaded our luggage for us!  

We arrive here at that lodge, only to find out they didn't have any rooms available until after 2.  We were welcome to sit in the lobby.  And, this is where my days of No BIGGIE became a BIGGIE~  I was done.  Had my fill, and was headed for a full fledged melt down.  Things went down hill fast from there.  Ian called back to Yoko, only to be told they had no information for us.  But we could feel free to call back Monday afternoon!  Well let me tell you! That was not working for either of us. Ian quickly made some more phone calls, waking more then one person up (they have no business sleeping so damn late on a Saturday anyway).   By noon we were in a room, with full assurances that we would be reimbursed for every single expense.  Right down to the coffee I have to main line just to keep my eyes open!    Sometime tonight we should have a new flight itinerary and be able to give my mother in law dates and times of our arrival!   I sure hope the Navy understands the last thing they want is my mother in law flying over here to get us home.  I promise it will not be a pretty site!!! 

So, here I sit in the lobby of the Lodge in Yokota, (the only place they have internet access) Pizza Hut consumed, Peyton happily watching a rented movie, and the boys playing with the neighbor kids.  They were neighbors of ours back in Yoko and are stuck in transition hell right along with us.  We have food, the kids are warm, somewhat comfortable beds, COFFEE with the good creamer (again ROCK ON AIR FORCE) and cable TV.  I can once again say NO BIGGIE!  As long as they get us home SOON!!!!

Me and my shadow...s

Or 3.  We are all packed into the hotel like sardines.  This room is tiny.  We are checked out of housing, the phone company, and the 40 other organizations that must sign our paperwork freeing us to take our much needed vacation.  

On Wednesday morning 14 spry Japanese men descended upon out house.  Everything was packed, wrapped, and loaded within 4 hours.  They did remark several times about how heavy our furniture is.  More then 1 reacted with dismay after finding out we are moving to Sasebo.  I know understand how hard it will be to find a house that will hold our sofa.   It may find itself sold, or on the curb.  Although I hope it doesn't come to that, at the end of the day we have to have a house to live in.  

I am sitting here starting at our luggage and wondering why we need all this CRAP!  Yes, I know clean clothes and blah, blah... I sure hope my in laws understand what they are in for...

More then once Peyton has asked to go home, to his home.  Seeing them move his play kitchen to the big truck has him a bit worried that the movers will not give it back.  Ian and I continue to tell him we are getting a new house.  At 3 I am not sure he understands any of it. 

Tomorrow Ian and I will take the boys on one last walk around the town we have called home for 3 years.   There are so many things I will miss about Yokosuka.    I can not wait to see what awaits us in Sasebo.... 

Have a great day!  I will update when our flight lands, I have slept, and eaten...