Moving Day!!

The big day is finally here... MOVING DAY!  This has been months and months in the making.  Most of those months we didn't know where exactly we were moving to but we knew we were going somewhere.  I've been slowly purging and selling things off (though still have more to sell - where in the world will this stuff fit in our smaller house????) and stacking things up in the garage, hallways or in the bedrooms.  Really, anywhere that stuff would fit, I've found a place to stack it.  

I'm ready.  Josh is conveniently not here but arrives tonight around 10PM.  I know the kids are not ready to go.  Liam has a playdate this afternoon but I wasn't able to coordinate anything for Aidan unfortunately.  And the moving guys just asked if they can take the tv now (it's only 2PM!) - what do I say, no????  And so let the fun really begin.  Thank god for ipads!!  Perhaps in hindsight we should have done a hotel tonight too as I just went to make a peanut butter sandwich with my last bits of food and realized the silverware and plasticware are both packed already!  And so Oreos it shall be for lunch - a lunch of champions right?????  

But like I said, I'm ready.  This has been a long time coming.  We still have so many balls in the air at the moment and so many things happening over the next 7-8 weeks before we even get to Amsterdam that it will be nice to check one item off the list in the next few days.  I'm trying to not be overwhelmed by it all but it's hard.  So I'm chunking it up - moving, hotel, leave BCN, cruise, US before camp, US kids in camp and then back to Amsterdam to start our new lives (again).  

I remember the day we left Attleboro 4 1/2 years ago.  I cried so hard as we pulled out of the driveway. Josh and the kids overall pretty stoic (Liam having no idea what was going on as he was only 2).  That house had so many wonderful memories of our family as it grew.  We got engaged there, married, got both dogs, had both kids and spent so many wonderful days and evenings with friends and family there.  To leave it was so hard.  

What I didn't realize until we were settled in Barcelona is that while it's a house we've loved, it's just a house - the memories are ours no matter where we live.  And I think that is a piece of why I'm ok with us leaving Barcelona.  The memories will be ours forever - that won't change.  I will miss our friends here, though 90% of them have moved on and no longer are here - but the ones that are still here will be our friends no matter what - I know that these friends that we've made here will last beyond the Spanish border.  

That doesn't mean I won't be sad when we leave.  Just ready.  Too many difficult things have happened in the last few weeks that have just cinched the deal that our time has come (the last being the exploding hot water heater on Sunday that wasn't repaired until Wednesday) to say hasta luego to Barcelona.  For now.  If Aidan has his way, we'll be back in a few years ;)  

I'm heartbroken for the kids though.  I remember leaving home and my heart breaking for Aidan (again, Liam being too little for the move to have much impact) knowing that he was leaving his friends behind.  He wanted the school year here to last at least another month so he could extend out his time with his friends.  At least unlike the last time, he's better now about emailing and is starting to get into it. He's not very loquacious with his email but it's a start.  

Liam, on the other hand, sees this as his first move.  He knows we lived in Attleboro but he doesn't remember it.  So this is his first big move in his memory.  He's not happy.  And yet, he's totally going with the flow.  He's really good about expressing his emotions though and has told me how much he's going to miss his friends and he's excited to Skype with them.  I'm terrible at Skyping so I need to be better at that for his sake!  But he's accepting of the move and is kind of excited about a new house.  I just don't think he realizes how far that new house is from Barcelona.  

And so the movers are packing up everything.  They are going faster than I thought they would but I'm excited to see things happening.  Finally some movement in our lives!!  

Boxes I prepacked in the office and the kids chilling out before they took the couch (now apart in bubble wrap)

Aidan's room (they haven't made it up there yet but we sold off the bunk bed last week and repainted too).  And the playroom, also newly repainted and cabinet doors reinstalled.

Stuff I've been stacking out in the garage

Stairwell to the roof, full!  And the living room is full of boxes.  Good thing the table belongs to the apartment or I'd be sitting on the floor already!

Liam's room - just a few things.. and the playroom about to be put away til August!

Garage and hallway

Kitchen before they took it all!  And the playroom before we put the doors back up last week.

Stuff stacked in the kitchen.  And the playroom.

Office

My glamorous room with my mattress on the floor.  And notice it says MUY FRAGIL on the boxes of lego sets that are already assembled - the test will be, do they arrive in Amsterdam assembled?  I offered to pack them but they said they would do it... fingers crossed or we are going to have one very upset 10 year old!

