Culture Shock

SO a lot has gone on since I last wrote on here. So here we go: We found out after Thanksgiving that we would be moving to Misawa Japan in February. So we went on our crazy Christmas around the USA and saw all our family & Friends! It was a lot of fun and great to get to see everyone! We got Back the 2nd of January and and they came to pick up our stuff on the 7th. It was insanity! They send 3 groups of people and normally they come on 3 different days. One for storage (because your house is tiny and wont fit all your stuff), one 600 lb. load that will fly to Japan and get there in 4-6 weeks, and the third is the majority of your belongings that will go by boat and get to your destination in 2-6 months...BUT all three groups came the same day. It was a crazy few days, but in the end everything was gone and we were hopeful it would all make it there in one piece, lol...After they picked up our stuff we had 2 weeks to paint the entire inside of our house and baseboards, and clean everything before our renters were moving in. So we had some Amazing friends who came over and spent many a nights helping us paint and clean! Without them it would have never gotten done!!! We were fortunate enough to have some great friends we lived with the last 3 weeks we were in Alabama! It was so fun, but a bitter sweet! I miss them more than I can ever describe! We left Alabama the 2nd of February and headed Louisiana to see Kelly, Lacey & the boys for a couple of days and then headed to San Antonio to drop off Kiley's Rabbit Chloe to live at her Grandparents neighbors farm and to see Korry's parents, lol. We then headed to Dallas where we spent a few days at the Great Wolf Lodge with my sister and her family. It was great to get some time with them and not have to worry about anything! I am SO glad they got to come and see us before we left. We stayed in Dallas for the week and ran crazy errands trying to get everything done before we had to leave. We got to spend some time with my Mom & Tom and Korry Grandparents. I was so excited that my Grandparents made the trip to Dallas to see us before we left to! We were able to see a lot of family & friends before we left! It was great!!! We left Saturday morning the 16th heading to Seattle and then jumped on a plane to Japan that Sunday. We were so tired we got here checked into our hotel and had no jetlag...because we all slept for about 17 hours straight...Exhausting trip...BUT we were so glad not to be jet lagged, lol. Most of you know already, but a few weeks after we got here we found out my Dad had been taken to the hospital and passed away a few days later. I was not able to come home. This was the hardest situation. I am so thankful my brother is stationed right there, so he was able to be with him. I wish I was closer and could have been able to see him, but I know he is in Heaven with Bama (his Mom) and he is no longer in any pain. I can't even describe the loss you feel when something like this happens. The feelings of hopelessness and not being able to function sneak up on you in the craziest times and situations. I feel like the world is just passing by and I'm standing still. Everyone handles things differently and I've surprised myself in how I choose to handle this. I am sure in time it will get easier, but it's a day by day sometimes hour by hour process. I keep holding on to the memories I have! We got into a house shortly after we arrived here. It's not as bad as I thought it would be, so thats good, lol. No garage which was hard as we often get 12 inches of snow overnight apparently, lol. And during the summer we do not have AC here, so it gets very hot and humid...so we will have to find other ways of staying cool...We will be in the water a lot this summer I'm sure! :) Korry started his job and has quickly jumped in! Of course is doing a great job, as he always does! (Gotta Brag on him a little ;) Kiley is now enrolled in a Japanese, No English speaking, Gymnastics team. They're Amazing! She practices 3 times a week, about 9 hours a week. In Hachinohe, about 45 minutes away from where we live. She is learning fast that this is a WHOLE new playing field! She LOVES it though! It is really challenging her! We had parent teacher conferences last week and she is catching on to the new school. It was a little tougher this time around, but she has caught up, which I am relieved with! Kiley is also signed up to play baseball this summer...so I'm pretty sure this summer is going to be insane with all 3 in baseball and Kiley also doing gymnastics...Ahhh...the life with 3 active kids! Gotta love it... ;o) Brendan will start baseball in about 5-6 weeks. He is thrilled! He has been practicing and getting better and better! So I'm excited for him to get into something as well. We also had his parent teacher conference and he is doing Great! He LOVES school! He is exited in he mornings which is Great! He is the top of his class in reading and math. He is reading at a 2nd grade level. SO his teacher might recommend some gifted classes next year to challenge him more. So we shall see. Right now we're working on his hand writing...so he needs some pen pals...(hint, hint). ;) Bailey is Bailey. He is home with me and keeps me on my toes and laughing everyday! He is so different from the other 2 it's insane! Some of the things that come out of his mouth just shock me sometimes! He turned 4 today (I can't believe it) and had a bowling Mario Brothers Birthday party yesterday! It was a lot of fun! He will also be playing baseball this summer. He is SO excited to finally be able to play baseball on his OWN team! It'll be cute!!! As for me I have been busy trying to get things settled here and get everyone where they're supposed to be. I'm adjusting to Japan and getting out there, but I'm not gonna lie there have been times where I have Major Culture Shock! The language barrier is very overwhelming, but I'm sure in time I will learn more and more of what they're saying...or just get better at charades! ;o) We all got to go to a Japanese baseball game last weekend and it was fun. Different...but fun, lol. We are heading down to Tokyo for Memorial Day weekend. So that will be interesting...we're planning on going to Tokyo DIsney for a day, Tokyo Tower and sightseeing the other. We're taking the bullet train, so the kids are thrilled about that. a 4 hour trip instead of the 12 hour driving trip! :o) I'M excited about that! Driving around here is a joke! Anyway...I hope you all have a great weekend! We miss everyone very much! We Love You! :)