We are getting closer to officially stepping off into the abyss, and traveling to get our kids. This is awesome, but there is still so much uncertainty about how long we'll have to stay in U~ before the US starts issuing visas again. We thought the issue was all worked out, but no, not yet. We've been making preparations for all of us to go there from here (NZ) and then dh would come back and work while the kids and I wait it out in U~. That plan we have our heads around...
Here's where it gets tricky...
I have been notified that I have an appointment in Canada to finish my Canadian citizenship on May 25th. I am thinking that it might be nice to fly there with the kids (these tickets would be paid for by dh's work) then get our stuff from there and drive down to california (in a 14' Uhaul) to leave our stuff in my parents garage (because our next move will be to California), and visit with everyone there (family and friends we haven't seen in about 2 years, including my mom, brother and his dd) until we get the call to go to U~. This means we would be leaving NZ, possibly forever, in exactly two weeks, though my dh would return here to continue working -- he JUST got a promotion, of course, though he will come to california as soon as we are there with the new kiddos and he has work there. We have to get his US immigration stuff finished up (he has his appointment with the US embassy in Auckland the same day I would have my citizenship appt in Canada, HILARIOUSLY ENOUGH
) and then he'll be legal to work in California. He would meet us in U~ to get custody of the kids, and he could stay for a week or two, then he'd return here and we'd stay in U~ until we get visas to enter the US, and honestly, at this point, it's anyone's guess how long that will take.
so, yeah, a little overwhelmed. it's too much to deal with, but we have to just be brave and plunge forward. I could skip the trip to Vancouver to get my citizenship and the moving of our stuff to California, but it kind of makes a lot of sense to just get these things over and done. If I skip this citizenship appointment, I will have been out of Canada for too long, and I will lose my permanent residency, and have to start from scratch if (when) we ever decide to move back there. I would love to see my friends and family in california, especially since I have no idea when we'll be able to come back from U~.
I need a glass of wine, some take-out Indian, and a hilarious movie, I'll be back tomorrow to read your words of encouragement.
Here's where it gets tricky...
I have been notified that I have an appointment in Canada to finish my Canadian citizenship on May 25th. I am thinking that it might be nice to fly there with the kids (these tickets would be paid for by dh's work) then get our stuff from there and drive down to california (in a 14' Uhaul) to leave our stuff in my parents garage (because our next move will be to California), and visit with everyone there (family and friends we haven't seen in about 2 years, including my mom, brother and his dd) until we get the call to go to U~. This means we would be leaving NZ, possibly forever, in exactly two weeks, though my dh would return here to continue working -- he JUST got a promotion, of course, though he will come to california as soon as we are there with the new kiddos and he has work there. We have to get his US immigration stuff finished up (he has his appointment with the US embassy in Auckland the same day I would have my citizenship appt in Canada, HILARIOUSLY ENOUGH
) and then he'll be legal to work in California. He would meet us in U~ to get custody of the kids, and he could stay for a week or two, then he'd return here and we'd stay in U~ until we get visas to enter the US, and honestly, at this point, it's anyone's guess how long that will take.so, yeah, a little overwhelmed. it's too much to deal with, but we have to just be brave and plunge forward. I could skip the trip to Vancouver to get my citizenship and the moving of our stuff to California, but it kind of makes a lot of sense to just get these things over and done. If I skip this citizenship appointment, I will have been out of Canada for too long, and I will lose my permanent residency, and have to start from scratch if (when) we ever decide to move back there. I would love to see my friends and family in california, especially since I have no idea when we'll be able to come back from U~.
I need a glass of wine, some take-out Indian, and a hilarious movie, I'll be back tomorrow to read your words of encouragement.
hey, at least I don't have to make it or clean it up! 
