Too Many Goodbye's Already

Packers are coming tomorrow, loading the sea container on Thursday. We've been so inundated with all this sorting of what is going on the ship, and what is staying with us in our suitcases for the last month, that I am just coming to grips with the fact that we are in the final countdown of our days here. And tomorrow they take away my stroller, so the walks along the lake front will now come to an end, unless I sneak in a kidless walk here some weekend. I've gotta say, despite the distraction of sorting for the packers, the walks I've had lately along this gorgeously dotted lake front have been very nostalgic, breathtaking, and tearful. Good thing for sunglasses to hide the watery eyes.

This town has been good to us. This experience can't be justly described in words. And the friendships we have made......how can I even begin.

2 Weekends ago started the chain of goodbyes. Karolina and her family were heading back to Finland, and Chance said bye to his good friends Eeli and Tuure.

Here's Big Man and Little Man all gussied up for the big party.

We love going to houses of our foreign friends to see what kind of delictables they conjure up. Here...bacon wrapped figs. YUM.

And this past weekend, we went for a very nice evening to the Stavast house. They just built a beautiful house in Pfaffikon and we enjoyed really nice food made by really nice company. Ole Brooks has really taken to Linda, he smiles so big for her every time. And the boy is not so giving with the smiles to just any stranger.

The boys had a blast playing Wii all night. Chance is really going to miss Mikkel and Felix. And I their parents!

So, next weekend we are off to spend Easter weekend meeting Baby Benjamin in Geneva, and of course saying goodbye to Josh and Katerine (for now). Fingers crossed they find their way back to Texas sooner than later (hint hint Katherine, if you are reading this!).

Just Smile and Wave

Brooks and Chance are sooooooo different, the main thing being that Chance loved books and learning from the very beginning. He was like a little sponge, and we could sit for hours talking about colors, shapes, you name it. But he'd look when I'd point, he'd study what I was talking about, and he'd soak it all in.

Ole Brooks, he just drums to a different beat, and that's ok too. I mean we don't need him reciting his ABC's just yet, but he could throw me a bone every once in awhile. Seems like everytime I try to point at something, or tell him about a color or shape of something, he'd rather just look at me and smile.

He was doing that so much tonight, it made me thing of the penguins on Madascar....

6 and 6

6 years old, 6 months old. Life, ain't it great!