We are here!!!

What a crazy last few weeks it has been!!  We left Newport and flew to Chicago.  Dan left for about a week and then came back to Chicago.  We left Chicago for Hawaii after ten fun days of visiting with family and friends.  Yesterday was a very.very long day.  We woke up at 5:30am to return our rental car and get to the airport.  We then survived a 8 1/2 turned almost 10 hour flight from O'hare to Honolulu.  I told Dan after we landed that we deserved a medal!  The first 8 hours were really OK, but those last two the red headed babies were just besides themselves.  Mareea kept crying and could not stop.  However, everything considered, they did so well.  It was such a long time to sit and everyone kept telling me how well they behaved.  Stepping off that plane and walking outside was magnificent.  How I love the tropical breezes and sun!  We took mini van taxis to our hotel on the air force base.  It's actually a two bedroom, 1 bath apartment with a pull out couch in the living room.  There's a full kitchen with garbage disposal, fridge and dishwasher and a washer and dryer.  It's the best setup we've probably ever had.  We walked over to the food court and ate some overpriced fast food and then hit the commissary.  It's more expensive here than it was in Newport, but I was too tired to really pay attention.  By the we got home and put everything away I was about to collapse! 

This morning while Dan went to pick up our van from the place it was shipped to, we walked over to the park.  The kids had so much fun playing and then making sand castles in the sand that covers the floor of the park.  I just sat there in the sun and decided that I am NEVER leaving.  I can't imagine being back on the mainland in a big coat while it gets dark at 4:30!!  The sun stayed up until at least 6 (I cant' remember for sure, i was getting so tired) and came up at a normal hour, too!  We're doing OK with the jet lag I think.  The time change is 4 hours from Chicago so it's not too bad.  Last night the kids went to bed at 7 and I went to bed at 7:30.  I was up at 5:30, but I think that tomorrow I'll be more adjusted.  I'm sick which is not helping anything either.  I am praying to feel better soon because we are very busy with trying to get everything settled and I need my strength back! 

Today we went to housing in the morning.  They had one house for us.  It is over on Ford Island and is a four bedroom single family house.  It is a nice size and has a two car garage.  I'm not exactly sure where we'd home school, but I'm sure we could figure it out.  The best part is the HUGE kitchen.  Tons of cabinet space, an island with a bar and TWO big pantries...not to mention the side by side fridge/freezer and the biggest microwave I've ever seen.  The big drawback is the yard.  There is a (very) small fenced in section and then a lot of grass behind the house.  However, there are pretty much no trees and we're on the corner so right next to the road.  Ford Island can also get very hot.  The kids play outside so much that I'm worried what they would do without that ability.  There is a pool on the island (no kiddie pool though) and a park.  There are lots of neighbors which could be good or bad.  I also hate the idea of a second floor laundry.  I want the laundry to be on the main floor where I actually am, thus avoiding a huge interruption in my day every time I go to switch clothes over.  You don't think it would be a big deal??  I KNOW it would...been doing this too long.  Today we are going to look at 2 houses out in town to rent.  I have an appointment tomorrow morning to look at another house.  I have about 3 more people I'm trying to get ahold of to see their houses.  We have 48 hours to make a decision on the house they showed us so we'll look at some houses in town and then make our decision. 

Other than that, we're hoping to make it to the beach today.  Thea has been asking since she got up.  She is so thrilled to be here.  She told me she could go to the beach and surf because she was wearing shorts today!  She is so funny!  The boys keep saying how happy they are to be here and that makes me happy.  It sounds corny, but I feel like the breezes blow and tell me, "you're home, you're home" and I am just in love with this island. 

I forgot my camera and phone at my parents house and I'm so upset.  No pictures to document our first days here.  Oh well, I'm hoping to have an address here pretty soon so they can send them to me! 

That's about all.  More updates soon!