We have arrived!

Ok, so our trip started in Little Rock going to Dallas. We were lucky enough to get on an earlier flight because the weather was bad and we had no leeway if we missed our flight to Seattle. The kids were really good because they got to dig into their backpacks full of dollar store goodies. We got to Seattle and into our hotel about 7:30 their time which was 4:30 Little Rock time and ordered room service. After that, we pretty much just went to bed since we had to be up early. In his typical fashion, Tyler was up at 5:30...half hour before we needed to be. We got to the airport and all checked in and then did breakfast. The plane left a full hour early so we didn't have to wait very long at all. We left about 9:00 am Seattle time. Kurt had arranged seating, the guy told him that even though we wouldn't be sitting in the same row, we would like the seats he was giving us. Not sure who he was, but he deserves the greatest blessings God has to offer...he upgraded us to "business class" which, on this plane was first class! We had the first two rows so Tyler had the bulkead to play in when the weather was clear. Each of us had our own pull-out video monitor where we could access on-demand movies and play video games. I played a lot of "Bejeweled." So all-in-all the flight was good. The food was good (we ate twice) and besides just being needy constantly, the kids were as good as can be expected...with one major exception. Except for a twenty minute nap for Tyler and a short nap for Hannah, none of the kids slept on the plane. That meant only a short nap for me since I was sitting next to Ty. When I did sleep however, it was awesome because the seats reclined fully into bed position! When we got to Yokota, it didn't take us very long to pass customs and we were deposited into the terminal with all of our luggage (six bags, three carseats, five backpacks and a stroller). We immediately noticed all of the crazy drinks in the vending machines...all in Japanese. The other really weird thing was the hand dryers in the bathrooms, they were like industrial blowers and really effective and kind of fun! Our sponsors (Phillip and Jessica Newman) were there to pick us up with their two cars thank goodness and they showed us right to our hotel room, having picked up our keys for us too (and left a goodie bag of snacks and drinks which were so helpful since we had no food!). As we were getting out of he car, in the breezeway parking area at the front doors, Tyler had a coughing fit that started him gagging on phlegm and made him throw up. Hannah saw the throwup and threw up too - what a joy. We got them upstairs and cleaned up and headed out with the Newmans. I am really sorry to say that it didn't dawn on me to take my camera (by that time I had already been awake 17 long hours) but it was still light enough to see Mt. Fuji. We also got here in perfect time for Fall, the leaves are gorgeous and we have a great view from the TLF 4th floor. Anyway, we headed out to this really great traditional Japanese restaurant. As we pulled up, poor Hannah had just had it and threw up in Kurt's cupped hands (I am so proud of him for keeping it together!). The great thing about Japanese restaurants is that they have a hand-washing station between two sets of entry doors in the front lobby of the restaruant! So they put us in a little room and closed us in with sliding privacy doors...so Japanese, just like you would imagine. They seat you at a little square table (yes, you had to take your shoes off first) and it recessed into the floor so the seats were at floor level. There was a little metal grill in the center of the table with hot coals under it. They served you really thin slices of the raw meat of your choice and vegetables that you cooked right there. It was very similar to a Korean Barbecue. Some of the meat was really fatty, almost like bacon, but was really tasty! I guess it was a wake up call even though we had been told, but it was $100.00 for two plates of meat and some veggies for four people! So all three kids fell asleep in the booth and had to be carried up to bed. Oddly, it was Sarah that was up at 4:30 and Kurt too. Tyler was up about five and Hannah (mini me) and I were up at 6:30. We took the base bus over to the BX complex had lunch and came back. We looked at (and bought) a Mitsubishi mini-van and all I have to say is that we are really spoiled with options in the states like sliding side doors and cargo space. This car is really nice and is about like the sienna with features (no dvd) and milage, but only cost us $3,800.00 US. That is crazy to us! So Kurt is out right now looking at cell phones off base with Phillip Newman, the kids are napping (I will join them momentarily as I feel about hung over right now) and then we are going to Tokyo. Train tickets for our family one-way are $34 US! Wow, it is really a good thing for "cost of living allowance!" Great news is that this is the first overseas base to set up a US calling plan. You can pick the area code you want and anyone from home can call you as often as you want and vice versa. Supposedly the rates are in a package deal with your internet and cable for about $100.00 per month, but we will see. Since my parents don't have cell phones, we will likely get a NY area code and number...that will be funny. Also our cell phones will only be Japan-Japan phones and won't be used to call long-distance. We may look into video phone-by-computer, but we need to pick out a house first. There are three distinct areas of this base (which is huge!) and they have houses available in two of the three...now we have to pick which area. We have talked to a lot of people and usually they like the area they live in the best! So that is our last twenty-four hours. I will try to keep updating and will get pictures uploaded as soon as I have the patience to figure out why my Iphone won't sync with my laptop! Sayonara for now! (Oh, the cleaning lady already had to hug Tyler, she just loved him and the fact that he knew some Japanese words).