USJ 25th Anniversary – Part 10 - Return From Japan

 

April 2, 2026

The night before, we had sorted and re-packed our suitcases for the trip home. We put the dirty clothes in one and the few remaining clean ones in the other. We also tried to even out the weight. We took ten books. Two were for the raffle at the party. Noriko ordered one. We gave another to one of our Japanese “kids.” We still had six, so we split them between our two suitcases.

Our sweet room support clerk, Setsuko Washio, had been off the previous two days, so we hadn’t seen her. However, she was supposed to be back on this day, so we left one out and signed it for her.

We savored one last breakfast and watched all the families preparing for their day in the park.

As we walked toward the elevator, I spotted Setsuko. She saw me about the same time and ran over to say hello. We talked for a couple of minutes while Larry went upstairs to pick up the book we had signed for her. When we gave it to her, she said, “Oh, thank you! I was going to ask where I could get a copy.” Sadly, we did not take a picture of her.

We spoke for a while longer, and then we returned to the room to complete our last preparations. We had to check out by 11:30, so we took the bags downstairs, checked out, and left our bags in the storage area. We would not be picked up until about 3:00 by the airport transportation company.

We took a last, long walk around CityWalk and over to the front of the park. We hadn’t planned to go into the park on this trip. Two years before, we had gone with friends and had seen all the new rides. We’d also checked to be sure our names were still on the windows above the candy store next to the main lagoon. They were.

Many of the original attractions (like E.T., Backdraft, T-2, Animal Actors Stage, the Western Stunt Show—in fact the whole Western area) were gone. The team windows, which had been on those buildings, were also gone. Larry’s major attractions—JAWS, WaterWorld, and Jurassic Park—as well as the rest of his area, were still intact. On that trip, Jurassic Park was closed for refurbishment, and we couldn’t get to the WaterWorld show, but we did ride on JAWS and saw his “footprints” on the beach of Amity Island.

This trip was about people. Our days were packed with visits with our Japanese “kids,” good friends, and teammates. I loved every minute of it!

We walked around the Universal Store once more, but we didn’t see anything else we needed to buy.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at Starbucks. I didn’t need any more mugs. We already had two from Osaka (one from our original stay there and another from the 10^th anniversary trip in 2011), but I had seen a Japan mug with the sakura (cherry blossoms) on it. Since our return trips had all occurred in March, they had been in bloom for each trip. This one was no exception. Besides, I wanted another memento from this trip…

When we entered, we saw Lou Noy. We had met him and his family there on the morning of the party, too.

I had just bought my mug when Atsuko Sera stopped by. So, another mini-reunion.

Atsuko Sera, me, Lou

She had to catch a train, and Lou was waiting for his wife and daughter. Larry brought our cappuccinos just before they arrived. Lou said they were making one more pass at the stores to be sure they hadn’t missed a retail opportunity!

They were leaving at the same time we were, so we all walked back to the hotel and sat in the lobby. He said he thought he should read our book again and asked if he could buy one.

Larry got one out of his bag in the storage area and brought it over to us.

When it was close to time for our pick-up, we got our bags and made our way out to the front waiting area. Setsuko was working there, so we had a couple of minutes to spend with her before our car showed up. Lou’s arrived just ahead of ours.

We made good time getting to the airport, checked in, and then headed for our gate. When we got there, we were surprised to see George and Donna Johnson. Turned out, they were on the same flight. We had a wait since the plane didn’t leave until close to six, so we sat and talked.

Finally, it was time to board. The process went smoothly. We waved good-bye to the Johnsons since they were in a different area of the plane. Our flight ended in L.A., and they had a connecting flight to catch once we landed.

The trip home was uneventful. I watched a couple of movies, but then I plugged in my iPod and listened to music. I think I dozed for a while.

Since we were now headed east, we picked up the day we had lost on the way over and landed in the morning of the same day.

Customs was easy, and it didn’t take long to leave the airport. Chris (our driver) was there waiting for us.

On the way home, we told him all about our trip.

Once we got inside the house, Larry took the bag with our dirty laundry to the garage and started a load.

I took the other bag upstairs on the lift. Best investment we’ve made in the house in years.

I unloaded the toiletries and other items we would need but left the rest for the morning.

There wasn’t much to eat in the house since had tried to use up everything before we left. Larry got some fast food, and we had a small meal.

