120 Months

The baby has entered double digits!  How did this happen? 

We awoke early on the day and sang a very quick Happy Birthday as we ran out the door to MadHatter's Regional Qualifiers meet.  Thankfully, she only had one race that day so we only had to stay for the very first race of the day.  To make it easier for Stinkerbell to give up her birthday morning, we brought donuts for all.

We made it home in time for her gymnastics training where she got to spend time doing everything she loved, then present opening and finally dinner at the movie theatre where we saw Aladdin per the birthday girls request. 

Putting to bed a very tired little girl she exclaimed that it was the perfect birthday.

Happy Birthday to the baby -- who is not such a baby anymore.  We are so proud of you and the little lady you are growing into.  Your spirit is infectious, your will unbreakable and that smile lights up the room any time you walk in.  I hope you never lose your love of life, your innocence and may you forever love so hard it hurts.  You are one special little girl and we are so glad you are ours!

Worldly Goods

Due to a lot of unforeseen circumstances, this has been the longest move ever.  And certainly the most challenging.  Let me explain.

Back in October, the girls and I packed up all of their clothing, a few pieces of mine and some random toys/games/craft items that we thought they would like to have for the next few months.  I threw in 6 plates, mugs and sets of utensils to use at the new house and off we headed to our new home in the U.S. while B stayed with the majority (all?) of our things back in Munich.  The idea was simple.  We needed to buy a lot of things anyway - new bedroom furniture for the girls and ourselves (ours was going in the guest room), new living room furniture as the stuff we had would be going in the loft, kitchen table because we didn't own one...you get the picture.  It would allow us to live in two houses until B joined us in Florida a few months later.

We set up home here and learned to live without a lot of things.  But it was getting old not having enough dishes to make it through more than two meals each day.  And the girls were really missing their things.  And I was hating having to rebuy things we already owned just because they were 5,000 miles away.  And the big kicker, B still didn't have a move date!  This was not the way it was supposed to work out.

Finally, we made the decision to send our things home and for B to move into a furnished apartment in Munich until his job was finished there and he could ultimately move home.  So, 7 months after we left everything behind, it was packed up, put in our container and shipped home.  Ironically, it was the fasted shipment we had ever received (a month from door to door).

Leaving Munich!

It's here!  They did have to remove it from the container because it was too big for our streets.

My helpers for the day.

We can't forget this one.  She was a trooper at getting things checked off an in the right spot inside.  I did have to take the job from her when we realized that the packers in Munich might have been the worst we have ever encountered.  From putting the box number on the tape (where is wore off) to not using any paper to pack anything, to having boxes have empty and crushed, it was almost like they let 3 year olds pack us up.  We have a HUGE list of broken and damaged items but at least our things are home.

Now if I could just get out from underneath these boxes (and keep the cats out of them).  Moving with a half-full house presents a whole new set of challenges but I wouldn't trade it!

You've just graduated, what are you going to do next?

I'm going to Disney World!

We have a pretty busy summer planned with MadHatter attempting to make her first Junior Olympics for Track and Field,  Stinkerbell practicing 5 days a week with her gymnastics team, a two week trip to Europe for a family wedding, unpacking all of our worldly belongings and all of the other minutiae that goes with just being alive.  There aren't a lot of days that are just free from commitments except for the first few right after school let out.  I could have just relaxed and enjoyed the free time, but what fun is that?  Instead, I planned a 4 day trip to Disney World to celebrate our recent grad and our soon to be Birthday girl. 

Early the morning after school let out for the summer (and by early, I mean 6 am) we were on the road.  We pulled into Epcot just as they were opening for the day and spent the next 4 full days riding as many rides as we could, stuffing our faces with junk food, and just making memories.  I won't bore you with all of the pictures we took but no post would be complete without a few...

 A new parade!

 

 A birthday present finally fulfilled.

 New ride coming soon.

Just a few steps (and we weren't quite done yet...)

 Soaking wet but no matter, it was super hot so we dried quick.

 Termite hills and upside down trees.

 I drank the beer, they stood in the single rider line for Everest (over and over and over again).

 A bit of rain never stopped us.

That's a Wrap

We started the school year in Germany and were so blessed to do so.  The girls got time to say a proper goodbye to their friends and their expat lives (for a while anyway) and embark, yet again, on a new adventure.  They entered school as the new kids about 3 months after the start of the year (difficult at best) and to complicate it further, they were thrown into an entirely new way of teaching and learning (hello tests and grading).  They took it all in stride and, though it was not without struggle and heartache, they came out the other side with a newfound confidence in their abilities.  Thank you for a wonderful year PTE! 

First Day of 5th and 4th grades.

Last day!

Movin' on up

I don't have many words that haven't been said a million times before about how proud we are of this one for all of her hard work, her adaptability and her unwavering good attitude when it comes to school (and actually, life in general).  We asked a lot of her during her 6 years of elementary school and not just academically.  We tasked her with packing up everything she owned, leaving her friends and familiarity behind her and then asked her to start anew.  We did this not only once, but four times.  In four different countries.  On three continents.  That is a lot for anyone to handle, much less someone that is barely into her double digits, and she handled it all with grace.  I am so impossibly in awe of the young woman she is becoming and know that her future is wide open.  Congratulations MadHatter on conquering Elementary School.

Watch out Middle School, here she comes!

At home and outside of school before the ceremony.

She was recognized for being Student of the Month!

Shaking the Mayor's hand.

Her class.

The slide she made for the show.  It's her first day of Kindergarten in Chile and one of her last days of 5th grade in Germany.

Bits and Bobs

Random goings-on in the second half of May...

MadHatter made the city magazine in two spots with a few girls from her track team.

 Being super silly while we wait for MadHatter to finish track practice.

Field day tug of war and popsicles on a 95-degree day!

 Our things are FINALLY packed, in a container and on a ship home!  It has only been 7 months since we left, what is another 2?

 My usual Saturday (sometimes Sunday) pose during track season.  This time we were in Tampa for the Bay Area Youth Championships.  We left Stinkerbell with Nana and Grampa for the weekend as the meets get long and boring for her.  This is what she and I did over the weekend -

And this is what MadHatter did...Long Jump 3rd place!

My children are getting kind of demanding of the Tooth Fairy.  Good thing we only have a few more teeth to go.

 This one is NOT going to be happy when that container of furniture arrives :)

 I finally got my hair cut!  

 We are pet sitting for Nana and Grampa as they are literally traveling around the world.  Meet Lucy, the dog and ChaCha, the cat.

School dance on the last Friday of school for her class party.  The t-shirt was required wear.

I think she had a good time.

I was lucky enough to help out at this class party - Shrinky Dink key chains and ice cream sundae bar!

 Where else would we be?  This is what she has worked for all year.  District Qualifiers start our road to the Jr. Olympics.  And I finally got smart and wore a hood to protect me from the hot sun as I shoot on the track all day.

 Some very happy girls that all qualified for Regionals in their events.  (Top 16 in each event place.  At regionals the Top 6 move one - much tougher)

Tye Dye fun on Sunday...

I think they did a great job!