Journey To Guam

Thursday, July 17th
8pm Michelle and kids check out of Temporary Lodging at McChord -- Graham is already on the way to the airport in the Jeep. Accompanying him is family friend who bought the Jeep and all of the luggage.
8:45pm Graham calls Michelle on cell phone with emergency
--Jeep is stalled on side of highway right before exit to SeaTac airport. Can't figure out what is wrong with Jeep.
9:00pm Michelle and kids catch up to Graham in rental car
9-9:15pm calls for a taxi are unsuccessful – Taxis do not pick up passengers on side of highways (good to note for next time)
9:15-9:45 Graham transports Michelle and kids to airport Departures area to drop off and then swings back again with another load of luggage. Leaves friend who bought Jeep on side of road with un-operable vehicle but tow truck on the way
10:15 check into flight – minor blip when Continental attendant said we didn’t have confirmed tickets – soon after finds our reservations. Graham and Michelle can finally exhale and breathe again.
11:45pm Hicks family flies out of SeaTac
2:30am Drew has small “accident” while sleeping on Michelle’s lap. Of course Michelle forgot to pack a change of shorts for either Drew or herself. Issue doesn't appear to be too bad though.
4am PST / 6am CST arrive in Houston. Search for but cannot find new shorts for Drew in any of the airport shops. Maybe Hawaii (the next stop) will have better luck.
9:35am suppose to depart Houston—still in terminal due to bathrooms not working on on side of aircraft – Continental will provide next update at 10:15am (central standard time)
10:15 no news check in at 11:15 - Hicks Family searches for USO in airport. Once located we unload and try to relax.
10:45 Michelle attempts to step over Teddy’s drink and gets her foot caught in her capri-length pants…twists ankle but doesn’t fall on her face – little victories I guess
12pm Graham calls family friend to check up with regarding the Jeep--turns out it was only a loose hose.
New time to depart…maybe 2:57pm. Michelle and the kids take a field trip to the Space Store (NASA) store at airport. Graham calls to say plane is now boarding. Race to get back to the gate in time. Later find out that the 5 hour delay was due to a previous traveler on the aircraft flushing a diaper down the toilet, thus clogging the toilet system and causing hundreds of people to be delayed or miss their connecting flights. Hoping karma finds the toilet-clogging person.
Leave for Hawaii.

Arrive in Hawaii after a nearly 9 hour flight. Drew sleeps most of the way and Paige and Teddy take good naps. Fortunately that leg is uneventful.

Board Hawaii flight at 6:45pm. Hope that 2 of the dogs on board are ours. Sit at gate for longer then normal…waiting for a cargo issue to be resolved.

Depart at 7:15pm. Flight to Guam underway. Again flight uneventful!! Lose all track of what time it is. Arrive in Guam at midnight, Guam time: Sunday, July 20th. Lost one day. Are greeted warmly by Graham's new commander and two fellow airmen with baskets of muffins and water. Arrive at hotel and crash for the night.

Sunday at 7am -- wake up to blue skies and beaches to explore.

Goodbyes, still tough

Everyday we seem to be saying goodbye to another friend and another part of our lives in WA. We are sitting in our hotel room and technically homeless. Our history is packed into 10 cargo crates and heading overseas. We've been told that we can expect to see our beds, furniture and all the little things that make our house our home September 2nd. For now what we need is folded, stacked and depending upon the day, crammed into 10 pieces of luggage, 5 carry-on bags and two laptop carriers. I look forward to our next adventure but will so miss our little world we've created here in the Pacific Northwest.

Heading Out and Moving On

It's here! It's time! We're finally down to the last few days in Washington.

The Countdown:
3 days of movers
7 days at La Quinta
2 days in TLF's
7 days of dogs living it up in luxury and pampering at the kennel (seriously they have activities planned for the pups)
2 days of travel
3 years on the beach

Life on Guam. Stay tuned...this looks to be quite a ride!