It wasn’t yet time to sleep, but the time change had caught up to us. We went to bed early.

April 3, 2026

This was Larry’s birthday, but we spent it unpacking and putting things away. Got most everything done.

I put on my new USJ 25^th Anniversary shirt, and Larry took a picture. I look like I’m frowning, but it was bright in the sunshine.

That evening was Flick Fellowship, where we meet with a group and discuss a movie. Since we had left the house clean before we left, and the cleaners had come on the 1^st, we didn’t have to do much except set out the extra chairs and get our food for the potluck meal. I also bought a small ice cream cake for Larry’s birthday. For this meeting, we had decided to show the DVD of a movie I loved, Rental Family. I had watched it again a couple of times on the plane and still loved it. So did the rest of the group.

But our day wasn’t quite over.

We had to drive to San Juan to pick up my cousins, Linda & David Salmon, who live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They had spent the previous week with their son and his family seeing Disneyland and Universal. That day was their Universal day, and they caught the Metro train from there to San Juan. They got in around eleven p.m.

Larry drove around while I waited for their train. It wasn’t a long wait.

We were so glad to see them.

They were tired from their busy week and day, and we hadn’t quite adjusted to the time change, so we all went to bed as soon as we got home.

April 4, 2026

Spent the day with the cousins catching up. Lots to talk about. They were about to undertake a foreign mission. Dave explained it to us. He is an attorney, so he would be helping expats deal with legal issues. Turns out, one of my dear high school friends had done exactly the same thing a couple of years earlier. I decided to call him, and I did.

As always, I loved hearing his voice and knowing he was well and happy. I asked if he would talk to Linda and David and answer their questions. Because he genuinely is one of the nice guys, he said he’d be glad to, so they went into the next room and talked with him for a while. Very grateful for terrific friends!

That night, I had made reservations at the Wind and Sea Restaurant for the four of us to celebrate Larry’s birthday together. We had a terrific meal (as always).

David, Linda, me and Larry. Happy birthday!

We didn’t cut his cake until the next day. They stayed a couple more days, including Easter Sunday. We always enjoy being with them.

Their visit was the perfect way to end a great trip.

USJ 25th Anniversary – Part 9 - Closing a Circle

 April 1, 2026

We ate breakfast at the hotel as usual, and as usual, loved watching all the kids excited about going to the park. This had become one of my very favorite parts of our day.

Afterward, we walked around CityWalk, visited the USJ store, and picked up a few gift items to take home with us.

We had made arrangements for our #2 Japanese daughter, Yasuko, and her husband, Toshiyuki, to meet us for dinner in Lounge 6 at our hotel. This was like another closing of a chapter in Japan for me.

On the first night I arrived in Japan, Yasuko and Toshi met us at the Hilton, where we were staying. Larry had made a very big deal about how the Japanese did NOT appreciate public displays of affection. He’d said, “I know you always greet everyone with a hug and kiss, but please don’t do it in Japan. I’m going to be working with these people for several years, and I don’t want to be embarrassed.”

He was right to mention this, since anyone who knows me knows I am a hugger. All our kids know this, too. However, I was determined not to knowingly break any local taboos while we lived there. (I removed my shoes when entering buildings. I didn’t blow my nose in public. Etc.)

From the moment I got on the plane, I kept reminding myself that I couldn’t greet anyone with a hug or kiss in public—even Larry. So, when I got off the plane, I refrained from my usual greeting and even holding hands (which we did all the time.)

We arrived at the hotel and took my bags to our room. (Larry had been there for about a week for a business trip before I arrived.)

Then we went to the lobby to await our “kids’” arrival.

Before too long, I looked down the long side hallway and spotted Yasuko. Toshi (whom we had not met yet) followed her carrying their two-year-old son, Daisuke.

As soon as she spotted me, she began to run toward me with open arms, grinning like crazy. When she reached me, she gave me a huge hug. Of course, I responded in kind. And suddenly I knew I’d be just fine! Then she hugged her “dad.” He had no choice and even looked pleased.

We met Toshi, who also hugged both of us. In public, where everyone could see.

I think we must have looked a bit scary to Daisuke. He had no idea who these strange people were and clung to his parents.

We went to dinner at a terrific Brazilian restaurant. Then we walked around the Asian Trade Center.