All the living room furniture except the tv and tv stand - how did our soft, coffee table and chair with ottoman end up in a stack like this??  I was going to toss the rug today (after 2 years of dog puke, chocolate milk and other food products, it's time to go) but it's the only place for the kids to sit so I guess it can wait til tomorrow!

So we're close.  They'll finish the prepacking today and then move everything out.  I always like to see what it looks like empty - the before and after.  Then the cleaners will come on Saturday and our key exchange and final walk thru on Monday and we head out of Barcelona on Tuesday.  The countdown is on - 4 1/2 days left to go!  More to come as we wind up things here in Barcelona!

Besos,

Julie

Last Minute Chaos!

The last few days have been chaotic to say the least.  Planning last playdates and coordinating moving details.  And on top of everything else, our boiler exploded on Sunday.  This is the last thing we needed.  So while we now have water, we've had no hot water.  Good times.  

I've been working with my landlord to fix the boiler but as it broke on Sunday and Mon and Tuesday were holidays, there was no getting anyone out here until today, Wednesday.  Yes, that has meant a cold shower for me (only one so far... yeah you really don't want to be around me at the moment because it's been a bit) and none for the kids as I couldn't bring myself to torture them with the icy coldness.  

My landlord has been good about trying to get someone out here.  But this morning I had plans to meet a friend and her son, who is also Liam's friend.  We were meeting at 11 in another part of the city.  At 5 minutes until 11 I got a call from the repair people.  There was someone waiting at my house NOW waiting to fix the boiler.  I told them they gave me no notice and could they come back or wait 30-45 minutes for me to get there?  No, I needed to be back within 15 minutes.  That's right, they gave me no notice and weren't going to wait AND if I didn't get back they couldn't come until Tuesday.  Given we are in this apartment til Friday (with a hotel Friday night), that was not an option - I need to shower!!!!  

So as I waited for my friend to arrive to do an unfortunate drop and run with Liam and raced back here to meet the guy to fix the water heater.  He gave me the stink eye when I arrived.  Um, hello, perhaps if you had called in advance I would have been here when you arrived!!  

Anyways, he fixed the heater - I personally think he did the cheap job which is what the landlord wanted.  I heard him say something about dos mil (2000) and then something about 150.  And given I had to front the 150, I'm going with quick fix.  But to be honest, I don't care so long as I have hot water for at least one more shower before I go.  We had someone I've become friendly with look at the house on Tuesday and I've already given her the heads up on the water heater and beyond that, I can't be held responsible for what the landlord chooses to do.

I raced back to our playdate and made it in time to go to lunch.  The kids were tired, hungry and a bit punchy but we had a great pizza lunch.  I'm going to miss these guys, who also happen to be leaving. It's funny how you connect with certain people right when you are leaving.  Figures.  Liam gets to see Miles again Thursday when he goes to visit with another friend (and gets out of the house while the movers are here).  So it wasn't a total goodbye moment.

Liam and I had about 45 minutes at home before we had to head up to Sarria to get Aidan and his friend Max at Raul's house.  Not having a car sucks.  How I managed for 3 years is beyond me.  Raul doesn't live very close to public transit so yet another taxi.  And I had to bring Max home to Pedrables which is no where near us and no where near Raul.  And so another taxi for that and yet another to get us home (because even though Max lives near a metro it would have been another 45 minutes to get back home).  Bone tired, we made it home by around 6.  

The kids were totally up my butt despite the fact that I spent the ENTIRE day shuffling them around when I had 5 million things here that needed to be done.  They obviously don't care about that.  I will admit to going slightly ballistic on them for being so selfish when they could offer to help out a little here or there.  It wasn't pretty and I felt immediate regret for my words.  We made up but it was well after 9 before I got started on my work day.

But wait,  why haven't I started my work day yet??  Because I spent the whole day taking the kids to and from playdates.  I HAVE to get work done before we leave here.  I will be working in the States but given my crazy schedule, it will be on a reduced capacity and we have the 2 week cruise right before.  I had planned an all nighter, crazy I know, to get the stuff done. Thankfully by midnight I had a good chunk of things off my plate and felt pretty good about what I had accomplished.  

Anyways, that's a bit of our last minute chaos.  The movers come on Thursday and I can't wait to at least get this process started (they will finish on Fri).  Then it's off to a hotel starting on Friday.  We're not done here yet, still lots left to do.  Will write updates on the move!!!

