Lewiston Queenston Bridge, eh? That's a very busy bridge! Seriously, check the bridge reports the day you are traveling as the Peace Bridge may well be your better option. Either way, I'll stand at the side of the road, with a big "Welcome to the USA" sign, waving as you guys drive by!!

Thanks Julez!
And thanks for the tip. I just put that bridge b/c that's what I got when I put directions into google maps. Are the two bridges very close to each other? Plus the Peace Bridge just sounds so much more... well.. peaceful.

The Lewiston-Queenston bridge is slightly before the Peac Bridge, but its a muchh smaller crossing. It used to be very efficient, but these days it tends to be the bridge with the longest wait times. In fact, Griff and I made the mistake of using it when we were coming back from Niagara on the Lake last summer and we waited for over an hour!

The Peace bridge is much larger, so it can process people much faster. Plus, they are more likely to know what to do with a K1 holder!

Good luck in your decision. And if is a factor at all in your thought process, the Peace bridge is closer for me to get to for my welcome sign holding expedition!!!

you funny.

I really appreciate the tips actually. I would definitely prefer a place where they may be faster with the processing of the actual visa. I wish I remember which bridge we took back in 2004 when I activated my TN visa moving up there... but I have no clue! And TNs might be more common than K's. I remember we were there for maybe 10 minutes, they put it in my passport, and we were on our way. I think the K will take longer.

Well - I made up a code just for you let me know if it changes though - I will have to invent a new Bridge Code

Are you talking about me behind my back?

The pics are beautiful Julez You look amazing and happy I didn´t know you had so many kids Wow Lovely cake and everything You must have been so excited

Ok climbing off your back too

Oh and stop biting those nails

hey there sleepy west coast friend

Well we went out at the last minute yesterday evening with a friend to see Mock Rock at PAC and then we got home late and so went to sleep at like 3am so didn´t wake up till 9.50am

That is awesome Aly, thanks! But now I'm thinking we'll take Julez's advice and use the Peace Bridge. Hmm, what to do. That doesn't work as easily into a 3 letter code as QLB did.

PBR?

those initials are already taken!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pabst_Blue_Ri...bst_Blue_Ribbon

LOVELY photos, Julez

Actually it is an airport code, in Guatemala.

Thank you all!!! Glad you liked my pics!

Can I get a drumroll, please???

We got the house!!!!!!

And at the price we wanted!!!

Newslash: Guatemala is now part of the USA, and a viable POE.



YAYYYY CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Party at Julez's new house!!!! I'm bringing Twister!!!

Yaaaaay!!!! Congrats Julez, that's awesome!


Seriously?

Gratzies julez!! That's great news!!!! My turn next!! If I can get my other half to get his head out of his @$$ and call places... of the ten we have lined up, we have one appointment so far... better than nothing though I guess...

Thanks everyone!! I can't believe it all worked out!!!

Susie - Twister? Yay! That will be one wild party!!!!

Aly - I hope you guys find a place to live soon!!

Rae - I really think you'll be a bit better of via the Peace Bridge.

oh JULEZ!!!!! great news!
when do you think you'll move in?


my news is that I think my jet-lag has officially become insomnia
haven't slept through the night once since I got here... I wake any time from 2am to 4am and then just lie there

*sigh*

I'm REALLY ready for things to settle down... I think at least part of the problem is that as soon as I wake up, there's so much to think about; Dave arrives TOMORROW (and the poor thing is coming down with a cold ), and there's all the packing to do, and I'm trying to fit in meeting as many people as possible, etc etc... just too much on my mind I think

but in the meantime I'm getting about five hours' sleep a night, and it's simply not enough

Thats great on the House Julez, thats so awesome


We got married yesterday and finally got the pictures online today. You can see them at

wedding pics

Chris

woohoo! another wedding!!

best and most heartfelt congratulations, Chris and Gretchen... you must be SO happy



just got a photo Dave took of himself on the plane, waiting to take off for LA

WE WANT PICS OF DAVE ON THE PLANE!!!!

Ohhh StP - you must be sooo excited!! Your sleeping must just be nerves, excitement, stress and everything coming to a head now You'll settle down soon

Chris - the pics are wonderful - you look so happy and Gretchen looks so beautiful - what a fantastic dress!! I think my favourite piccie is number 12 though

Lol, you would pick the one pic where im crying and trying to stop, and she cant look at me or she will cry. Once we got to listening to the reverend, we got it under control and were able to get thru it and enjoy the moments.

She was so breathtaking coming down the isle, as every bride should be to her husband.

I am such a lucky man

Chris

BEAUTIFUL! the dress is amazing! is the lady on her side her mum?
how old is gretchen? i have a hard time guessing the age of asians somehow.

I know - but that is what is so sweet about it - because it is so emotional! Of course - I am crying all the way through my ceremony so! It started when I left the hotel - I was told I just had to get straight to the limo but there were loads of people there all taking photos of me and I was just so overwhelmed!!!

Any news on the baby front? When are you due a scan? You going to find out if it is a boy or girl? Any names picked out?!

Oh - thought I would share this with everyone too

http://www.beliefnet.com/nllp/ChickenSoupS...p;WT.mc_id=NL49

Thought it had a nice message

k, that about made me cry.

That is Gretchen's Grandma who lives in Kansas. Her mom is in the Phils and couldnt come.