When he got outside, Daisuke ran around and seemed more comfortable with us. He finally let me hold him, and Yasuko took a photo of Larry and Toshi with me holding the little guy.

When we returned to Hollywood, I was asked to write an article about the trip for the USJ newsletter to prepare those who were to come afterward. (I was the first spouse to visit Japan before the big move.)

Article from the May 1998 Universal Japan newsletter

Larry, Daisuke, me, Toshiyuki

During our time in Japan, we saw Yasuko and Toshi often. They visited our home in Takarazuka, and Daisuke always had a blast. I called him my “wild man.” A hallway ran through the front of the unit. He started in the entry, raced through the living room and kitchen and into the hall, then through the hall back to the entry. All the while, he chortled and tried to get one of us to chase him. Sometimes we obliged. When our daughter, Kim, visited, she had fun chasing him and then doubling back to head him off as he came around the corner.

He was crazy about trains, and from our balcony, two train stations were visible below. The balcony had a glass-topped railing, so he could look down through it. He stood there for a long time waiting for the trains to arrive, which they did quite often. Then he would crow, “Densha! Densha! (Train! Train).

When we came home for Christmas the first year, we remembered a cartoon cell Larry had gotten at an employee sale while he worked in Hollywood. It was from the cartoon, The Little Engine That Could. It had the register holes and came with a background and a certificate of authenticity. We both knew where it had to go. We also bought him a copy of the book and video to go with it.

One of the last visits we made before we left Japan in 2001 was to their home in Nishinomia. By then, they had a second son, Yusuke.

Larry, Toshi, me, Daisuke, Yusuke, Yasuko

Now, in 2026, both boys had graduated from college, moved out of the house, and were working at good jobs. Daisuke had just gotten married, and I asked them to bring wedding photos.

A little before they were scheduled to arrive, we went to the lobby to wait for them. Just like in 1998, I spotted them coming through the door about the same time as Yasuko saw me. And, once again, she started to run to me with her arms open. This time, I met her halfway for a long-overdue hug. We had not been able to see them on either of our previous visits in 2021 or 2024.

For a moment, time stood still. Suddenly, I was back in a hotel lobby greeting our beloved “kids.” It felt like closing a circle and filled me with joy.

We went to the restaurant and enjoyed a nice meal, talking the whole time. Toshi had his Google Translate queued up in case we need a word or two, but we managed quite well.

I was stunned to see pictures of a now-grown-up Daisuke. He is the absolute image of his father when we first met him. We saw photos of Yusuke, too. “Our boys” were now grown men. Yasuko and Toshi like their new daughter-in-love, and the bride and groom looked very happy.

Toshi, Yasuko, Larry, and me

Our coupons for drinks came in handy again, and we enjoyed a lovely time with them.

Sadly, all too soon, it was time for them to leave. We hugged again in the lobby before they left. And, as always, we invited them to visit us in California. This time, I have hope they may finally come!

USJ 25th Anniversary – Part 8 - Not Quite Over

 March 31, 2026 – Continued

After the party, quite a few people didn’t want it to end, so they agreed to meet at the Hard Rock Café at CityWalk to continue the celebration.

I had to stay with Atsuko Sera to settle the hotel bill. She had to total all the receipts. Then she met with the banquet manager. It took some time.

Quite a few people who had said they were coming didn’t at the last minute, so we had committed to more people than actually attended. Fortunately, a few others had not RSVP’d, but were able to be there. So, they made up for some of those who were missing. (The war in Iran had just begun, and we knew of a couple of people who were overseas and couldn’t get out. Still others were just afraid to travel.)

I had said we would cover the cost for those who did not come, so I couldn’t leave until I got my credit card back. Therefore, I waited…

Atsuko returned with good news. The hotel had given us a reduced rate for those who had not come, so the amount was less than we had anticipated. And the exchange rate was far more favorable than it had been two years earlier. Bottom line: the total wasn’t as much as we had feared. And the party itself and being able to see everyone was well worth whatever it cost. So grateful for her managing all the negotiations! Without her, none of it would have happened.

While I was still waiting at the hotel for the bill to be settled, Toshi and Larry took all our bags and other items back to our room before joining the group. When I didn’t arrive right away, they set out in search of me. They were concerned because it had taken so long. Fortunately they found me on the way.

We finally reached the Hard Rock. Thankfully, most of our friends were still there.

