Yes we got them! Finally the e-tickets for all of us 5 are issued, just in time I guess. Thus we will fly out of Amsterdam direct to Seattle on August 11th. Now the excitement rises. But the last couple of days were full of ups and downs, eventfully days!
In the moment I visited my dentist for the last time, the shipping company called - our pallets don't meet the requirements for U.S. imports! Oh dear, we thoroughly studied all available pallets and decided for THEM, because of certified for all exports. ... as we found out, all but U.S., N.Z. and a few others. The company will restack our boxes on certified pallets that may go to the U.S., which will probably result in a delay of our boxes of one week. This is a little annoying since at the new estimated time of arrival my parents will have left us in Seattle. It was originally planned that they can help us unpacking. But who cares, they are on their way and not my duty any more - only my duty to pay in the end ;-), as long as they arrive all is fine with me by now!
Today Theda and Jonte had their last day in kinder- garten. It really is fascinating; kids don't seem to feel sad in the moment of good bye. They explained to the whole group with a big smile on the face how the next days are planned, whom they are going to visit in which order until we fly. I suppose they still don't realize in full detail what relocating to Seattle means, or maybe they do and I completely underestimate my kids. They are very excited and really looking forward to Seattle. Personally I had doubts about relocating because of the kids, but they proof me wrong. Up to now they are very content with the whole situation - that does not mean they don't need extra time, more cuddling, more bluster than usual, they do!
Narne in the meantime is developing great. He turns from his back to front in both direction and is laughing with a hoarse sound continuously - spreading a lot of joy. Now and then we realize that he is getting unsatisfied with so little attention and have to adjust our eagerness of packing boxes. Still no reason to complain, concerning the chaos we have, the stress and planning all kids do much better than we ever expected previously.
We will leave Europe in only 17 days. Already tomorrow the twins will leave Kiel with their grandparents. It is their final good bye until goodness knows. As soon as they are gone we will have our final party: garage sale, flea market and BBQ party. We hope we get them all drunk that they take all our junk ;-)!
Showing posts with label boxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boxes. Show all posts
July 24, 2009
Tickets
July 20, 2009
Boxes on the way
Today the three europallets got picked up. They are on their way to Seattle - and we? We have just 1 day and 3 weeks left until we fly out of Europe. We arrive (probably) on the 11th, the boxes will arrive around August, 18th, with harbor handling, customs and so on, we will be probably get them on August 21st. Exciting! We hope to have a place to rent by then, but we are very confident.
Time is flying by, so little time left and still so much going to happen, to organize and do - freightening, but also very productive.
Two days ago on the weekend, the kids gave their farewell party. Even the weather turned to good for that afternoon. We had some fun games and a small BBQ - I personally really enjoyed the red wine at late afternoon, relaxing with friends, while the group of kids took over the garden - impossible to stop and great to watch. In the beginning everything was a little bit more organized. Katrin did prepare a match-box-cord-turning game, egg-on-spoon-run and the personal decoration of the crowns with the kids. They loved it. The group got along perfectly and they enjoyed all the gear they found in the garden.
Everyone brought a little to eat and thus we had a great BBQ at the end, though most of us were still full from all the cake, cherries and strawberries. That was the reason a couple of us mainly stuck to the red wine.
A sudden, but predicted, strong shower ended the event just at the right time to send the kids to bed. Otherwise we would have probably stayed even longer outside than we already did.
The only thing we are still waiting for are our flight tickets - since I insisted on direct flights, due to traveling with 3 minor children and the prices went up since the original travel authorization got approved - the travel authorization has to be checked again ... and it takes ages - at least it feels like ages if your luggage is on the way, a holiday home booked, money invested and you still got no ticket for that day!!!
We keep our fingers crossed, we might get the positive mail to night ... we hope!
Time is flying by, so little time left and still so much going to happen, to organize and do - freightening, but also very productive.