Gretchen is 22 years old.

We will have our first Dr appointment end of the month when she is 2 months along. I think at 4 months you can find out the baby's sex, and yes we want to know!

for a boy, William Andrew we will call him Drew
for a girl Aleigh Page we will call her Aleigh

we are now relaxing from all the family leaving and us getting back to normal. It was a great awesome week but now its nice for things to get a little quiet. Looks like last week of Dec will be the due date.

Chris

Dave's here!!

we had a lovely day yesterday, meeting family, and are planning a day out in the city together today

we NEVER have to do the big goodbye thing again

ah, i'm so happy for you!


i received my EAD and AP yesterday, turns out, they give you 2 APs, meaning you can leave and reenter twice. (that's at least how I understandt it). it's a piece of paper with a ton of security-thingy's like holograms and stuff, and a color picture and next to the color picture is a field for a stamp and signature of the immigration-officer that paroles you into the country.

ohwell, the only trip we planned so far is to go home for christmas, and i hope to have my greencard by then.
the most important is the EAD.
so i went yesterday to have my DL renewed

anyway: i hope that everybody is having a great weekend.

no hugs, i'm feeling sick and don't want to contaminate the VJ-family.

@chris: oh, it's great that her grandma lives in kansas! i wish i had relatives here! it makes it so much easier!

YAAAY! Congrats. so awesome.


Actually, you can leave and re-enter more than twice -- as many times as you'd like. The customs officers will not / should not keep those AP papers. You hand them over for them to look at, and they hand them back to you. And for some dumb reason, you are supposed to travel with BOTH of them together, but since they don't come with instructions on how to use them, apparently that's forgiven often b/c people don't know they're supposed to.

Hope you feel better!

oh, that's great, thanks so much for telling me that!
now i only need to win the lottery to afford the honeymoon in the carribean !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



going to bed now.

have a great sunday night!

Oh, Yay for no more goodbyes!! Simply wonderful! I am so happy for you, StP!

I hope you guys have the greatest time ever! And then its time for you to start your new life in the US!!

I hope Dave cures your insomnia

I just checked Griff's AOS and it was touched again today! Not sure if it means much of anything, but I take comfort in knowing that someone at least moved his file!!!

Regarding the house, we have a tentative closing date of 11 July. Home inspection is tomorrow, lawyer reviewing contract and oce that is signed off on, its to the bank to secure the mortgage. I can't believe it!!

We took a drive by the new house yesterday and the lilacs were in bloom and some other tree was all covered in deep pink blooms. There are so many flowers! Its a dream come true for me! I love to garden and I can't believe all that beauty will be mine to tend to!

Ooooh A Christmas baby!!! Lovely names as well - I like things that are slightly unusual (although don't think Drew is as unusual in the US as it is in the UK )


Awww StP -= I am sooooo happy for you!! It must have been awesome to see him again!! I wonder how long it will take for you to get fed up with him being around all the time I know that I have got used to my own company and my own space so I am going to find it hard to adjust ><


Oooh - that's great news!! What are the dates of thm and I will update the spreadsheet!!! I don't think I will be getting home for Christmas We just can't afford it...

And feeling sick... there something you not telling us?!


Oh julez - that's fantastic!! Good luck with the AOS!! Sounds like something is happening so keeping fingers crossed for you!!!

Am on the phone to Air France at the moment and got through to a lady who knows what she is talking about - she is absolutely lovely and is just in the process of booking Daisy onto my flight as well!! She just has to go through a supervisor and call back to confirm but ohhhh I feel a lot happier about it now

Now... if only we had an apartment I *might* stop freaking out a bit!!!

yayy we got our marriage license this morning

it was quite a hassle because of the blustery rain outside and the fact that we got to the place and then had to go back home because adriano didnt remember his ssn, and we didnt have the card with us good thing we live very close and it was only 20 minutes round trip...i changed my sig because i dont think we are getting married on friday, we still dont know when!! lol i didnt think my family would want to be so involved, so now i have to consider all of them when making the plans...i suppose there are bigger problems in the world than having to change your wedding date several times because too many ppl love you and want to attend

Congrats Susie, i'm sure it will work out in the end.

When can we come over for twister Julez

yeaaa julez, when are we having the house warming sleepover party with non-stop twister ?!?!?

First, congratz on your near wedding!! Can't wait to hear when the official date is, and more importantly, to receive my engraved invite in the mail!!!!

As for the Twister extravagnaza, it will be in August, since we are closing 11 July, off to the UK from 20 July - 27 July and we are immediately building an extension on the house to make the kitchen bigger and to add a mud room. Once that's all done, we'll be ready top twister the night away!! Besides, by then, Poiteen should be stateside!

yayy and thanks for the congrats

im engraving your invitation as we speak, im just leaving the date blank

whats a mud room? sounds fun!! is that like a spa or something? we can twister in there, thats a thought...im already counting the days

A mud room is basically a small entryway where the kids come in the house and leave all their muddy stuff so they don't trash the house! Too small for a Twister tournament!!

that's not at all what i had in mind!!!

a very clever idea though!!

wow, the mud room was something *completely different* in my imagination

You're both sick, pervy women! Just cos its a mud room doesn't make it dirty

i didnt say anything!!! i thought it was a spa