On the way in, we saw Mike Davis and Shinkawa-san sitting together at a front table and waved hello. Shinkawa-san won one of our books as a door prize. Lovely to see him again.

At last, we joined the group.

Chie Yoshimi, Jim Kriss, Ritsuko Oki Onishi

Left side back-to-front: David & Sharon Streshinski, Karen Chrapeck & Janice Gerry, Ritsuko’s head

Right side: Donna & George Johnson, Lou & Cecilia Noy. Some others were missing from the photos.

Toshi, Larry and I joined the group at the back table. Everyone had already ordered by the time we got there, but we placed our orders. A few others stopped by to say hello. None of us wanted to leave, but the time had come at last.

We were exhausted after a busy and eventful day, but so grateful for the opportunity to share the time with good friends and colleagues.

Next time: Our final days in Osaka.

USJ 25th Anniversary – Part 6 - Meeting With More Friends and Family

 

March 30, 2026

After breakfast, I caught up on some email and prepared the gifts for the day.

Then we walked over to CityWalk to meet Maki and Yumi for lunch.

Maki was our head translator. I always thought she was the most beautiful girl on the project―and the single guys agreed. They practically fell over themselves trying to date her. However, she was from Kyoto, and her father was a famous artist. Kyoto is the old capital and the most traditional city in Japan.

Since most women were still entering into arranged marriages at the time, we assumed she would be, too. (And she was.)

She was an amazing translator, who could do simultaneous translations. (Very difficult in Japanese.)

Yuri was one of our other translators, and she still works for USJ. It was fun to see her again.

We had agreed to meet at Hard Rock Café, so we walked over at 11:30 for lunch.

We got there a little early and looked for Maki. We didn’t see her, so we took a table. Before long, we spotted her. I swear, this woman has a painting hidden somewhere in her attic! She hasn’t changed a bit since we first met her in 1998! For a woman with nearly grown children, she looks amazingly young.

What a joy to see her again!

Soon, Yuri joined us.

We gave them our gifts, and both of them loved what we had brought.

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch and a great conversation, sharing lots of great memories. And many laughs.

Yuri had to get back to work, and we were sorry to see her go. Unfortunately, we forget to take pictures with her. ☹

We stayed with Maki for a while longer. Then we asked the waitress to take our photo.

Me with Larry and Maki

Then we walked over to the USJ Globe and took another photo.

Me with Larry and Maki

Maki had to leave, so we wandered around CityWalk for a bit and checked out the USJ Studio Store, making notes of things we might want to take back with us.

Back at the hotel, we rested and prepared for our dinner appointment.

Toshi Komiyama was to arrive that afternoon, and Ayumi was coming after work. She put in several hours, and left work around noon. Then she took the shinkansen from Nagoya to Osaka (about a 4-hour trip).

We met them for dinner in Lounge R in our hotel.

We had been given tickets for free drinks as one of the perks of staying on the top floor. (One for each of us for each day.) Since we don’t drink, we hadn’t used them. So, on this night, Toshi and Ayumi used them!

Ayumi liked her gifts very much. She wore the gold angel earrings I had given her when she visited us last. These were very precious to me, and they looked lovely on her. I was pleased to see her wearing them.

We had a nice, relaxed meal and caught up with both of them. Loved seeing Ayumi again. Toshi was staying in Osaka to attend the USJ reunion party with us, but Ayumi was leaving the next morning to return to Nagoya. She planned to go back to work the next afternoon.

After dinner, we walked through the lobby, and Toshi made friends with Minion Bob.

Toshi and his friend

So did we.

We sat and talked for a while longer, but they needed to go. So, we said good-bye for now, and they went on their way.

The next day was the big celebration party, so we put together all the things we had to take with us and got ready for bed. Such a wonderful day spent with people we love.

USJ 25th Anniversary – Part 3 - Japanese Breakfast

 

March 28, 2026

For the last ten years or so, Larry has requested we only stay in hotels that serve breakfast. (We became spoiled when we started staying at Hampton Inns with their breakfast buffet included. Domestically, they became our hotels of choice.)

We have stayed at the Hotel Universal Port each time we return to Japan, and we always opt to add the breakfast buffet. It’s Larry’s kind of meal. Lots of small tastes of a bunch of different foods. And the best part is the cappuccino machine!

Since they moved our room to the top floor (ocean view, not park view), we discovered we also got some great perks.

