'Big Jet Plane'

We finally made it to Lagos! The flight left on time Sunday night from Houston and there was very little drama. I mean we had a ridiculous amount of bags (17 including the car seats) but it is pretty hard to have anything go wrong when you have business class seats on a direct flight! Really, the best part was the kids. 

I actually chose this song (Big Jet Plane) not for the obvious plane reference but because the band is a brother-sister duo that is rare in rock and roll. Well there are a lot of creepy duos out there (dare I mention Atlantic Starr? Donnie and Marie?) but only a few that are actually cool (plus they're Aussies!). And my kids were soo cool on this trip! They were very excited about the flight and were actually doing a little "African" dance in the gate area that ended up in a chant of "Africa! Africa! Africa!". There were a surprising number of kids on the flight but like I said, it was business class. So you can imagine the look on people's faces when they board and see my kids rockin' these huge seats, personal DVDs, Nintendos, their own flight attendent bringing them juice. It's really over the top.

But selfishly, I love that they are finally big enough to look after themselves - and eachother. I loved our time in Melbourne but traveling with 2 kids under 3, even with business class seats was truly a marathon in patience (and serious packing skills!). By the time we got to LA, we were already exhausted with the biggest leg of the journey still ahead of us. This time, the kids had their own rolling bags - filled w their favorite items: teddies, blankies, Nintendo DS, portable DVD players, little crayons and stickers etc. (I held the few critical items as opposed to ALL the critical items; chargers, extra DS cartridges, epi pens and asthma meds, and even an extra set of clothes which used to be driven by having kids still in diapers but at this stage is really all about the fact that my kids are just spillers. Especially that cute curly topped one. We can't go anywhere without a monstrous juice disaster.)

But K really looked after C  - helping him w the ear phones, the menu on the in-flight movie system, the straw on his juice box. I know part of it is her 7 year old Bossy-Boss-Miss-Know-it-All phase and she loves to be "in charge" but really it was very sweet! And the fact that I was actually able to watch a movie - almost uninterrupted, is just a miracle.

Here is a pic of the kids pre-flight:

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"I'm getting ready.."

Finally, the flight to Lagos is booked! We leave Sunday night, arriving early Monday morning ("one more sleep!"). The booking could not have come any sooner - we have been in the hotel over 10 days and the kids have a bit of cabin fever. Actually, we ALL have serious cabin fever! A massive rain storm also put an end to many of our favorite Houston activities. And in a cruel twist of fate, Friday was the last day of school before spring break so many of our friends (kids and adults!) were leaving town. For me, the idea of a "staycation" in Houston only works if you have great weather and good friends to share it with! (And yes, we already hit the museums.)

In truth, the last week has been great because it gave us all some time to catch our breath before the next chapter. I really didn't have that the last time we moved and I was quite exhausted (and Very pregnant) by the time we landed, which is no way to start a relocation. I feel like my daughter (2 at the time) got the raw end of that deal as I didn't have the energy to help her deal with the transition.  I just dumped her on my brother and my mom who had come over to help (that backfired too because my normally independent 2 year old wouldn't leave my side for months!)

The second time around is always so much easier. Not only do I know how to pack and prepare, I know how to pace the changes so the kids are not overwhelmed. My plan must have worked because a few days ago, even the kids were asking when we are leaving - always a good sign!

Finally I could tell them to start getting ready.

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'Due to lack of interest, tomorrow is canceled'

 

Today was the day we were meant to find out if our passports were en route from the embassy in New York. Once we get the passports, we can book our flight and finally be on our way so it's a critical piece of the puzzle. If we had the passports today, we could book our flight tomorrow. Or the next day. But alas, nothing is en route from New York to Houston and so tomorrow is another day of waiting and wondering. 

