One More Week.....

As Elle was removing Dora she said, "Good-bye gigantic Dora!!!"

Well…the countdown is on.  As of today, we have only ONE WEEK until we fly back to the USA—for good.  Next Friday, April 26^th our driver will pick us up at 5:00PM; at that time, we will say good-bye to our neighborhood, our home, and very soon after, Germany/Europe.  In many ways, our Expat assignment went very quickly and is one that we will never forget.

Yesterday, it was so odd because I was talking with my sister-in-law on the telephone and we were discussing upcoming dates, activities, etc. throughout the ENTIRE summer…no more having to try and experience 5 months of living into a mere 6 weeks!!! 

Though, we do still have one week, we have MUCH to get done.  Along with attending some going-away events AND celebrating Elle’s 5^th birthday here with our friends in Germany!!  On Tuesday afternoon, I will be baking FORTY-SEVEN cupcakes for Elle’s school AND her birthday party (the woman who always bakes my cakes moved 2 weeks ago:(.  So, wish us luck….I probably will not be blogging much … but will see many of you very soon.  

Matt "enjoying" removing the glow in the dark galaxy:)!

On Monday, we were allowed one large "DUMP" of items that I could/did not sell.  The girls enjoyed watching the truck come and pick it all up.

3/4 of the items we needed to sell a few weeks ago (many items were not in this picture.......

And now.....it is ALL gone!!!

In order to lessen the girl's anxiety/questions re: the move, we have been having a lot of discussion about where our items are going, where we will be living, saying good-bye to our home in Germany AND in Cedar Falls (Elle assumed we were moving back there), etc. we have been looking at our home in Cedar Falls online (as of yesterday it is listed) and some of the homes we are considering  purchasing in Kansas City.  The girls are THRILLED about moving back to the USA..... Elle said, "Can you even believe it Mom, people are going to talk to us and we will know exactly what they are saying!!!!!"

On Wednesday, April 24th the movers will be here at 9AM (2AM USA time:).  This was the pile of items we came over with in June 2011..... cross your fingers that everything I have planned to fly back to the USA next week makes the cut!!