Two days ago on the weekend, the kids gave their farewell party. Even the weather turned to good for that afternoon. We had some fun games and a small BBQ - I personally really enjoyed the red wine at late afternoon, relaxing with friends, while the group of kids took over the garden - impossible to stop and great to watch. In the beginning everything was a little bit more organized. Katrin did prepare a match-box-cord-turning game, egg-on-spoon-run and the personal decoration of the crowns with the kids. They loved it. The group got along perfectly and they enjoyed all the gear they found in the garden.Everyone brought a little to eat and thus we had a great BBQ at the end, though most of us were still full from all the cake, cherries and strawberries. That was the reason a couple of us mainly stuck to the red wine.
A sudden, but predicted, strong shower ended the event just at the right time to send the kids to bed. Otherwise we would have probably stayed even longer outside than we already did.
The only thing we are still waiting for are our flight tickets - since I insisted on direct flights, due to traveling with 3 minor children and the prices went up since the original travel authorization got approved - the travel authorization has to be checked again ... and it takes ages - at least it feels like ages if your luggage is on the way, a holiday home booked, money invested and you still got no ticket for that day!!!
We keep our fingers crossed, we might get the positive mail to night ... we hope!
July 12, 2009
Major Packing
Less than 1 month to go, until we fly out of Germany.
The last two days have been very busy - most items, household goods and other stuff that goes via container had to be packed. The 2 large cartboard containers did arrive in time last thursday and we packed 4 cubic meter (140 cubic feet) onto 2 europallets and got much more into the boxes than we expected.
Since we plan to send 6 cubic meter (3 europallets - 210 cubic feet) this gives us the opportunity to send more than planned. We will see how fast these last approximate 10 boxes fill. So far we did fill 2 huge and 6 small boxes (equivalent to 22 small boxes). Most awkward to pack were the bikes: 2 bikes, 1 racing bike, 1 bike trailer, 2 children bikes, 3 helmets and bike tools in a box 120 cm x 80 cm x 90 cm .... we managed, though it took us several attempts to get them all in. We needed to remove all wheels, saddles, carriers and handle bars to get them in - these went into the same box, but all detached from the bikes. I only hope I padded my racing bike sufficiently ;-).
We used up already 30 m of duct-tape and more to come. Just by chance we got the opportunity to borrow heavy duty strap to fix the cartboard boxes on the europalettes, saves me from solely trusting into this hand strech foil.
After all we are less exausted and further in time than we expected to be tonight. Giving us atleast a little bit of time to relax. The twins did stay overnight at a friends place and Narne was not a big handicap during packing - as long as you make funny faces at him from time to time he is giggeling a lot. Luckily no box fell onto him.
After we picked Theda and Jonte back up again, they needed a lot of exra attention, since they were really tired and found the nearly empty flat and haven't seen us for some time ... . After we managed that they really had fun seeing the huge boxes and all the other stuff that lies around during relocations as you can see :-)!
Now I will have some wine, and prepare for another day of packing, tomorrow all my scientific books and office folders in university will be packed - I wonder how many boxes I will come up with in the end. As well my department has getaway day, hiking and then a nice BBQ on the beach, due to all this packing I will skip the hiking and join them later. Looking foreward to that retreat!
The last two days have been very busy - most items, household goods and other stuff that goes via container had to be packed. The 2 large cartboard containers did arrive in time last thursday and we packed 4 cubic meter (140 cubic feet) onto 2 europallets and got much more into the boxes than we expected.
Since we plan to send 6 cubic meter (3 europallets - 210 cubic feet) this gives us the opportunity to send more than planned. We will see how fast these last approximate 10 boxes fill. So far we did fill 2 huge and 6 small boxes (equivalent to 22 small boxes). Most awkward to pack were the bikes: 2 bikes, 1 racing bike, 1 bike trailer, 2 children bikes, 3 helmets and bike tools in a box 120 cm x 80 cm x 90 cm .... we managed, though it took us several attempts to get them all in. We needed to remove all wheels, saddles, carriers and handle bars to get them in - these went into the same box, but all detached from the bikes. I only hope I padded my racing bike sufficiently ;-).
