The Fry Family preparing to move to New Zealand-in 4 minutes and 21 seconds PART 2

mom continues to pack things in boxes. Kids continue to unpack things out of boxes. Mom gets faster out of desperation and tapes things well enough that even Ethne call pull the tape off.

Garrett finishes at IMD and starts to work with mom on moving preparations full time. Mom sighs in relief. We move things to the storage unit in stages take a few more runs to Goodwill and start giving away things like mad.

Visa paperwork gets finished and mailed in by the skin of dad's teeth. Car insurance, registration, renters insurance, shipping insurance, cars, etc... have to be dealt with. The whole family goes shopping for luggage as we have recently decided to take the max. amount we are allowed. 10 checked bags, 5 carry on's and 5 personal items--shoot do we take the violin on the plane? risk shipping? risk checking? Carry on wins out!

Shipping takes a week to figure out and after three companies and packing un-packing and re-packing the 36 boxes are done-labeled on three sides driven to Santa Rosa loaded onto a palate and wrapped up by dad. BIG VICTORY!

Dad is tired and very sore-needs a back massage. Mom needs one too but not as bad as Dad so he wins out and gets the massage. mom and dad are still up really late every night and feel like zombies everyday.

All of this is taking place in a war zone which must be cleaned up to perfection every day to every other day so we can show it to perspective renters and get out of our year contract we signed. Finally with one week left we have rented it. Big Victory!

The last week and a half everyone gets sick again gets well for a few days then gets sick AGAIN. The last day in Petaluma Ethne has been running a high fever off and on for 3 days. She is very sick and only wants to be held by mom which is really stressful and hard. One disaster after another occurs until at 2:45 we check out with landlords-finishing up with them at 3:45 then we have to finish a few things for them. Move a last load to the storage unit, pack up all the luggage, make a run to the city dump, give away things we forgot were in the shed out back to avoid another run to the storage unit, get everyone fed, drive to Cox house to give them gas cans we can't get rid of, close out safety deposit box, and drive to landlords to sign final papers and pick up our copy.

In the last week we have said goodbye to many really close friends and we will miss them terribly as well as all of our family members and other friends who aren't here in Petaluma. We love and miss you guys already. Don't forget us!

Mom takes three tired, crabby, smelly kids to Pablo's for their last time and lets them eat whatever they want. Enoch gets what he always gets-the shrimp burrito. Ezra gets what he always gets (now that he is tired of shrimp burritos). Ethne is too sick to eat but surprises mom by chowing on chips dipped until soggy in the enchilada sauce that Pablo always brings out for the kids. Mom shares the nachos with Ezra but has no appetite and we do what we never do and have horchata's all around. We almost cry as we say goodbye to Pablo and Hector and Pablo's amazing Mexican food.

At 6:30pm we start on our 2 hour drive to Morgan Hill to move in with Grandparents for the last 11 days before we fly out. Ethne is in tears Enoch and Ezra are watching Charlie and Lola in the car and mom wants to cry but is just too exhausted. Ethne hasn't had a nap the entire day, is running a 104 plus fever by the end of the night and has been a complete disaster the entire day. Mom and Dad are dirty, smelly, worn out and out of sorts. Enoch and Ezra are the same but just happy to be watching Charlie and Lola.

Mom prays Ethne will fall asleep and not wake up the whole drive. Enoch and Ezra wake Ethne up a few times but she goes back to sleep. Mom can't stand Dad driving so slow so she flashes her lights at him and he responds by turning on his cell and calling (a signal that has been worked out ahead of time since Dad's phone is almost dead). They have words about driving and dad drives faster-temporarily and finally mom passes him and thinks maybe he will have better luck keeping up with her. He doesn't know she passes him and can't figure out where she is. He calls several times and can't reach her and pulls over to text her. She explains and the keep on going. Mom gets to grandparents before dad and unloads sleepy children to visit with Grandma and stretch their legs until Dad pulls up and we put them to bed.

Stage 2 and 3 complete.

Really this doesn't do the whole experience justice. But I am too tired to think of all the details right now. Maybe I will add some in later on. Just know the whole experience was much much more painful than it sounds :)

Stage 2 and 3 complete.