First Two Weeks in Denver

Wow - another blog post that was never published. International relocation is more time consuming that I could imagine! Enjoy, with very short picture descriptions.

The first morning there was SNOW. It was awesome. 

While staying with my brother and sister in law, we took a walk and the Mr. showed PJ how to throw a football. 

The first weekend we were in town, we went over to Red Rocks. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.

We enjoyed the grown-up company with grown-up beverages.

The kids enjoyed the goofying around and loud fun with Uncle Frannie and Ike (the wonder dog!)

Within two days, Bean had already learned the most important aspects to being Uncle Frannie: settle into the couch; cell phone close in hand; hands behind the head; and chill.

Ike wasn't always totally excited about the noise. Little guy seemed to often to say, "THIS, again?!?"

XO XO

Say Goodbye / Say Hello

**whoops - quite a number of posts didn't publish. Here they come, waaaay overdue!**

This post is already a month overdue. Change is hard, people.

Our last few weeks in Germany were full of goodbyes and see-ya-laters. There were so many and I didn't do a great job of getting pictures.

PJ on his last playdate with his bestest friend.

She also left Germany.

Me holding a dear friend's gorgeous baby.

Two weeks of sorting and throwing away, giving away so that we could focus in. For me, it was 13 years. For my husband, his entire life.  

The movers came. Our stuff went.

We handed our gorgeous home into new hands. There were tears. We spent a week with Oma & Opa. There was much laughter as well as some tears.

In the end, we ended up with two cards packed with people & stuff.

At the airport our family came with us. We all treasured those last gorgeous moments together before the big change really took place.

Then we boarded our first plane. We were nervous (the Mr and I) and excited (PJ and Bean).

We survived - with no sleep - all the way to Iceland. We made our next flight.

And settled in.

...with just an hour to go, the kids finally fell asleep.

And we landed. In Denver. Home. Some of us were more excited than others. Some of us were more exhausted than others. Direct correlation, there.

And invaded my brother and sister-in-laws home for two weeks. There was much love, mess, and sleep. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of tears.

Change is hard. Cultural change is hard. The kids have defiantely handled this better than the adults. But that's a story for another day.

XO

Exploring Denver

A few weeks ago I traveled over to our soon-to-be home, Denver, Colorado. I was there to explore the city; learn about the school systems; discover the mountains; and get to know the style of life. The trip was definitely worth it; I left excited, overwhelmed, and happy that we are diving into a new adventure.

I landed to this. That is a blue sky, a rare sight in Germany.

 

I spent the week with my brother and my sister-in-law. Both were incredibly generous with their home, their groceries, and their contacts. My sister-in-law was also remarkably generous with her project management & crazy-lady management skills. She kept me on time and focused on what was really important and that wasn't always an easy task.

Together we drove around the city; drank a staggering range of craft beers; and laughed. There was a lot of laughter.

Even my sister flew in for less than two days. Together we drove up into the mountains and explored. The Mr. is a certified snowboard instructor and may want to work up in the mountains...or just play in them...so we had to confirm the commute.

 

Its a pretty fabulous commute with incredible views. Around Breckenridge we got out and walked around. The kids are going to love it. 

 

My sister-in-law cooked a number of great meals, including fabulous crab legs. We all ate too many of them. It was worth it.

 

 

I also got to see the rest of the family that live in Colorado. Together we ate excellent Mexican and drank fabulous wine & beer.

In a wonderful twist of fate, a friend that has also lived in our small German town now lives just north of Denver. We met up and she introduce me to an awesome tea place in Boulder.

 

 



Throughout the week, we slowly shopped and then ordered a bedroom set for the kids. Did I mention how generous my brother and sister-in-law are? They've set aside a complete room for our kids. Our kids are really looking forward to their new bunk beds, fancy covers, & resting chairs.

Meanwhile, back in Germany, the kids were doing surprisingly well. The one exception was a phone call when little Jelly Bean held the phone to her ear, walked from room to room in our home, and then sadly stated, "mommy nicht find you."

Otherwise, PJ enjoyed his first sleep over with his long-time buddy Super Soph. He also stepped up his drawing and coloring game.

Sadly, oh so sadly, the Mr. was corrupting our poor, poor children in my absence. Poor, poor kiddos. (Video below)

Thankfully I had these views to comfort me.

XO

 

Last Day Trip with Frannie and Kiwi 2013

**Failed to publish this blog post - better late than never**

Well, it happened. Our last day with Uncle Frannie and Aunt Kiwi.

Sad panda.

We didn't have enough Christmas market fun before Christmas so we hit up a local "Christmas AND New Year's" market on their last day. They had more glühwein and we ate some super yummy beerhouse food.

Okay, seriously, how good looking are these two?

While we were eating a small miracle happened: Jelly Bean slept in the carrier AND PJ slept on the booth's bank. So mommy and daddy got to eat warm food at the same time. Brilliant!

Afterwards, we hit up a new playground and PJ went nuts. He was the smallest on the playground but there was no stopping him.

While I enjoyed just sitting down.

Then PJ noticed kids playing in the trees. I've got a rule that has really served me well so far: when the kid can climb the tree (or whatever) themselves, they can be up in the tree (or whatever). But not before.

I really believed that this rule would extend the time before my kid was hanging up in trees. 

And the universe laughs at me. Wrong:

I have a kid that can climb trees. I'd say "fuck" here but that's a naughty word. An we don't say naughty words...

When we finally convinced PJ to come down out of the tree, we headed home for a last night on the couch.

My baby, part of the laptop generation. At two months.

And some adorable, sibling cuddles.

It was fabulous to host my brother and his wonderful to-be-wife. We are really looking forward to seeing them again for their wedding! And hopeful that they will come visit us again in Germany-land.



XO

Aunt Kiwi's Cooking

**Failed to hit 'publish' - late but still fun.**

Not only is my future sister-in-law, Aunt Kiwi, smart, ambitious, and beautiful, she is also one hell of a cook. Shortly before they had to fly home, she was kind enough to cook a lovely dinner for us and my parents-in-law.

While Uncle Frannie was roped into soux chef duties...

PJ entertained the masses with his new jumping skills...

And his always improving yelling skills.

While Jelly Bean and Opa hung out on the couch, chatting up the day. 

In those last crucial minutes of cooking, my brother and I snagged a picture of how much we love each other. Not much has changed since we were kids, really. Just that he is taller and bigger and stronger than me. Which sucks cause it makes beating him up really difficult.

And then the feast was ready! 

I'm not sure how we did it, but we all enjoyed a bi-lingual conversation with the wonderful food. Maybe it was the wine that made it possible?

And then the kiddos were exhausted and the night already over.

We are going to miss these guys when they take off.

XO