another day, another check off my list of things to do. We had a fun picnic with close family and friends this afternoon! Thank you all who could make it out, it was nice to see you all before we head out. The park was newly remodeled so the playground rocked, the benches were clean and well the weather TOTALLY cooperated! A nice breeze would have been lovely though, oh well. Cant have everything, right?
Tomorrow we hand over keys to the house. So we will be homeless, carless, and have no belongings beyond our luggage. Gotta love military moves. I am not complaining, the process has been rather painless, I am just waiting for pirates to sink the ship containing my car, or the airlines to loose our luggage or to get to Germany and them to go, oops... didnt mean Germany the country, but some backwaters city in the middle of nowhere called Germany... yeah, I am still crossing my fingers.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
chaos to the extreme
Again my house is filled with strangers, this time three large samoan gentlemen packing up all my belongings in dusty cardboard boxes. One is currently packing up my shoes, another loading random toys in the girls room and another in my kitchen wrapping my dishes.
Unfortunately they didnt show up till 10:30am, a tad off of the original estimate of 8am, but not my problem. They are paid to pack my stuff correctly and my only irritation is that I will be stuck in the house till late tongiht as they finish packing every picture, sock and piece of paper.
Jim will be heading to my mothers house (where we will be hiding till we fly out next week) with the girls to give them a break from the madness, and so they can take naps this afternoon. So, here I will sit... attached to my computer, maybe working, maybe playing solitare, maybe just watching random video's on youtube.
Last night was my time of internal madness. I had managed to pack the girls, prod Jim into packing himself and gather papers that we need, but I couldnt get myself packed. I hadnt even started by 7pm last night. I cant explain my delay, other than to say I was dragging my feet. Very unlike me, I have always been a list maker, planner and all around preparing fool. This move is the first time I didnt go through and organize, seperate and prepare everything in the house for the movers before they got there. I just didnt have it in me. Again, I dont know why. I am sure the packers who are here today have seen worse, and will in the future, but I still feel guilty that I didnt do more to help them along in their job.
Plus I didnt have a list of how many socks we needed, how many pairs of pants we should bring. How odd for me. But I kept coming back to, how do you pack for over a month? How do you know what the weather is going to be in a month in another country? How will I know what I need? Jim took pity on me and helped out more than he ever has. I usually take the reins of most everything and this time he had to step up to the plate and make me pack. I have always wondered if I wasnt able to do as much as I usually do, if he would be able to stand up to the stress of a move and I am happy to report that he did quite well! With the knowledge of another move or two and he could do this without me involved at all!!! I am so proud of him.
Last night, sitting in the middle of the livingroom floor I was crying, sad, pitiful, I know, but I was so worried that if I forgot anything that I would screw us up completely. So I asked Jim, "what do we need, absolutely need to make it to Germany?" His reply was food, clothing.. blah blah. So I asked the question this way, "What do we need that would mean life of death to us?" The simple reply was Tickets, Passports, Orders, and Carmens Meds... well I had those packed and have for days... so the rest can be replaced if need be, stored if forgotten, and well we will still be on our way to Germany. After this realization I had a glass of wine, watched the last tv show on my DVR and sat on the couch with Jim, now it was 11:30pm and we had 6 large luggage bags filled sitting in the middle of the living room, but at least it gave me peace. We will get there, even if I forget a sweatshirt or extra diapers. We will get there.
Unfortunately they didnt show up till 10:30am, a tad off of the original estimate of 8am, but not my problem. They are paid to pack my stuff correctly and my only irritation is that I will be stuck in the house till late tongiht as they finish packing every picture, sock and piece of paper.
Jim will be heading to my mothers house (where we will be hiding till we fly out next week) with the girls to give them a break from the madness, and so they can take naps this afternoon. So, here I will sit... attached to my computer, maybe working, maybe playing solitare, maybe just watching random video's on youtube.
Last night was my time of internal madness. I had managed to pack the girls, prod Jim into packing himself and gather papers that we need, but I couldnt get myself packed. I hadnt even started by 7pm last night. I cant explain my delay, other than to say I was dragging my feet. Very unlike me, I have always been a list maker, planner and all around preparing fool. This move is the first time I didnt go through and organize, seperate and prepare everything in the house for the movers before they got there. I just didnt have it in me. Again, I dont know why. I am sure the packers who are here today have seen worse, and will in the future, but I still feel guilty that I didnt do more to help them along in their job.
Plus I didnt have a list of how many socks we needed, how many pairs of pants we should bring. How odd for me. But I kept coming back to, how do you pack for over a month? How do you know what the weather is going to be in a month in another country? How will I know what I need? Jim took pity on me and helped out more than he ever has. I usually take the reins of most everything and this time he had to step up to the plate and make me pack. I have always wondered if I wasnt able to do as much as I usually do, if he would be able to stand up to the stress of a move and I am happy to report that he did quite well! With the knowledge of another move or two and he could do this without me involved at all!!! I am so proud of him.
Last night, sitting in the middle of the livingroom floor I was crying, sad, pitiful, I know, but I was so worried that if I forgot anything that I would screw us up completely. So I asked Jim, "what do we need, absolutely need to make it to Germany?" His reply was food, clothing.. blah blah. So I asked the question this way, "What do we need that would mean life of death to us?" The simple reply was Tickets, Passports, Orders, and Carmens Meds... well I had those packed and have for days... so the rest can be replaced if need be, stored if forgotten, and well we will still be on our way to Germany. After this realization I had a glass of wine, watched the last tv show on my DVR and sat on the couch with Jim, now it was 11:30pm and we had 6 large luggage bags filled sitting in the middle of the living room, but at least it gave me peace. We will get there, even if I forget a sweatshirt or extra diapers. We will get there.
