We made it!

We didn't crash in the Pacific Ocean, nor did the person seated next to us shoot us too many fiery darts from her eyes, and actually the kids slept most of the flight well after the first two hours of coloring, eating, and fussing to get comfortable. Overall the trip wasn't too bad. We made it and with way too much luggage and just not enough of the right stuff.

It took us over forty five minutes to check in, in Austin. With sixteen bags- including car seats and a port-a-crib, I guess it was a lot of work. We got to our gate and the doors were shut. We were the last ones to board. The flight attendant later told us that we might want to be the first ones to board on the next flight--DUH!

Though when we got to Arizona to board our Hawaii flight, and they called first boarding for those needing extra time (like us) or first class passengers I think the whole lot of fliers stood up because there were more than just first class and people traveling with small kids, it really was crazy.

Well like I said we flew safely with out too many complications.

The fun began when we landed and had to figure out how to get all of our sixteen pieces of check baggage along with our five carry ons into our rented mini van and our limo that Eric rented to help take us to our home. After about an hour and a half of pulling luggage off the belt, loading and getting the rental, we drove off to get home about 11 pm. (we landed at 8).

Because of the cost of shipping and stuff we only had two suitcases per person plus carry on which pretty much held all our clothes (now I am thinking we brought way too much clothes), some towels which we used for beds the first night, pillows, some computer stuff and well I am not too sure. We pulled out our beach and bath towels and pillows and slept on the floors. We have been informed by Gregory that we really need a couch!

We are on the fourth floor of a really nice complex. With a couple of pools and inner coastal waters with a promenade to walk around with which we have done a couple of times. The kids made a friend at the pool on Friday that told us that they get dolphins swimming in there, so we have been looking for their fins.

We are on a fun quest to find furniture, we succeeded in getting a tv, bed, futon for the kids, and some more beach towels. Yesterday we found a hotel liquidation furniture store and Eric will be getting us a desk, some chairs, a table, and a bed on Tuesday.

It is crazy and it just feels kind of like we are staying in a hotel- an unfurnished, nice three bedroom one. It hasn't really hit home that this is home yet for me. I want to decorate and do things to the house to make it my home, but it just seems silly to spend money on something that I won't be able to take back home with me. But we will see.

The kids love it, and are up bright and early every morning. The first morning it was 3 am! but we are slowly getting used to the time.

They sure are loud in this empty space. I feel for the neighbors below. The next door neighbors we met yesterday and they have two small kids so they understand, we don't hear them so hopefully they don't hear us, though they probably don't have the crying and temper tantrum throwing kids like mine have been.

The kids saw their first snails this morning.

And well I have to get showered to go to church, I am laying on the floor in the front room with boxes surrounding me- hiding me while Eric is getting the kids ready. All I hear is the hum of the computer and the screeching of my screaming over tired children. Oh this is paradise :)