I need to thank the Room Support clerk, Setsuko Washio, who made it all happen and for going far out of her way to make sure we were satisfied. She kept checking in with us to be sure we were enjoying our stay.

And she gave us a sweet card and 25th anniversary sticker from the hotel.

Being on the top floor meant we got special blue ticket for breakfast. Like fast-passes or lightning lanes, they allowed us to bypass the regular (LONG) lines at the entrance and get seated first.

Then, we were escorted to a special, separate dining area. I always request to be seated where we could see the children in the main area. I love watching their enthusiasm as they anticipate a day in the park. The last time, we saw more kids in Harry Potter robes and Mario hats. Fewer were in costume this time, but their excitement was no less palpable.

Not only did we have reserved seating, but each day we received a special “treat” with our meal.

The plates were side plates, and the tiny cups were the size of egg cups, but the fruit was fresh as was the tiny mint leaf, and the fork was about the size of a cocktail fork. Fresh strawberries are expensive, so this was truly a lovely surprise. (They looked exactly the same every day.)

The other perk of being on the top floor was coupons for free drinks in a couple of the hotel lounges. Since we don’t drink, we thought we wouldn’t use them, but several of our Japanese kids came to visit us, and we went there to eat with them. They enjoyed the free drinks!

We always started breakfast with a cup of cappuccino to wake up.

Then we picked up a tray and added one of the smaller serving trays for our food. (They are half the length of the tray and fit across the width. They are sort of like egg cartons with six shallow indentations. They only hold a small amount in each one. So, you can try many options.

There are numerous food stations featuring Japanese, Chinese, American, and other specialties. There is also a kid’s station with special minion-themed dishes for them to eat from. Their section has (among other things) a choice of cereals and toppings—including soft serve ice cream. Larry started a bit of a trend by finishing his meal each day with it. He noticed several other adults followed suit. (He’s a trend-setter.)

My favorite area was the yogurt and smoothie bar. It always had plain yogurt and usually plain yogurt with chia seeds. (I might start keeping it on hand at home since it was good.) They provided small bowls (the same size as the coffee cups) for the yogurt and featured chunks of apple, pineapple, and other fruit. One day, they had fresh raspberries and Japanese blueberries (much smaller than ours, but tasty). Then there were toppings: passion fruit and mixed fruit. Yummy.

The smoothies were usually banana and mango, a berry mix, and green juice. We went for the fruit.

Many items were cooked fresh on the spot. Fried chunks of fish were being cooked at all times, and when a batch was finished, they beat on a drum as notification. Fresh Japanese “omelets” (hard cooked scrambled eggs spread thin and cooked in sheets, then rolled and cut into small bite-sized slices) were announced with a bell.

Larry usually selected the undercooked scrambled eggs. I preferred to choose a whole egg, formed in a perfect circle, which just fit into one of the indents in the serving tray. They made them over-easy, over-hard, and sunny-side-up.

I also liked the fried potato wedges. Larry usually got the tiny patty of shredded potato, sort-of-like McDonald’s mini-hashbrown patties. (I tried them once, but they were cold.)

He always tried a variety of the Asian choices, most of which I didn’t recognize. I pretty much stuck to western foods, and not much of any of them.

Many choices were provided, including undercooked bacon and unsmoked sausage. The undercooked scrambled eggs are in the red container, and the potato wedges are in the yellow one. The rest of the eggs, etc. are around the corner.

They provided a selection of breads and sweet rolls, too. Tiny croissants, small fruit-filled pastries, and bread for toasting were featured. A couple of days, they had miniature waffles, about the size of a quarter of a Belgian waffle, with one edge dipped in icing. Of course, we tried these.

We had to guard against eating too much, but everything was delicious!

We always finished our meals with a final cup of cappuccino while we watched the people enjoying themselves.

On the first morning, as I got my cappuccino, I spotted a little guy in a highchair. He had his stuffed purple paradactyl with him. He was ignoring his breakfast while he “flew” it around the table and placed it on his head. He made me smile.

Another day, a tiny boy, also in a highchair, smiled and giggled and flirted with me. I waved, and he laughed.

And Minion Bob greeted us as we left.

It was altogether a lovely way to start each day.