Friday, May 22, 2009
The beginning of the End
Well, the first set of movers are here today. I can hear them banging around my garage packing things away.
Ok, let me back track a moment. We have two set of movers coming this time around. The first set are here for what is called "unaccompanied baggage". This stuff will go on an airplane and should reach us in about 30-45 days.
The second set of movers (who come Tuesday and Wednesday) will be here for our "household goods". That will take 2-3 months for us to get.
So, the things that are leaving today are things that will get us by till we get our household goods. Things that will make life easier. When we get to germany and get a house/apartment we will be able to borrow things from the lending closet. Things like a couch, chairs, table, refrigerator, washer, dryer we should find there. Unfortunately I just contacted a friend who just arrived in Ansbach and she said that alot of people are moving into the area right now so there are slim pickings in the lending closet. So... who knows what we will really find or be able to use.
I keep reminding myself that it will all work out in the end, right? right.
Carmen has taken this part of the move rather well. She heard the movers this morning and thought the "imagination movers" were here moving our things, so now the battle is trying to keep her out of the garage so they can work. She went into her room and started to dissemble her toys and boxes so she can take them down to the movers to pack. We tried to explain to her that these things are getting ready to go to Germany and the rest of our stuff will be going in a couple of days. She was more bothered that SHE wasnt going with our stuff. Everytime we even mention Germany, airport, luggage she gets excited and says she wants to go to Germany right now. Its cute, but getting old, telling her "we are not going to Germany today, soon, but not today".
As we get closer and closer to leaving stress levels are getting higher and higher. Jim and I work well together in these kind of situations, but usually there is only one day of stress not three or more. I am not excited to go anymore, just resigned and anxious to be settled.
Ok, let me back track a moment. We have two set of movers coming this time around. The first set are here for what is called "unaccompanied baggage". This stuff will go on an airplane and should reach us in about 30-45 days.
The second set of movers (who come Tuesday and Wednesday) will be here for our "household goods". That will take 2-3 months for us to get.
So, the things that are leaving today are things that will get us by till we get our household goods. Things that will make life easier. When we get to germany and get a house/apartment we will be able to borrow things from the lending closet. Things like a couch, chairs, table, refrigerator, washer, dryer we should find there. Unfortunately I just contacted a friend who just arrived in Ansbach and she said that alot of people are moving into the area right now so there are slim pickings in the lending closet. So... who knows what we will really find or be able to use.
I keep reminding myself that it will all work out in the end, right? right.
Carmen has taken this part of the move rather well. She heard the movers this morning and thought the "imagination movers" were here moving our things, so now the battle is trying to keep her out of the garage so they can work. She went into her room and started to dissemble her toys and boxes so she can take them down to the movers to pack. We tried to explain to her that these things are getting ready to go to Germany and the rest of our stuff will be going in a couple of days. She was more bothered that SHE wasnt going with our stuff. Everytime we even mention Germany, airport, luggage she gets excited and says she wants to go to Germany right now. Its cute, but getting old, telling her "we are not going to Germany today, soon, but not today".
As we get closer and closer to leaving stress levels are getting higher and higher. Jim and I work well together in these kind of situations, but usually there is only one day of stress not three or more. I am not excited to go anymore, just resigned and anxious to be settled.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Camelbak kids
So in our progression in the move to Germany it was decided that the kids should get Camelbaks. I know, I think they are weird contraptions too, but they are super useful on long walks in the woods, which we hope to do often while over in Europe.
this is Rose folded in half having a tizzy.
The debate was on about what size to get, and whether to get matching ones or not. So, not big deals right? Again... its all about how you look at it. Carmen loves to collect rocks.. the normal gravel kind, and since her camelbak would be attached to her, she would end up putting them into Rose's (what are sisters for?), but it would be nice for them to be able to carry, sunscreen, sunglasses... rocks, flowers, whatever if they wanted. And as they get older they will want to bring more and more with them, and I am not about to carry all their stuff in mine. SO, long story short, we got the ones with the small compartment and chest harnass (very important for keeping on young kids) We did get matching ones too, but are going to put a special patch for each kid, so they can feel like its "theirs".
this is Rose folded in half having a tizzy.We got them in the mail today and of course they had to wear them right away. It was pretty cute actually, Rose loved it but since she is tired from our outtings, she started to meltdown... which was funny too.
Childrens Museum
We went to the Childrens Museum this morning. And by "we" I mean, the Lawson girls, and the Prodan family (minus dad, hes workin). It was fun, tiring and filled with screaming children. But still fun! The kids ran around for about 3 hours, and could have gone for more time, but the mom's were getting tired.There was the normal exhibits, water, clay, make believe and all around cool stuff, but also Bob the Builder was visiting so there were some extra fun with building!! The kids ate it up!
I have loaded pictures for your enjoyment, but I havent edited, shrunk, or red eye reduction'ed any of them. So you might want to.
I also took a short video of the "big girls" playing dress-up, it wasn't the favorite room, as you will see, so we moved on pretty quickly.
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