The Adventure Begins

Matt and the kids bright and early at 4 am.

This morning the kids and I woke bright and early to take Matt at 4:15 am to the airport. I am proud to report only minimal drama from Sam and a few tears from Emily. Chris just kept telling me to hurry he had to use the bathroom. Yep. The adventure is beginning. I cannot believe how fast the time flew.

I am trying not to think about us being apart for 3 months. Luckily we know he will be back for a week at the end of November. And we filed today for an exception allowing him to come back to NC to help me bring the kids over on January 19. Fingers crossed that it is approved. I told the kids this morning over breakfast at the Waffle House (our plan was IHOP, however not open 24 hours here) just think of this as daddy being on another business trip. And between phone and webcam things will be okay. Matt said this morning that it doesn't feel like he is moving. It just feels like he is staying in a bigger hotel since he is on all rental furniture and without us there.

It's going to be hard, both on me and the kids. But I know that it is just 3 months and that we can do this. We are looking at all of this as an adventure. The separation, the move, new schools, train life, a new language, a new culture, different foods... It is a scary adventure, yet at the same time a very exciting and rewarding time. The experience and memories that our children will gain will be something that they will treasure forever.

So think of Matt and wish him safe travels and luck. And for us too. My poor kids will need lots of luck after spending 3 months alone with their poor mom. Matt told them this morning that their life lays in my hands. They may wish their was some type of online trading for mothers by the time January rolls around.

Matt, his dad, and his brother and sister last month.

Trying to Unbury Myself

I know I have been a horrible blogger lately. And I feel really bad that I am so far behind on reading my favorite blogging buddies. I am trying to play catch up from being gone in Japan for a week and all the stuff that suddenly has been thrown my way.

Add on top of my stack of to-do items, Matt booked his ticket today and if his Visa comes back as we have been told, he leaves in **gulp** 21 days. He is booked on a 6 am flight on October 22. I am trying really hard to not think about that right now. The whole reason we are choosing to go at separate times is to help make the transition easier on the kids, and to be honest, me as well. Right now the anticipated departure date for the kids and myself is either January 20 or 27, giving us basically 3 months apart. I actually feel sorry for Matt. At least I will be back here surrounded by friends and family, especially during the holidays, and he will be alone in Japan.

So what do I need to get done before I am back in full-time action in bloggy land?

• Fill out and turn in expense reports to our relocation coordinator. This consists of scanning every receipt, documenting it on the proper expense sheet and then emailing it off. Right now I am anticipating this to take me about 2 - 3 hours.
• Revise a 50+ page document for my Caterpillar client. Oh did I mention by end of day Friday?
• Write at minimum six web site copy blurbs for a local client. Another 10-15 are due by the end of next week.
• Email and call a contact list of 12 people for another Caterpillar document that I just started Monday.
  
• Taking the whole family to get a dozen each passport photos made. No joke about the number we need either.
• Make an appointment for the kids passport authorization session. We have to do this through the post office, which means we are limited to times and days. This HAS to be done in the next week.
• Fill out the kids school application for Japan.
• Send out emails about Matt's going away party.
  
• Clean and organize my house for the Camp Family's visit! They will be here in FOUR days. I am ecstatic. Val has never been here and I cannot wait to show her everything. (Well and do some shopping)
• Go to Sam's Club and purchase all the stock up items before Matt leaves and before our membership expires in 18 days.
• Back up my laptop. I am having an issue with it and terrified that something is going to happen.
  
• Locate and call a rental company to help with our house here in NC.
• Get Matt's international drivers license.
• Figure out what keylogger is. It seems to be the buzz word of the week to learn.
  

I think this is it for this week. I have a whole new list for next one. (No joke.)

I promise I will be back soon. Thanks for being so understanding!