The Goodbye
Well, we managed to get moved out without incident. Ok, one broken chair but it was already partly broken anyway. Here’s the truck that took not only all our stuff away, but 3 other houses worth too. And our home all packed in boxes.

We said goodbye to our nice new (by New Jersey standards) home and after one last stop at Zazynias, our favorite restaurant, we said goodbye to Duvall.  We LOVED our time in Duvall and are leaving so many good memories and great friends.   Thank goodness for the internet.  Rock has a new slogan for Facebook.  “Facebook means never having to say Goodbye.”  We then headed to our hotel at the airport where we said goodbye to my parents. Sniff.  We will sure miss living that close to them. It’s been so nice to have family that close!

The Airplane
We got up early Wednesday morning and took the shuttle to the airport. When the driver of the shuttle asked us what airline we were flying Rock told him “Alaska”. Said Go Go incredulously, “We’re moving to ALASKA???!!!” I still don’t know how we managed to get 3 carseats, 4 BIG suitcases, and 3 big carry-ons up to the ticket counter, but we did. I’m sure we looked hilarious bumbling our way along the terminal. Believe it or not THAT was the hardest part of the whole trip! Blue Jeans did have a meltdown while waiting for the very slow check-in line. The only thing that would appease him was when I let him pull one of the carry-ons around. 

This become a hazard as he narrowly missed many an innocent traveler, but hey, I think most of them would take that over the screaming banshe.
We got settled onto the plane and before we had even taken off Blue Jeans had gone through our entire bag of tricks.  But we still got through the flight with no major incidents!  The boys were really pretty good.  Of course, the portable DVD player was very helpful. 

Auntie Bean, please notice the sunglasses.  Go Go would go NO WHERE without them.  Thanks so much. (grrr) If I hear, “Where are my sunglasses?!” one more time I’ll shoot myself!  It was a good source of humor for the flight attendants, though, I must say.  Blue Jeans of course would have none of the seatbelt.  He spent any time he had to be belted trying to take it off.  But luckily the flight attendants were understanding and the turbulence cooperative so he got to wiggle and wander between our seats a lot.

5 hours, 1 dirty diaper changed in an airplane bathroom (so fun!), 1 screaming fit (only) and lots of airplane snacks later, we landed in New Jersey.  Another fabulous quote from Go Go upon landing.  “Wow.  We were the MOST important people on this plane!”

Our next feat was to get the rental car which was a long walk and a bus ride away from the airport.  We decided not to try it with all our luggage and three boys who were bouncing off the walls by this point.  So the boys and I parked ourselves in the airport for 45 minutes while Rock went to get the car.  Like I said, the DVD player has become my very best friend.

Blue Jeans got bored with that after about 5 minutes and kept himself busy running from one thing to another.  Telephone booths, flirtatious female passengers and a hair pick in the holes of the seats kept him happy enough.

Finally we were able to check in to our hotel in Rutherford.  But we had some very hungry boys on our hands so we got to turn around and head back out.  We found the nearest Taco Bell which shall here after be known as the Explicit Lyrics Taco Bell.  I certainly hope not all fast food restaurants are like this here, but when the music on the radio being blasted in this Taco Bell was had me blushing, we couldn’t eat fast enough.  At last we were able to put the boys to bed about 11:00 (8 pm PST).  And that was the end of Day 1.  Stay tuned for more adventures from the great migration.