Besos,

Julie

Half Past Done

As we enter our last week in Barcelona, I can say it... I'm ready.  I didn't think I was ready before but I keep getting sign after sign that the time has come - our time here is up.  And I'm ready for it to be up. I'm ready to start our new adventures.  I'm ready for our lives to have some semblance of normalcy back to them.  I don't even remember what normal is any more.

It's been 8 very very long months.  Hell it's been a long 4 1/2 years, but it's the last 8 months that have pushed us to the brink.  We've been thru the wringer.  There have been times where I've wondered if our family was going to come out of this whole.  Hell, I was wondering that yesterday as Josh and I had a (much needed) explosive fight.  I think we are both just so far past our breaking points that we just couldn't take it any more.  It's amazing how much better you feel after a good fight though - ready to take on the world.

But then that world thru more at us.  Last night I got an email from our tenant in Attleboro.  A few weeks ago we had termites (which we found when spraying for ants).  Now we apparently have a water leak.  I still don't know what the end result was as I haven't heard back from her regarding what the plumber said.  But it was one of those, yeah, we're moving this week so of course something had to go wrong somewhere.  

What I didn't anticipate was waking up to water in our apartment here in Barcelona this morning.  That was the nail in the coffin.  The fuck you (sorry for my french) moment of ... it's time.  What started off as a little drip, drip, drip this morning, literally was exploding this afternoon after I got home from dropping off the kids.  And unlike in the US, the tenant is responsible for pretty much everything here. So you know who's dime this is?  Yeah, likely mine.  Oh, I'll fight it.  But it won't be pretty.  And it's not something I need to be dealing with right now.  

The whole apartment is in chaos.  Furniture half apart.  Suitcases partially packed.  Not a room doesn't have boxes in it.  I'm ready.  I just want to get the show on the road.  Counting down the days now - only 5 more here in our apartment.  As of Friday we'll be in a hotel and this portion will be done or at least almost done - our landlord will still have one month of our 4 month deposit until the middle of next month.  It won't be til we get all 4 months back (insert crazy lunatic laughter here because that won't happen) that I'll feel like this part is truly behind us.  

Then on Tuesday, July 1 we head off for vacation before going to the States on July 13.  I'm just chunking off the time (not that I want to rush my vacation or my time home) til we get back to "normal".  Apartment.  Hotel.  Cruise.  USA.  Amsterdam.  Almost one down, 4 to go.  We'll get there.  There is a very small light at the end of the tunnel but I can almost see it... we're almost there.

Besos,

Julie

Last Week of School

This last week of school has been bittersweet.  For Liam, it's the only school he's ever known.  For Aidan, it's where the majority of his education has taken place.  It feels like home to them.  Wednesday morning, Aidan said to me "I wish school could last another month so I don't have to leave my friends so soon."  I hear you my boy... I hear you.

This is where they have built friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime.  This is their place where they go every day to not just learn but to work hard, play hard and to make great friends.  And they have done just that.  School is so important from a multitude of angles.  But now it's time to say goodbye to our second home of BFIS as we move on to our new school later this summer.

This is the place where our children have grown their wings and learned to fly.  They have had a network of teachers and support that have given them the best opportunities to become the people they are today and to shape the foundation of who they will become tomorrow.  And each and every one of those people will be missed dearly.

But it's not just saying goodbye to our teachers this week, but also to some of our friends.  Friends that have grown up with our children in the last 4 1/2 years.  Who have become their support in their own special way.

On Wednesday, one of Liam's best buds, Logan, was having his last day.  I was at school for a play for Liam and am so glad that I was there because otherwise we might not have had the opportunity to say goodbye and to get one last round of photos with the kids.  Though our hope is that this is not goodbye but see you later and that they will visit us in Amsterdam and vice versa.

Shoma, Logan and Liam after the play (notice Liam's new Netherlands jersey - didn't take him long to change allegiances!)

The 4 musketeers - Shoma, Logan, Liam and Quinn - an awesome awesome group of kids!

One last shot on the playground.  Love these guys and totally going to miss them - I know Liam is especially sad to leave!

The mood in our house this week has been reflective of the impending move.  Aidan claims he's not moody but their is normal Aidan moody (and believe me, that's moody enough) and there is moody. He's sad, he's upset and yet he's excited for the new adventure ahead of us.  He's confused is what it comes down to.  And I get it.  I felt the same way when we came to Barcelona and left our friends in the US behind.  He'll hopefully understand that while he won't see them every day any more, the most important friendships, those really solid foundations, they aren't going to change no matter where he lives.

