The Last Night

Not as in last night, but as in this is our last night in our house in Germany! I can hardly believe that our time here is coming to an end so fast. I am currently waiting for chocolate chip cookies to finish baking. We made vanilla cupcakes earlier for Nathaniel's birthday party tomorrow at school. The kids had fun helping. They are so excited for the birthday/ goodbye party. I don't think they realize when they leave for school tomorrow it will be the last time they leave this house. Hmmmm... I am so melancholy at the moment.

We have lots of work yet to do tonight- mostly just cleaning the kitchen and making sure everything is packed for tomorrow so that the movers don't take anything that we need. I'd better be off before the cookies burn!

Passing Time

Yesterday we had a busy day visiting with our friends.

We got to go to a park in Leimen with our friends, Antje and Luca. It was a really neat place.

Amongst the variety of things to do were some goats to bleat at and a really fast slide, a faux ruins to climb and rickety bridge over a "gorge", and best of all, a zipline. After some time enjoying the gorgeous spring weather (yes, 55+ degrees, we came home for lunch and then went to visit our German neighbors. By 3:30 the kids were pooped out, so we came home to relax and watch a bit of a movie. Nathaniel fell asleep within 10 minutes, and so that allowed us parents to get some rest time too ; )

'Round 5 o'clock we went to some friend's house for dinner. What a wonderful, relaxing evening we had, and I indulged in several helpings of salad, bread, pasta, wine and blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Mmmmm... Good stuff, Stacey! Thanks!!!

Movers!!!

They are here! They showed up at 8am this morning, which is always a good sign. We like to have hard workers be part of our team. There are 4 on the team- I think.... it seems I can only think of 3 faces. Hmmmm... but it is strange thinking that this is the last time that I'll hear German discussions taking place in my home. What's left of it anyway.

It is now going on 1pm, and they are wrapping up. They are loading the truck and will soon be done. The rest is to be left for Tuesday's happy packing day. The kitchen, office, bathroom, entertainment center, couch, and kids' room is all that's left. So, I guess that's just under half of it. Then that will be the last of our presence in Germany.

Our friends here are kindly helping to entertain the kids for the next several days, as their toys have already been packed, and Dustan and I have to touch up and clean the house. I'm sure my arms will be very sore this week. They're already starting to feel that way after I worked on scrubbing off glue from the windows (from Nathaniel independently posting his artwork there). There are LOTS of ceilings and wall space to wipe down and paint (that's a whole 'nother story), cupboards to scrub, mildew to make disappear from the bathroom and grout in the basement... windows to wash and floors to polish last as we head out the door on Wednesday.

We will be staying in the next town over, in Leimen, at the Hotel zum Baeren. Strangely, albeit winter and the middle of the week, most hotels are full for Tuesday and Wednesday night, and I just booked their last room available yesterday for next week. I thought that was odd. But no matter, at least we got a room.

We are all in that in-between stage of things-- where we're just wanting things to be done with and settled. But, we have to endure these long moments as part of the overall fun adventure of international moving.

We are not happy to have to say goodbye to our friends here, and I think Dustan was momentarily sad to be leaving his co-workers in a bind with his absence. He is finally feeling appreciated at work this week, with people realizing he'll be gone and his farewell luncheon (he even received a nice plaque and a funny little handmade card, lots of "missing you already" comments and such.

Well, back to work I must go and take advantage of the kids not being here. We look forward to seeing all our friends and family at home next week! Only 6 more days. Can you believe it?

Anxiety

Well, we now have dates for the movers to show up and pack. The VW was taken last week to be shipped and is currently at sea. We have sorted through our belongings, and given away several bags of clothes and toys outgrown, and are selling the household goods that stay here.

Friday will be the first day that they come to pack. So, we will have the loft cleared out and the living room and office, along with the entire basement. That will leave Tuesday to do the bedrooms and kitchen. We then have the cleaning to do- cobwebs, windows, washing cupboards, lightswitches and floors... even painting? Yeah, the landlord expects us to have the house repainted before we leave. We have the arguement that that falls under normal wear and tear, and therefore we shouldn't have to do it. And so, this is yet another point that we must get legal advice on, and one detail that we would really like to avoid.

Tomorrow we will wake up to only 9 days left before we get on the plane and celebrate Nathaniel's 4th birthday in good ole Pennsylvania. The house is a mess and we are having company over tomorrow afternoon. Maybe that will motivate me to clean up a little- hah! I really do clean everyday, it's just hard to tell. ; }

Announcing...

Congratulations to my Sweetie! Dustan has secured a new position in Baltimore. He has been interviewing with different places for a couple of weeks now, and this is the job he's been most excited about, doing the thing he really likes. They officially offered the position to him on Thursday, we then worked out the kinks, and today he signed it. It is for 6 months on a temp to hire agreement with the client company being Constellation Energy. This is a great opportunity for him, and we are all excited to be going back home.

Of course, I am somewhat disappointed that our time here is done, but am looking forward to being involved in family life again, and this time with kids old enough to go do fun activities too. We will be moving back to York County and Dustan will be commuting. This is all happening very quickly too. Hopefully we will get the dates set up for the movers to come sometime soon. And, by the end of the month we will be back in the States!

A walk thru town

Ariel and I took a walk through town today, as the sun was finally shining. *Sigh* I am growing nostalgic about Germany more every day. I got some pictures of the library I've been meaning to photograph since we came here. The sky was a beautiful blue background for the Karnival decor, with silver-grey clouds glowing from the sun.

After a couple of pics, Ariel had some fun on the playground. It was a bit chilly, hovering just below 40 degrees with a gusty wind, but being in the sunshine was worth it.

Karnival Season

Lately life in Germany has been busy and exciting. It is fasching season here. Karnival season is a big thing here, much bigger than Halloween is, though I can't say it's as big of a money maker. Nonetheless, towns hang flags and drape rags across the streets in old -fashioned festivity spirit. Parties are thrown as well as parades and events.

At the Kindergarten, the kids dressed up for several days and had celebrations. They made Venetian masks too. They have been having lots of fun doing this! The only downside to this is the witches find this a good time to enjoy, and make themselves seem friendly to children. Also, of course, the vulagarities of adult activities accompaning the celebration is right out sinful and disgusting. Aside from this fact, the kids see it as just lots of fun. They love celebrating with the Germans!