we got our reservations!

we leave utah on march 4th. we got the reservations for march 7th for the ferry. i can't believe it's almost here.

we still have so much to do. ken has one more week off of work, and then he returns for a very brief period of time. we have appointments with the moving office here on base. then the packers come. then the movers. then we have to have the house cleaned. inspections. we have to get an engine block heater put on our van next week. get a full size spare tire for the trip, bc of all the bad roads further north. move into temporary lodging while the house is packed/moved. get all of our medical records from the various places we have used. get clearance from the vet. drugs so no one pukes on the boat. i still need to talk to emma's school about her last day. we just found out yesterday that we were leaving on the 4th. we didn't want to tell the school anything until we had a set date.

i have been making lists like crazy. lists of what to take with us in the van. lists of what needs to go on top of the van in the cargo box. i have itemized lists of every item of clothing. every food item. things to purchase before we leave. in 4 weeks, we will be on the ferry. so, less than 5 weeks, we will be in alaska. i'm so excited.

i am still a bit sad that we'll be so far from everyone, but i have no doubt that we will make the best of our stay there. i am looking forward to so many things. maybe not the darkness, but i have a plan for that. thankfully, we will be arriving when each day will bring more light than the day before. and in a few months, we will be experiencing sunlight until late at night.

i even bought myself snow pants and an actual winter jacket. those of you who know me well, you know that i've always disliked the snow. i really don't see any purpose to it. i have lived 4 years in a place where it snows for months out of the year, and yet i resisted snow gear. i even bought snow boots. ken's parents sent us a gift card to llbean.com, and i used the money to buy a toboggan. a large one. which means i will *have* to ride on it. i guess i am giving in to what is inevitable. more snow.

i wish i could make the next month go by instantly so we could just get this move over with. i am ready to be in our new home, and i'm ready to start meeting new people.