Obtaining passports is a vital first step in preparing to leave the country.  If there were only ONE thing we needed to do before leaving, this is it, folks.

Romeo’s passport is up to date. √

MamaSita’s passport has her maiden name on it.  Yep, that’s how long it’s been since we were out of the country (except a cruise, which allowed the birth certificate instead).

The Bigs (the two oldest kids) have passports.  In fact, KK used hers just last summer on a life-changing missionary trip to the Dominican Republic.  But Goose’s is expired.  The Littles (the two youngest kids) do not have one at all.

We embarked on a mission to the passport office to attempt to secure permission for international travel.  MamaSita dug up birth certificates and filled out lengthy forms.

Time of arrival: 9:30 am

People in line ahead of us: 17

We sat down and got comfortable.  We planned to do some knitting and play on the iPad.  After 10 minutes passed, they had not called a single person on the list.  Quick/bad math tells me this: If there are 17 people ahead of me, and they handle about 5 customers per hour, it will take us…hmm…about 3.5 hours to get our passports today.

Time of Departure: 9:41 am

No passports today.  The new plan:  Get passport photos somewhere else and come back to the passport office as soon as they open in the morning.  I didn’t know it was going to be worse than the DMV.