Trip to Japan-part one

I guess I need to get down in writing our adventure to even getting over to Japan, because it was (like anything the Tennysons do)crazy!

Friday August 31st we stayed at Fort Bliss Inn and hoped we had everything in order to head out of the country.

I ran around to see old friends that I didn't want to miss saying good-bye to (Annette you were not home) and repacked everything after doing my last load of laundry. I was so nervous.. we had no sponsor. I had met a lady that new one of the people from my moms ward and hoped that I could count on her.. but honestly I had no idea.


While sitting in the hotel, I looked at our itinerary one more time and found out that instead of having an hour and a half layover in tokyo, we had to take an hour bus ride to a different airport in a different part of tokyo...uh oh!

I had packed all our bags and had packed a couple hard cases to take some cooking supplies with me. I thought it would save us some money if I took my skillet and some cooking utinsels and things so we didn't have to go out every meal.

All in all, we were alloted 12 bags and 6 carry-ons. We maxed that out and then had two car seats that went as well. Can you imagine?
Let us recap- 4 kids, 2 adults, 12 bags, 6 carry-on bags! Who are you kidding, we were not going to be moving fast on transfers. Good thing I had hurcules with me!

So, side funny story, after I tell you all the luggage we had. You should now think it is funny that when we got to the hotel we found out that the elevator was out for a week! Just so happens it was the week the Tennyson's are there.. so our room was on the second floor. I can laugh now because I am so used to things like this happening to us.


We get up first thing in the morning to have breakfast and be at the airport by 8. We just ate at the continental breakfast and then got the shuttle to take Toby, Cy, Court and all our luggage over to the airport. She came back and got the little girls and I, and we said good-bye to Fort Bliss! Toby hated Fort Bliss, but I found some great friends there and enjoyed it.
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Once we get to the airport everything is as normal as if you were to travel with everyone to another country. Pretty uneventful. We were leaving in the morning on Aug. 1st and would get to Tokyo and on to Okinawa the night of Aug. 2nd. The only child I was worried about was Cera Jane and just cause I didn't know if the dvd players were going to last for very long.

We made it out of El Paso and headed to Salt Lake. The plan was to get off there and eat at this great sandwich place in the Salt Lake airport. When we got to Salt Lake we headed over to see that our plane was being boarded. UHHHH we were not going to have time to eat lunch. Bummer.. Good thing I packed everyone their own seperate food baggies in their carry-ons.

This ended up being the most frustrating part of the trip when the plane was delayed an hour. The reason being the plane would not take on gas! So I guess I would rather them figure out before hand. This was just frustating for Cera to sit for that long. I for sure didn't want to pull the DVD players out yet.

I made a phone call to my Dad and Mom and told them how much I loved them. My Dad was super sweet and remembered to tell me Happy Anniversary for Toby and I. I was of course crying. It hit me, that I didn't know when I would see them again.

The plane is going to take off and I am thinking alot of things about my great Country and not knowing what kind of life I was about to start to live.

Come to find out that each seat had its own control to the movies they offered, which made it awesome for Cera to watch different stuff and not run out the batteries on anything.

Some of my first happened on that plane. 1st- I had never taken a plane ride long enough that it necessitated me using the bathroom. Usually I could just wait a couple hours, but I found I had to be ok to go and I also had to take Cera to change her diaper. I am more of a person, not scared to fly but one that would rather be seat belted in.

Our plane ride from Salt Lake to Tokyo was 13 hours. It was light the whole time. My watch said midnight but it was afternoon where we were flying. Thankfully.. Cera took a couple naps!

During the flight.. Toby said "Happy Anniversary.. for your gift you get to go to Japan!" He is so thoughtful.

To be continued.........