Finally it’s official. I can say it. Out loud. To more than just my husband.
We are moving!
Will it be Pat’s or Geno’s? Hmmm…
Yippee! Home!
I should clarify. The kids and I are moving back to Philly July 3. Notice I said the kids and I? Yeah, that’s not a typo. Hubby will be staying until at the very latest February but hopefully he’ll be with us by December. He can visit once a month for a week but the rest of the time it’s me and them. Flashbacks of Domestically Challenged’s posts about the axe murder are flashing through my mind. Hmmm.
The next month (a month!) is going to fly by considering I am also taking a month long class this month (naturally) and it’s the end of school year and we’re going to Berlin and I have to get the house ready for people to come through and…
breathe.
Ahh, better. It’s going to be so great even with the sucky part of Hubby not being with us. Costco, Target, a mall, normal people who speak my language, books stores, parking lots with big spaces. And yes, I’m buying a mini-van (Tiara’s please don’t hate me!). {If you have an opinion of which mini-vans are the best please leave it in the comments. You can do so anonymously if you don’t want the world to know you’re driving one.} I am fairly sure I am happy about the mini-van thing {of course Hubby just said Hey look at this new Nissan SUV thing…}. It’ll be nice to have the stroller and the groceries co-existing in the trunk again.
I could go on and on about the things I am looking forward to. But there are things I will miss about Germany.
*chocolate
*eating outdoors all the time when we go out
*my car (I really, really like my car)
*being able to see so much of the country
Yeah, I think that’s about it. Over all this hasn’t been the best three and a half years of my life but it also hasn’t been the worst. It’s been an adventure and we’ve experienced and seen so many things we would not have had a chance to do otherwise. For that I am glad. Happy even. But it’s going to a super freaking happy Fourth Of July this year. My very own independence day in one of the best places for independence.
It’ll be good to be back home again. Here’s wishing you a great weekend.
Oh this is just awesome Andrea! I am so excited for you!I really like Philly too… we don’t live all that far away. What a fun city! So glad to hear that you are moving back. The welcoming committee is here and waiting!
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Living in a foreign country is amazing, but when we get to move back to our home country – that feeling can’t be beat! I hope the transition goes well for your children. Stock up on that German chocolate; the stuff you sent me was amazing!We looked into minivans and found the Toyota Sienna to be the best, but then we ended up buying a Toyota Highlander Hybrid and I love it! Just as roomy inside but not as big as a Sienna on the outside.On my blog today I nominated your blog for an award! Thanks for all your great posts 🙂
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Hooray! Yahooeee! Yipppeee! We are all glad to have you moving a bit closer again. I hope you can come visit us soon, or now that you’ll actually be more accesible, I”m hoping I can see a little trip in my future!
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I am sooooo happy for you Andrea!If there is anything at all that I can do to help you (I don’t know what that would be as I’m pretty far from Philly) please let me know!!!I’m sending excited, jumping around hugs your way! (with a squeel or two!)
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Congrats!
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How exciting! And how cool that hubby can come home for a whole week each month.As for vans…I love having one. I can’t imagine going back to something I can’t haul a ton of kids or a ton of groceries in. We have a Dodge Grand Caravan now. Don’t get one. I can’t even begin to tell you about all the intermitten electrical problems it has had. I have friends with the Chrysler Town and Country and it has the same issues.We are getting a new van soon…probably in September. And so now you will get the second vote for a Toyota Sienna.
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WOW – are you REALLY happy about this? Why are you and the children leaving? Expat cuts? Not paying enough per diem for you to stay? Or is this by choice? 6-8 months away form each other is a LLOONNGG time!And GIRL – you better NOT buy a minivan! I will hunt you down!
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Sounds like you’re really excited about coming home. Congrats! I’m very happy for you and your family.
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Yay! You’re back w/us! This is so much easier for the ax murderer, as he will not have to worry about passports, time zones and carrying an ax on a plane. You’ll do great!! Target? Here comes another one!
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YAY!!! I’m so excited for you. Woohoooo minivan. LOL
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How great! I know you are anxious to be near family again! Here’s prayers for a smooth transition for you and hubs!BTW – how is your mom?
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Well I think that is terrible that you are leaving! You will have to try to get to cologne for at least one concert before you go…send me an email!
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Mazel Tov!! Oh to move back to the states again… even w/o your husband is amazing!!And my mini van vote… you can’t go wrong with either a Toyota Sienna or a Honda Odyssey. Both are awesome!!
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Well, I think Oregon would be soo much better and closer, but Philly’s great too! Good luck with the move, breathe, don’t stress and all that good stuff. Not a minivan person, though, sorry!
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Woah! Welcome back!Two months ago we bought a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica with leather and love it. It has the space of a mini van, but looks much cooler. The back row of seats fold down for lots of storage in back. I’d bet you could put all kinds of STROLLERS back there! We call the seats in back the “cheap seats” because it’s a little crowded for adults, but just perfect for kiddos. The middle seats are just as comfortable as the front two. Here’s a link: http://www.edmunds.com/chrysler/pacifica/review.html
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That’s great news! And you’ll have Ikea close by, I’ve been to the Philly one before and it was divine.I’m so happy that you’re going to be close to home and hopefully the solo parenting months will fly by. We have a Mazda 5 which is smaller than a mini van but still has rear sliding doors. I dig it.
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Congratulations! I know you’re excited to go home.
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I absolutely LOVE philly!! And I love the Geno’s and Pat’s question posed!Congratulation Andrea. You can feel the excitement through every single word in your post.Welcome HOME!
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Well, that's great news indeed —I think living in a different country, where I don't know the language, would be hard —but STILL, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY and adventure you must have had in Germany. you have lots and lots to do to get ready for that I am sureI have never been to Phillidelphia—but I like Philly cheese steak sandwhiches —does that count
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Cool! I’ve never been to Philly but my friends who have LOVE IT! How come you have to be away from the Hubby so long?
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That is SOOOOOO cool I’m super excited for you!!! How fun! I won’t get out to Germany before July 4th… so that sucks… but now I can visit you in Philly, never been there!
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This is Awesome news – I’m so happy for ya’ll. And Philly? You’re a Quaker too? Thou are’t double awesometh.
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I'm so far behind that I've only just found this post. Philly? Cool – you know how much I love it there.Have a great 4th of July on The Parkway for me.With only a few weeks left before you move and this being the busy season for me, I won't be able to make it up there before you go, so I'll see you in Philly when I visit next summer.
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WOW – are you REALLY happy about this? Why are you and the children leaving? Expat cuts? Not paying enough per diem for you to stay? Or is this by choice? 6-8 months away form each other is a LLOONNGG time!And GIRL – you better NOT buy a minivan! I will hunt you down!
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