Goodbye for now, Kitty Boys!

Tomorrow we are being officially packed up for our air and sea shipments, so we took Ralph and Diamond to their new home for the next couple of months. Thanks, friend, for being willing to take them for us!

We forgot some things,  including the litter boxes. So we went back home and came back with them. Diamond was still in the carrier.

Ralph was having a hissy fit, literally hissing. He was NOT happy with us. 

Hopefully the kitty boys will adjust soon. C,  our sentimental child, seemed fine (we are planning to move them to be with us), but at dinner he was looking really sad and started to cry when we asked him what was wrong. Change is hard, for everyone. I keep wanting to call the cats (not that they would come, but I do it anyway), and I thought I saw Diamond for a second in the office, where he liked to spend time while Papa P is working. It should all be worth it in the end, though. 

Japanese Consulate Adventure

We were originally supposed to fly to Japan on July 31, but the paperwork for our visas was delayed. The paperwork finally arrived last Monday evening. Papa P went to work to make all the necessary copies of documents and print our visa applications. I left Tuesday around 5:45 in the morning to drive approximately four hours, or 269 miles (433 kilometers) to the Japanese Consulate to turn in the necessary paperwork to get our visas to live in Japan. 

My grandmother made this sheep for me when I was little and my boys dubbed it "great grandma sheep." She sheep came along for the ride. 

Along the route I stopped at Buc-ee's for a quick gas up and bathroom break. 

I got to the Consulate just before 10AM. They had been open for less than half an hour, but there was already a line outside the office. There was one person working on passports and one working on visas. 

I had to leave the Consulate twice to print paperwork PapaP had signed. One was just so I could submit his paperwork (I didn't know I didn't automatically have power of attorney for MY HUSBAND.) The other was to have him to sign a disclaimer to have them send our visas back to us, rather than us pick them up (both of these documents I had to fill out for both my boys... seriously, they had me sign power of attorney of MY OWN CHILDREN TO MYSELF).

This picture of great grandma sheep and me was after my two treks to print the signed documents at a printing/copy/shipping store. I went up six flights of stairs (two each time, three trips up total) to get to the elevator to go to the 30th floor. Thank goodness I didn't have to take the stairs!

The elevators to get to the 30th floor were high tech. You select the floor on a touch screen (this time I was going to the ground floor).

Each elevator was named a different letter. After you select the floor you want, it would show you the letter and point you in the right direction of the elevator you would take. 

I walked a quarter mile (.8 km) back to my car and climbed seven more sets of stairs to reach my car in the garage on the seventh story. It had a great view!

I was glistening (AKA sweaty) by the end of the of all of it! I returned home right away and arrived home at about 5:30PM, almost 12 hours after I left home. 

Our visas are set to arrive at our home somewhere between August 3 and August 5. We are scheduled to fly out August 5, so we may have to reschedule our flight. Fingers crossed we don't have to do that! Almost there! 

Family Time!

On the plane to California to visit grandma, an aunt and uncle, some cousins, and a good friend and her son.

I love the sights from the airplane!

Playing a game with grandma!

Jelly Belly factory! 

Sunday best pictures! Even Teddy (grandma's dog) is getting in on the fun! 

Heading home.

The ocean!!! I miss it soooooo much! We lived three miles from the beach in California before moving to Texas!

Our connecting flight was delayed two hours. We didn't fly out until sunset which meant we got in at 1:00 in the morning in Texas.  

I had to finish my Japanese homework for my 9:30AM lesson! 

Love the city lights at night. 

After waiting for luggage, driving home, turning in Japanese homework, and settling down, I didn't get to sleep until about 3AM. 

C was so tired I found him the next morning sleeping in his glasses!

Packing and Storage Update

Ralph couldn't resist checking out this bookcase!

Our boys dismantled the bookshelf.

Ralph, managing supervisor,  reporting for duty!

These two will be spending the next two years together. They're all tucked in on the couch. 

They even have foam swords to defend themselves, should the need arise!

International Driving Permits

In order to be able to drive in Japan before we get a Japanese driver's license, you have to obtain an international driving permit in the country of which you are a citizen. Getting one in the US is valid for one year. We will need to carry our actual license when we drive, though. The document just includes a translation. We have heard it is a difficult driving portion of the driving test and it is not unusual for people to have to take it more than once! 

The pictures of us are actually pretty good!

There are translations of a US license in nine different languages. This is Japanese. 

Only a few more weeks! It's coming up quick!!!

Road Trip!

Stopping at Buc-ee's on a road trip is a Texas MUST DO! Meet Buc-ee the beaver!

Japanese Garden!

The Riverwalk was beautiful, but my children weren't impressed. 🤣😂

Old post office. 

Glad to check another Texas site off of our list before we move.