Waiting at LAX

Watching Airplanes in Boise

BOI - Awaiting our first flight

Jones Raring to Go!

We are in the Los Angeles Airport at the Tom Bradley International terminal having a good time waiting for our evening flight to Sydney!  Our bags are checked through all the way to Alice Springs, which is awesome, but we have to pick them up in Sydney to go through customs and then give them back for that last flight.  We left Boise at 11 am and arrived in LA a couple hours later, with no problems with either the flight or with motion sickness...YES!!  Beaux, Jones and Hilary are medicated of course...The first class flight is pretty posh, wow!  We got warm towels to wash our hands with before our complimentary box of food and fresh coffee/juice.  The kids loved having a fresh fleece blanket to snuggle when it got cold!  With 5 of the 6 first class seats being taken by our family, it was a pretty comfortable way to travel. 


Beaux and Jax enroute to LA

Finding our way from the arrival gate to the international section was a little tricky, but we caught a shuttle and made it just fine.  Checked-in with Qantas and had some lunch (McDonald's for the kids and a mexican place for the grown-ups).  Then on re-entry into the secure areas, Hilary forgot to empty her water bottle and had to be escorted back to the end of the line and had to try again!!  She took out her little baggie of toothpaste and mascara, but forgot all about the water, of course!  Now, finally we are just waiting in the Qantas Lounge with free drinks/snacks/sitting areas/computers until we need to leave tonight.  Trent said there are even showers...If only Hilary had known!  Jax and Beaux are playing quietly with toys from their carry-on and Jones is playing PoissonRouge on the computer. 

Playing Computer at the Lounge

It may be a long night, but spirits are good so far and we are having a great time.  We also found out that our Sponsor will be renting a 12-passenger van, so he will have plenty of room for our luggage.  Good news!

Off we go!

On the water

Well, tomorrow is the big day!  After a long couple of weeks we are finally ready to get on the plane tomorrow!

Yesterday we were going to take the kids for one last hurrah at the water park, but it was closed for the start of school.  Instead, we took them to Wahooz, which most of you know is an amusement park of sorts.  They have small go-karts the kids can drive, bumper boats, mini golf and an arcade.  We went there in the morning and stayed until dinner time.  My parents came around three o'clock to hang out with the kids while Hilary and I signed papers on the house.  We are glad that is done!

Waiting to burn rubber

Today we ran a bunch of errands got packed up (again) and spent our last hour or so with the family and had a few teary goodbyes...
I didn't get a chance to say it at the time, but we have been so blessed and lucky to have so much great family living so close!  It was always a dream of mine to have our kids grow up with Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins all close together.  We will miss everyone - I think in ways we haven't yet fully realized...  It is a bitter sweet time for us; excited for our new adventures and sad to leave so many great family members and friends.

In persuit of the checkered flag

Our goal is to post to this blog often while we are travelling, so check back frequently to get the updates!  Time for bed!

Trent

Packout

Today is the last day the movers will be here and the last day we will be at our house.  The movers have been here for four days, and everything has gone pretty well.  Mom and Dad have been a huge help at the house and Janine has done a great job entertaining the kids when she isn't working!  The kids have been doing awesome though and have been real troopers!

Beaux and Grandma Debbie playing Lego's on the last moving day

Grandpa Craig telling one of his many Tarzan stories
to Jones and Jaxon on the last moving day

Hilary had a crown break on Wednesday, one of the ones put on by a dentist that we had problems with a couple of years back.  Our current (and very good) dentist put a temporary on and will have a new one ready to put in on Tuesday next week.  That cuts it close, as we will be flying out on Wednesday to Australia!  It was great that the dentist has been able to get her in on very short notice.  We also discovered some problems with our medical/dental insurance that we probably wouldn't have found out if this didn't happen.  I was able to make some changes to get everything straightened out, but only barely as it was the last day to change benefits since my start date with my new company on 7/23.

We were supposed to have closed on our house on Tuesday, but due to some unforeseen delays by the lender, we may sign papers today or possibly early next week.  That is also cutting it close!

The kids and I played hide and seek in our mostly empty house this morning while we were waiting for the movers to show up.  I think it was the most fun they have ever had playing hide and seek in this house!  They have all kinds of new and interesting hiding places!

Early morning hide-and-seekers

We have been in a hotel since the night before the movers came (Monday night).  We have gone swimming everyday since.  The kids really enjoy swimming and have really gotten good at swimming!  They jump and swim in the deep end all night and are losing their fear completely.  Grandpa Pop Corn has been there two of the nights and Uncle Jeff even got to swim with us last night!

We thought today would be our last busy day before we leave, but the way things have been shaping up, it appears we will be busy until the very minute we set foot on the plane!  We are looking forward to being done and getting this show on the road!

We are hoping to spend some time with family and friends before we go.  Things keep popping up and making that more difficult, but we are sure trying!

Trent

Back again

It has been awhile since the first post...  We've been pretty busy I guess!  Well, our house sold in three days!  That was quite a load off.  There were a lot of views and inspections, etc. those first couple of weeks after the house went on the market, and then it was Beaux's birthday.  The time went by very fast!  I also stumbled across a buyer for my truck, which was also a concern.  Things seem to be falling into place quite nicely!

Beaux loved her new coon skin cap and camera

Our princess birthday morning

Beaux had the normal two birthdays around here.  The first was her actual birthday party, opening presents and then off to Jump Time, which is a trampoline house.  She ended up spraining both of her ankles, but was mostly recovered in a week or so.  The second was at pizza night on Friday, which she also loved!  It is nice to have such great family around, something we will miss very much while we are in Australia!

 The very next Sunday I was off to Dallas, TX where I did new hire orientation and training for a week, and then got my feet wet a bit with my new job for the next couple of weeks.  I worked with several very nice people, none of which I will be working with in Australia!  After a long day of flying and a very delayed flight to Boise, I got home late Thursday evening.  I missed Hilary and the kids a ton, and it was great to come back to all of the excitement and hugs.  It almost brings a tear to a grown man's eyes!  :-)

Jones at Texas Roadhouse rubbing his stuffed belly

Now that I am back, we have our work cut out for us trying to get our household ready to pack up.  We didn't do too much on Friday so I could spend some time with the kids, but Saturday we started hitting it pretty hard.  Our church (New Beginnings Christian Church in Kuna) gave us a card and gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse to show us their appreciation for our involvement there, so Saturday night we went out and enjoyed some great food there.  The kids have always loved Texas Roadhouse, so it was a hit.  We ate way too much and enjoyed every bit of it!  Thanks NBCC!

We have only one week left until the movers come and more work than we can shake a stick at.  Hopefully we can write again soon.

Take care,

Trent