It's funny how quickly you can fall into a routine, even when living in transition. The kids are still in school (despite their farewell parties last friday) so we get up around the same time as before, get the kids dressed and let them eat breakfast while watching a video. Of course now we pilfer our breakfast from the hotel lobby - yogurt, pancakes, fruit and cereal and I've already dug into the stash of new DVDs that I was hoping to use for those first few days of jet lag. But it is still the same routine.

Today I made an extra effort to pick the kids up early so we could hit the Houston rodeo. It was terrific and since the weather is so amazing this time of year I am tempted to make a day trip to Galveston or Kemah tomorrow. If we aren't leaving for a few days, maybe we can swing a night in Austin or San Antonio? We've never taken the kids to Dallas and we have friends there so hey, why not?

Ay, there's the rub.

I know in my gut that the second I make a plan or schedule some activity that lasts more than 12 hours, we will get the call and the trip will be underway. But I'm not willing to just hang around and wait either. I want to make the most of the time we have here in Houston and do all the things we never make time to do. God only knows the next time we will have a day or more of unstructured time. Years ago, my friend Becky gave me a book called "Day Trips from Houston". I know it's not in my luggage but I'm sure I can find it on-line somewhere...

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'Another day in the park'

This weekend we have been hanging out at the park - a lot. On Friday we locked the door on our house after an exhausting day of packing and going away parties. E sold one of the cars and we all crashed at the hotel with some pizza. Saturday morning was gorgeous and for the first time in a long time, we had no pressing plans or deadllnes. Considering there are 4 of us in a small hotel room with 17 bags, a double bed and a pull-out, the outdoors was calling. We hit our favorite exercise track at Memorial Park and took turns working out while the kids played. We got smoothies and picked up lunch then met up with some friends at another park not far from our house.

Sunday was similar - a gorgeous outdoor brunch with some good friends and back-to-back park outings around our old 'hood. As with any transition, this is something I wish we had done more of. Houston has great neighborhood parks and after 3 years and 2 schools, you're bound to run into someone you know.

Of course everyone is asking when we are leaving and we just really don't know yet. Could be Tuesday, could be Thursday.

This is something that normally would drive me insane - the not knowing. But for now, everyone seems happy to just take a deep breath and enjoy what Houston has to offer - which in March is sunny and 70, the world famous Rodeo, countless museums, and a whole lotta BBQ.

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'Fake a smile and you sigh'..

 

Wow. This is the week. This is the week that everything comes to a head and it looks like a bomb went off in your house. The week when you want so desperately to sort the legos and the puzzle pieces and go through that junk drawer. Not the one in the kitchen because you know I already did that but the other one. And the one after that- the one you dont consider a junk drawer because it serves some purpose you assigned it long ago but that you know in your heart you haven't used in months - which makes it a junk drawer. But you are just out of time.

And I am sore. And so tired. Here's where we are:

• Purged entire pantry including spices that I know will cost twice as much in Lagos
• Purged the fridge - blech
• Sorted the entire library into 5-6 shelves of keep-sakes. the rest went to storage or good will. It's hard to lose a whole library!
• Packed the luggage - 2 bags + 1 carry one each + Personal item + 1 super special extra bag for Mr. Gold Status Elite traveler = 17 bags
• Packed the air shipment  - basically all the things you think you can't live without even after 17 bags: blankies, stuffed animals, kitchen gadgets, toiletries, wi-fi hub, dvds, laundry stuff
• Re-packed certain sea shipment items that I just don't trust the removalists to pack properly. Like my very cool new fedora or my beloved Curious George.
• Put a stop on the mail
• Last minute furniture deliveries
• Dropped all the liquor on a much-deserving neighbor
• Finally got C to segment his trains into luggage/air/sea shipment. A huge battle and one full of tears
• Ordered rental car
• Met with realtor to put house on the market, met with contractors about home improvement projects
• Moved the whole crew to the hotel and locked the door to the house even though we still don't have our flight.

All week well-meaning friends and neighbors have been asking us how we are feeling about the move. Honestly? I am all about Lagos. But the move? groan....

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