May 17, 2013

Moving Day

(May 13 – 15th, 2013)

I can’t believe we’re moving.  Already.  Didn’t we just get here?  I remember standing in the kitchen watching movers unload my boxes and furniture and it feels like it WASN’T 3 years ago.  But here we are again…. Moving Day.

We had a great group of Movers.  Really, they were terrific, hard working, friendly and quick.   I had spent the last couple months making sure that every drawer, bin, shelf and closet had been gone through and organized.   We took quite a few things to the recycle center.   The week before the movers came, we cleared out Megan’s room and used it as our ‘THINGS THAT AREN’T MOVING’ room.  All week we put things in there… including all of our German appliances that won’t go back to the states, our luggage, our clothes for the summer, a few games and toys, the kids backpacks for school… etc.  The night before we put all of our desk drawer and kitchen drawer items in large 2 quart size Ziploc bags.  Thanks for that tip, Heidi.

The movers showed up Monday morning at 8:00am with four guys and they got going in four different areas.  One upstairs in the boys room.  One in Emily’s room.  One in the Basement/Katie’s room and one in the living room.  By the end of the first day they had completed loaded and sealed 5 containers.

Megan G brought us dinner that first night and had taken the boys all day, which was really nice. 

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We love our German house!  It’s going to be sad to say goodbye.

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Tuesday they packed and loaded 5 more containers and had moved all remaining boxes to the main level so we could vacuum and organize the top two floors and the basement.  The military temporary furniture came on Monday – which was a bit squishy for awhile but ended up working really well. 

Wednesday they came back and quickly loaded the last two containers and were gone after a couple of hours.  What a relief to have it all gone.  I kind of feel like I’m on vacation now!  Kind of.

Now the girls have taken over the top floor.  Luke and Matt are in the left bedroom… formerly known as Emily’s room in the double bed which is just barely larger than a single and Chris and I grabbed two singles which equals a King and fits our sheets perfectly.  We’ve been calling them ‘pretend' furniture.  They are H A R D.  Ouch.  We kept a bunch a blankets to put UNDER our sheets and it’s helped a bit.  Yikes, I can’t believe it’ll be 3 months before we’ll be in our own bed again!

Here’s Luke’s Moving Day Picture…   he looked out the window to try to exactly draw the moving truck and it’s a pretty close replica – minus the floating drivers area.

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May 15, 2013

Megan’s 8th Birthday–Opening Presents

(which took place on April 15th)

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Since Megan’s actual birthday was in France, we celebrated with presents two days after we got home from Spring Break and one day before Chris and I left for house hunting in Colorado Springs.  It was a quick turn around but luckily the weather cooperated and we were able to celebrate Megan’s birthday with presents and a picnic outside in the backyard. 

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Sunglasses, turquoise crops and two new shirts…

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This girl loves horses and has a growing collection of all different kinds…

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Matching American Girl pajamas for her and her doll…  She looks SO cute in them.

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Megan’s been hinting about this year’s American Girl Doll… Saige, for awhile now and was pretty excited about it. (Saige likes horses too.)

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Grandma and Grandpa Walton gave Megan 8 dollars in a card and a cute Willow Tree Statue of a girl reading ‘her Book of Mormon’.  Megan loves it.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.

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Grandma and Grandpa Johnson got Megan a Barbie movie, glittery frame, fun watch and cute blue striped shirt.  THANK YOU!!!    Aunts Nikole, Ashlyn and Lindsey and families got Megan some cute Friends Lego, which she loves.  Thanks!

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May 14, 2013

Megan’s Birthday–A visit to school

(April 2, 2013)

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I think it’s funny that my kids have birthdays around holidays or in the summer  (Ryan – summer)  (Katie – summer)  Emily (Christmas break)…  Megan’s birthday has typically fallen during Spring Break so I’ve never actually been to any of my kids schools on their official birthday.  This year I headed to Megan’s classroom before Spring Break to celebrate a little early.  Megan just loves when I show up in her classroom – which hasn’t been a lot this year – so she was feeling pretty special.  Luke and Matt love to come too.

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Lemon cupcakes with lemon frosting… per Megan’s request.

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Because the Heidelberg base is closing down, Mrs. Dysinger's class is down to 10 students now.  Nice!

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Happy Birthday 2nd grader! Love you.

May 11, 2013

Rothenburg with the Starbucks

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I just love this entrance into Rothenburg.   To the right is a church, nestled inside part of the city’s wall.  I love the half timbered house up on top. 

Ryan and Katie skipped school, we took the boys to a friends house and took off to our favorite German city.  It was chilly but we didn’t have any rain and even had some blue skies.  None of that mattered to these four who just enjoyed being together.  It was a great day.

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Can I really pick a favorite street in Rothenburg… it might be this one.

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We wandered down a side street which I hadn’t ever been on before and found an alley with a view.

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Love this girl.  Almost 13.  Almost done with 7th grade.

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Love this park area just outside the city’s wall.

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At this point we started shedding layers and Ryan volunteered to carry everything, all the backpacks, all the jackets, and even Katie.

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Back in the center of town, we climbed the City Hall Tower…

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I know I’ve taken these pictures before… but I just can’t help taking more.

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Love this kid.  Almost 15.  Almost finished with 9th grade.

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When we saw this flower market, both Monae and I immediately walked to opposite ends to take a picture.  It made us laugh. The German Winter has been extra long this year and I’m missing the flowers that usually decorate each window sill this time of year.  I guess we both needed to take a picture of some color!

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Spargel season… German white asparagus.  Can’t wait to eat some spargel soup at our favorite restaurant.

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We finished out the day with a walk along the wall.  I know it’s blurry, but I love this one of Brianna running towards me.

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