FAREWELL TO JAPAN

 April 1, 2024 – Part 1

I didn’t sleep very well. I was concerned about our transport to the airport arriving on time to give us some breathing space before our flight. Now that the celebration was over, my mind was going a mile a minute thinking about everything I had to get done as soon as we got home.

We got up and went down to breakfast. Then, I worked on my blog and Larry read until it was time to check out.

We left the bags with the bellman and headed out for a last walk at CityWalk.

But first, we said goodbye to the minions. The whole hotel has been re-themed with them, and the employees’ costumes are also minion-themed.

With the minions at the Universal Port Hotel

We enjoyed being in the area one last time. People were headed toward the park, and others were exploring the shops and restaurants at CityWalk.

Since it was close to noon, and since our plane wouldn’t leave for several hours, we decided to get a light lunch. McDonalds was right there, so we went in. A lovely young man was talking orders—and he spoke perfect English.

I ordered a six-piece McNugget “set-o” (the same as our combo). He informed me I could only get the six-piece as a Happy Meal.

“Sounds perfect to me.”

Larry ordered the same.

After getting our drink orders, he asked what toy we wanted. We both declined.

We found a two-person table and took our time enjoying our lunch.

We still had about an hour before our airport transport was scheduled to arrive, and it was cold out, so we stopped by Starbucks for coffee. We sipped our drinks while we people-watched. It was still a thrill to see people emerge from the train station excited about going to the park. This reaction was what we had hoped for when we were working there. And, here it still was twenty-three years later.

With about twenty minutes left until our ride was to arrive, we returned to the hotel and reclaimed our bags. We waited inside until Larry received a text that our ride was on the way.

After a short wait in front of the hotel, our van arrived.

The ride to the airport was without issue as was check-in. We checked our large bag and got our boarding passes. Then we headed to the departure gate.

Larry rushed through the airport. I had a hard time keeping up with him. Of course, our gate was a LONG way from the entrance. We had to walk through all the Duty-Free shops and food areas to get to another section. Then we had to take a train to yet another area to find our gate. (Kansai is now about twice the size it used to be.)

We finally arrived—and there was no one there. I finally asked Larry why he had been in such a hurry. He said he thought we were too late to make the plane. Times for all transportation in Japan are on 24-hour clocks, but we had entered the time on our calendar in 12-hour time. Larry had misread the departure time. We arrived at the gate well over an hour before boarding.

I found a seat, and Larry took our empty water bottles to refill them.

Little-by-little others began to arrive. Then the crew drifted in. As each group appeared, they turned to the waiting passengers and bowed. Gotta love the Japanese.

Finally, it was time for our group to board.

Everything went smoothly. We got settled in and blew up our travel pillows. I remained optimistic that I might get some sleep during the flight, even though I almost never do.

After we were airborne, we were served beverages. Then they served dinner: either chicken or pork bowls. I chose pork, and Larry had the chicken. They were accompanied by the usual assortment of small side dishes. The food was okay, but it didn’t begin to compare with the meal we received on the trip to Japan. I ate some, and Larry finished the rest.

I closed my eyes and tried to rest, but I couldn’t sleep. I decided to watch a couple of movies. I saw Wish. It was disappointing, and I could understand why it wasn’t considered one of Disney’s best. Then I watched Anyone But You. Kind of a dud as well.

I turned off the entertainment and closed my eyes. I still didn’t sleep, but rested a bit.

 April 1, 2024 – Part 2

Even though we left Japan in the evening of April 1, we arrived in LA about noon--on April 1. We had recovered the day we had lost on the way over.

Fortunately, this flight was much shorter than the one to Japan. (The flight to Japan was about thirteen hours. The one back was about nine-and-a-half.) About an hour before we landed, lunch was served: a kind of taco salad with several small dish accompaniments. As usual, I ate the entrée and left most of the rest. Larry ate his and then picked at the things he wanted from my tray.

We left the plane and went through customs. The process was much more streamlined than it was the last time we arrived at LAX. Everything went pretty quickly.

We finally got out of the airport and called our driver, Danny. We told him where we were waiting, and he arrived before long. We are so blessed to have found him!

After an uneventful drive, we arrived home in the afternoon.

We took all the dirty clothes to the laundry room and started the washer. Then we began to unpack.

We weren’t hungry, so we skipped dinner. Good thing since we had no food in the house.

Since we were tired, we decided to get to bed early. We still had a lot to do for the week!