Christmas in August

Our Air shipment was finally delivered and our girls are in heaven!!

It makes temporary living a little bit more like a home…

Family Portrait

It is now that I remember what we missed so much about being in Seattle. Family time at the lake. Troy, Moya and the girls, hanging out and hamming it up on the hammock.

Beauties at the lake

One of the things we love most about the lake is the opportunity for our girls to play with no restrictions.  Games are made up & made complicated, or it remains remarkably simple, as long as there is a lot of laughter, a little smile, and fun all day long.

     a break for otter pops… and lots of family time. It’s heaven to do jet lag at the lake…

Good Morning Seattle

After an interesting travel day, running from one flight to another after a 4am wake up call, and giving up our great rental cars, add 14 hours, and we arrived in Seattle. In time to listen to the German – Netherlands semi-final on the Spanish AM radio channel on the way home, and a great welcome from Nana & Papa… After a bit of bad planning for our first temporary apartment, and an overnight at Nana & Papa’s house, we arrived in our 2nd temporary apartment on the south slope of Queen Anne.  The views make it all worth it!

The weather has turned to summer, although in the 75-85 range, rather than 90-100 like in Munich, and there is air conditioning in almost every store!  The girls are a bit confused about why we aren’t staying with my parents, hopefully they get used to sleeping in the same room quickly… In the meantime, we do have amazing sun rises, and colorful sunsets…

Goodbye

Summers are full of transition for many in the international community, there are a number of other families that are moving on as well, and we were able to celebrate with them at a lake in the country.  The kids had a great time, and it was a fun thing to do for all the kids to say goodbye! and now it’s all done.  We’ve been checked off &  are checking out of the hotel. 

Goodbye to our amazing, now empty, apartment… and THANK YOU to our wonderful friends who made this adventure so enjoyable, we look forward to seeing you again!

xx

The Z family

Happy 4th of July!

What other way would we celebrate 4th of July in Germany, than at a Beer Garden.  Seriously, what is more American than BBQ, Brats, and Beer?  Throw a playground in, and it would be heaven for most people in the US…

For us, one last chance to see friends before the big move, and a great way to spend a (last) sleepy Sunday afternoon…

we even had a few sparklers left over from New Years I think…

The kiddies – we brought the flags, and I felt like I channeled a bit of the Baker 4th when all the kids lined up for the photo, and ice cream…   Thank you all for joining us & making our send off so amazing!!

Last run thru the Hofgarten

We spent our last Sunday morning at Starbucks, and running with the girls thru the Hofgarten next to the Residenz.  and what better way to observe the “no walking on the grass” sign than by sitting on it… 

Packing Begins…

After all this time, our life is beginning to be packed up!  It will take 2 days to pack & load onto our 40 ft container, and 2 air shipment containers (each about the size of our US baby crib.)

I can’t believe our stuff is going to fill this.  On the way over, almost 6 years ago, we filled half of a 20ft container.  We are entitled to the larger size now because we have a bigger family…  I’m pretty sure we need it!

So for now we have moved into a hotel where the girls are getting used to going to the spa pool every afternoon, we can’t quite get the a/c working in our room, and room service will get to know us quite well… And our girls are still playing dress up!

Sophia's Final Assemblies

A combination of the assemblies for the end of the year...

Sophia's Goodbye! from Moya Z on Vimeo.

End of year Assemblies

Sophia’s school does such a great job with transitions for all of the children.  Every Thursday there is an assembly for the lower school where any child who is leaving the school that week is asked to stand up & have the “good bye” song sang to them.  (It makes me cry almost every time…) Sophia & Hugo with their good bye certificates…

Then at the end of the year, there is the magic door.  The children say good bye to their current teachers, walk thru the door, and are greeted by next year’s teachers on the other side.

We now have a Grade 1 student!!

(video to come!!)