So, we are finally here...it actually did happen!!!

What a whirlwind it has been since we left NC!!!
End of June:
-got all our passports...sent away for 5 Visas (Josh didn’t need one)..that wasn’t an easy process
-had 3 different shipments to take our things away: 1 to storage, 1 big household goods that will arrive in late August, and 1 express shipment that will come in July
-slept on the floor while we waited for the last day of school
-cried a lot while telling friends goodbye
-went to beach for 2 beautiful long weeks
-returned to Sanford to finish cleaning house...
-recieved VISAS!!! Yay!
-went to Charlotte

After we left Charlotte and had said all of our goodbyes from Greensboro, the beach and Charlotte, we started what the girls referred to as “our phases”.
Phase 1: head to Raleigh to spend the night and get ready to take Annie to the airport. The girls were thrilled with the hotel room. They really are very easy when it comes to that! We swam and then walked to dinner. Very nice night. Got up the next morning to take Annie to RDU. That didn’t go as planned. Bottom line is that her kennel was too small according to their standards, so we had to call all over the Raliegh Durham area to find one. Finally after about 10 stores, we found the last one in Durahm. We got it, made her another flight for the next day, found someone who would kennel her for the night and then take her to the airport the next day. I wish it was as easy as I just typed it, but it wasn’t. It took about 5 heart atttacks and 6 hours to figure out all that. Then we headed to Charleston for Phase 2!!
Phase 2: sleep in a beautiful Charleston hotel room and head to the airport the next day!! Josh got up and took the car to the port to have it shipped over here and then came back for us. We loaded all 12 suitcases in a shuttle and headed to the airport. The girls were excited by nervous. The plane was small, but it was on-time. We took off with a few tears and hand holding, but it was a quick flight. Once we landed in Dulles, the girls were playing cards and laughing and ready for the next flight.
Phase 3: big airplane to London! The girls were so excited because of the movie choices. Madeline watched at least 6 movies on the flight..the first 20 minutes of them. We slept a little, but not great, so when we landed in London at 6:30 am, we were going on fumes!
 We went through customs and got all our luggage and found a place to wait for our ride and to go collect Annie.

That part didn’t go so well. First, it was the hottest day in the world there, and no one has AC. We waited at the animal pick up stop for 4 hours in the hot van. Genny slept, I tried, the rest of us just paced around. At that end of that time, we found out that she had arrived 10 hours past the quarantined time of a tape worm test, so she was going to need one and stay for 24 hours.
 So, we headed to Cheltenham. Our wonderful sponsers had set up a 2 bedroom furnished apartment for us to stay in! It was so beautiful and nice to sleep in a bed.
 We spent the next few days just sleeping and wondering around. It took awhile to get our body clocks right.
 One thing I know is that Cheltenham is so beautiful and I can’t wait to find my way around here!!

 Josh made the girls suitcase beds once we landed in London while we were waiting for our ride!

 Long line waiting to go through customs. We were very foggy eyed that morning!

 Genny found a way to sleep in the hot hot hot van!! Lucky girl

Girls getting on the first plane! They were so nervous!!