We used up already 30 m of duct-tape and more to come. Just by chance we got the opportunity to borrow heavy duty strap to fix the cartboard boxes on the europalettes, saves me from solely trusting into this hand strech foil.After all we are less exausted and further in time than we expected to be tonight. Giving us atleast a little bit of time to relax. The twins did stay overnight at a friends place and Narne was not a big handicap during packing - as long as you make funny faces at him from time to time he is giggeling a lot. Luckily no box fell onto him.
After we picked Theda and Jonte back up again, they needed a lot of exra attention, since they were really tired and found the nearly empty flat and haven't seen us for some time ... . After we managed that they really had fun seeing the huge boxes and all the other stuff that lies around during relocations as you can see :-)!
Now I will have some wine, and prepare for another day of packing, tomorrow all my scientific books and office folders in university will be packed - I wonder how many boxes I will come up with in the end. As well my department has getaway day, hiking and then a nice BBQ on the beach, due to all this packing I will skip the hiking and join them later. Looking foreward to that retreat!
July 08, 2009
Preparations
Finally the cartboard boxes we ordered did arrive. Not only the cartboard boxes, but also 60 rolls of hand strech foil and 1000 transparent hulls, we never ordered, but our urgently needed large cartboard containers are missing. We hope the the responsible company sorts out that problem reasonably fast, atleast they were really friendly and helpfull on the phone. They even offered me to keep the hand strech foil ... but what to do with that? Christmas presents? We decided rather to get them picked up again and send them back.
Here is a picture about the packing materials we will keep and use.
Packing lists are growing and our flat looks like a nightmare. Piles, boxes and especially kids stuff everywhere. Since we are busy organizing, Theda and Jonte use this time their own way ... .
But even without them, we are great making a mess before packing it all into the boxes that it is supposed to go in. Katrin way ahead of me concerning packing everything. I somehow still try to concentrate partly on my work. Atleast as good as possible. The next days will be our main "packing days". Some time early next week we want to have packed 3 palettes (0.8mx1.2mx2m, 6 cubic meter or about 210 cubic foot) and send them on the way to Seattle. We will see how we do survive the coming up weekend.
Katrin already sorts out all toddler clothes we have from Theda and Jonte, that will fit Narne within the next year. All other clothing will have to join us later, but not with this lot.
Here you can see Katrin and our living room the way they look right now. Better, the way it looked 1 hour ago. By now we squeezed it all into the first final box. Yeah! It only needs to be labeled and we are 1/22 done. (2 large cartboard containers and 20 boxes it will be in the end).
Now back to work for some more minutes. More to come in the next days ...
Here is a picture about the packing materials we will keep and use.
Packing lists are growing and our flat looks like a nightmare. Piles, boxes and especially kids stuff everywhere. Since we are busy organizing, Theda and Jonte use this time their own way ... .But even without them, we are great making a mess before packing it all into the boxes that it is supposed to go in. Katrin way ahead of me concerning packing everything. I somehow still try to concentrate partly on my work. Atleast as good as possible. The next days will be our main "packing days". Some time early next week we want to have packed 3 palettes (0.8mx1.2mx2m, 6 cubic meter or about 210 cubic foot) and send them on the way to Seattle. We will see how we do survive the coming up weekend.
Katrin already sorts out all toddler clothes we have from Theda and Jonte, that will fit Narne within the next year. All other clothing will have to join us later, but not with this lot.
Here you can see Katrin and our living room the way they look right now. Better, the way it looked 1 hour ago. By now we squeezed it all into the first final box. Yeah! It only needs to be labeled and we are 1/22 done. (2 large cartboard containers and 20 boxes it will be in the end).Now back to work for some more minutes. More to come in the next days ...
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