From New Orleans to Seoul

I probably would have a lot more content on here if I hadn't forgotten how to find the blog.  Oh well.  

We made it.  All 6 of us survived the trip.  

I consider the adventure to have started once we left Pensacola.  We drove to New Orleans, stopping just on the border of MS/LA for lunch at Whataburger.  I had just been telling Kevin how behind Mississippi was.  My assertion was confirmed when we asked the cashier if there was free wi-fi.  "Huh?  What's that?" (The Whataburger in Pensacola had free wi-fi).

Anyway, the adventure continued.  We drove into New Orleans, my first time seeing it after Katrina.  They have recovered nicely.  It looked exactly the same.  We checked into the hotel, and went out to explore.  Accidentally drove down Bourbon St. with the windows down.  At least it was early in the afternoon!!  Saw the Mississippi River, ate beignets at Cafe Du Monde, realized we forgot diaper bag, drove back 20 minutes to get it, drove back downtown and ate at Bubba Gump's (a chain, but still fun).  Went back to hotel, slept.  

Early in the day, Kevin, Jacob and Ethan dropped the van off at the shipping office.  Went for a long walk in the shopping center by the hotel.  Lorri got blisters.  Whined.  Got new shoes.  Went for lunch @ a Mexican joint.  Went back to hotel to swim at pool.  Jacob's new swim trunks fell down.  Lorri sprints back to the shopping center in her new shoes.  Gets new blister.  Gets swim trunks.  Returns to hotel to save the swim excursion.  Go to pool, take a polar plunge.  Freeze for 13 minutes, everyone back to the room.  Kevin sends Lorri to find a pair of shoes that won't give blisters.  Lorri returns, victorious.  Get ready for dinner.  Meet up with great college pals Jill & Apryl and lovely families.  Have a blast, act silly after dinner, give hugs and return to hotel.  Early to bed for everyone.  Wake up call at 3:00am.  

4:00am: shuffle 4 sleepy kids, 12 suitcases, 4 backpacks, two umbrella strollers, two car seats and a messenger bag without the shoulder strap to the shuttle cars.  Arrive at airport.  Arrive 30 before any agents are scheduled to be in...oops.  Check in for flight, get through security.  Wait for our plane.  Walk to board plane, Owen steps on plane, turns around and says "Let me off".  Kevin carries screaming Owen onto plane.  People stare.    Owen cries.  Owen has flashbacks of pain from the summer trip to Alaska where his ears were all messed up.  Owen calms down somewhat.  Get to Atlanta, make it to terminal.  Lorri sent to grab breakfast for us to eat while we wait.  Jacob chases Lorri 2 minutes later to retrieve her as they announced boarding.  Kevin sprints to a newspaper stand and we have a beef jerky and chips breakfast.  Board plane. Owen doesn't freak this time.  Fly.  Fly some more.  Fly 15 hours.  Fly over Canada, Alaska, Russia.  Fly north of the Arctic circle on the Great Circle Route.  Lots and lots of snow and ice to see.

Get off plane, dazed and confused.  The airport is empty.  It is mid-day.  Lorri wonders if she is dreaming.  Walk.  Go through ROK immigration and get passports stamped.  Walk.  Retrieve luggage.  Walk.  Go through customs.  Meet our USMC sponsor (Maj Jason Guello) and some other Marines.  Load two vans with our luggage and family.  Ride a very scary 1 hour ride to Seoul with a young Marine driving.  

Check in at the Dragon Hill Lodge. Have Pizza Hut delivered to room.  Try to stay awake.  Iron Easter clothes.  Everyone crashes: 7pm.  

1:00am- Owen and Anna Grace wake up and are ready for the day.  Put on Backyardigans.  

5:00am-Kevin takes all 4 kids for a walk.  Come back at 6:00am with a huge apple danish.  Kevin discovers an assortment of goodies from the Easter Bunny.  Go back out at 7:30 to playground.  Playground closed.  Play anyway.  Come back at 9:00.  Get ready for Easter service at Chapel.  Walk to Chapel.  Babies go to nursery without hesitation.  Kevin and Lorri scratch their heads.  Listen to message.  Enjoy free fellowship snack.  Go to room, change clothes.  Meet Guello family for Easter Brunch.  Send kids out for the egg hunt at the lodge.  Hang out in room.  Forgot what we did for dinner.  Kids were sleepy at 5:00.  Made them play on playground.  Observed Owen running on playground with eyes closed.  

O.K.  I am getting tired of this play by play.  So I will sum it up.  We ate out every meal except breakfast (cereal in room).  Every night, the kids would start falling asleep at dinner.  Lorri got extremely frustrated with living out of suitcases.  Watched a lot of cartoons.  Played on playground.  Did laundry.  

And that...was our adventure from New Orleans to Seoul.