GO!!!

January 16th dawned COLD in Brighton, MI. The temperature on our departure day was a ridiculous -7 degrees Fahrenheit while we were loading up the cars. The girls actually chose to go out and play in the snow for a few minutes before we left - their last chance for the foreseeable future.
Keith and Julie VanHouten volunteered to take us to the airport, and Keith had borrowed a van to haul our stuff - which was a good thing because we had LOTS of stuff! After packing enough clothes for 10-14 days for each of us, toys to keep us entertained for the first 6 weeks, toiletries, bedding, a few transformers, lots of books, two laptops and the Wii, we ended up with 10 checked bags, 2 carseats, 2 carry-on suitcases, 4 backpacks, a computer case and my purse/tote. We needed sherpas...

With the stuff loaded in the van, we said a final goodbye to our house (sniff, sniff), packed the girls into another car and headed for the airport. Our entrance at the airport was nearly comical. Jeff had a plan in place to wave a fair amount of money in the direction of the first porter and request assistance - it was a good plan. We never could have made it through the terminal on our own, but with the porter and a very large cart, it wasn't too difficult. It was too cold to dally outside with long goodbyes, so after a few tears and lots of hugs, we left the VanHoutens and followed the towering cart into the terminal. I had to brace McKenna, who was right on the edge of tipping over backward under the weight of her backpack. Amazingly, all of those bags were checked in without a single extra bag or overweight charge!!! We did have to do some repacking at the check-in counter to move 5 lbs from one bag to a lighter one, but that was the one and only hiccup.

Once the bags were checked through, it was a bit easier going. And then it got downright "cushy" once we were on the plane. Business class seats are a wonderful thing, and the girls were spoiled rotten by the flight attendants who don't often see kids in their section. The girls did fantastic on the flight - watching movies, reading, and SLEEPING (thank goodness!!!)

Our bodies thought it was about 4 am when we landed in Tokyo, so the girls were a bit out of it as we deplaned and went through a security check before reboarding for our connection to Shanghai. They immediately went right back to sleep and were all but unconscious through the 3 1/2 hour flight. When we woke them, both were complaining of upset stomachs, and in the end, Kayla had to carry an airsickness bag with her as we made our way through the airport. We made it through customs without incident, and then pulled all 10 bags and the carseats off the baggage claim carousel. Visitors can't come into the baggage claim area at the international terminal, so the four of us had to get all of that stuff out into the lobby on our own. We put our kids to work - McKenna had to carry her booster seat and we had to have Kayla push a luggage cart - we just couldn't pile all of that stuff on two. And so the four of us paraded out through 4 switchback lanes until we reached our awaiting drivers and guide. I can't begin to imagine what a sight we would have been - Kayla pushing her cart and holding her airsickness bag. McKenna all but tipping over backward under the weight of her backpack, and all of us rumpled and tired from our 18 hour trip. Nice...