On Thursday we started to do repairs to our apartment and the leave is becoming more and more obvious.  Walls are being painted, furniture is being moved.  The Super Mario and Ninjago rooms are no more.  In fact, the boys had to sleep in my room Thursday night because all their furniture was in the middle of their rooms and the paint fumes were too much.

We also said goodbye to the turtle on Thursday evening.  Turti was a non-descript kind of pet.  He didn't do much.  The kids didn't play with him.  He was just... there.  But it was another sign of our time coming to a close.  Thankfully he's going to Aidan's best friend's house where he looks like he's going to have a much happier life sharing a tank with two other turtles and a play area that he gets to stretch his little turtle legs on.  It will be for the best but I can understand where he is coming from.  I took pictures but apparently my sd card needed to be reformatted and I've lost them.  Sorry Aidan :(

Liam is finally getting it.  The reality is sinking in as the school year comes to a close.  He's not doing badly but he's not happy either.  He has an amazing crew of friends (though so does Aidan) and it's really the first group of friends that he has had since when he came here at age 2 he wasn't really at the stage in his life where he was forming friendships in the same way he does now.

But Friday, Friday was the test of all tests.  We've said goodbye countless times over the last 4 1/2 years.  Too many to keep track of.  But this time, this time it's us leaving.  The relationships we've formed are true and this school has become our community - the amazing teachers, staff and all the friends that the kids have made.  I remember leaving our house in Attleboro with the tears flowing as we said goodbye to our lives there on our way to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Last day of 1st and 4th grade!!

Last day riding on the luxury bus to school (seriously, what a life they have!)

Last bus ride to BFIS!

Liam had his class party today.  I was making cookies first thing this morning - my only opportunity to do so (Liam I sacrificed my morning run for you - hope you enjoyed those cookies!) in order to get to school by 10:30.  Josh was returning the car today at 1 so it was back to the old school way of public transportation to get there.  Good thing too - it was a big day of towing cars at school (there is no parking lot, only street parking).

Anyways, Liam had his class party.  It was a fun morning filled with special "candy" awards for the kids.  Liam got the "exploding with positive attitude" award which came with pop rocks.  Absolutely adorable and totally fitting for my super positive kid.  There are many things that could hold him back but he doesn't let them, he just keeps on going in forward motion with a happy, smiley attitude.  That's my kid!!

Liam getting his award

His "exploding with positive attitude" award

Liam and Quinn ... Liam and Tomas

There was a video that the school made to the song "Happy" and a slide show of pictures that had been taken of the kids in class during the year.  It was nice to chat with some of the parents and watch the kids all having a great time, especially when it came to their yearbooks.  Everyone loves to sign yearbooks!!

Signing yearbooks

Liam and his friend Mateo watching Horton Hears a Who at the end of the school day... they've made themselves rather comfortable!!

We left Liam's class a little more abruptly than I planned and I'm sorry Ms. Kyle for not saying goodbye. The kids were off and running!  And it would have gotten emotional!!

Aidan apparently had his party yesterday.  How I missed the note home about it, is beyond me.  So I didn't see him until the end of the school day.  When I found him in his class (after I went to the wrong floor of the building searching for him - obviously my brain is mush these days), he and his friends were doing the Macarena to Just Dance. It was AWESOME!  I took a few pictures but unfortunately wasn't fast moving enough to grab video.  But the smiles on their faces said it all.  After that, Gangnam Style.  I love these kids... so much!

Aidan, Johnny and Guille doing the Macarena

Aidan, Guille and Johnny

Raul, Marc, Johnny, Aidan and Guille with Natalie in the back

Gangnam Style

We did a few goodbyes in Aidan's classroom.  Some of the kids we will stay in touch with, others likely not.  But it was sad nonetheless.  We did a few goodbyes and see you laters on the patio - I hate to say it, but I rushed out of there and didn't say goodbye to all that I was hoping to talk to - it was just becoming too emotional.  If we didn't say goodbye to you, it's not because we don't love you, it's because we just couldn't bear anymore in one day.

 Aidan and his awesome teacher, Ms. MaryAnn and his learning support teacher Ms. Meritxell... 

Aidan and Johnny

Aidan with Ms. Lefton and with his friend Isa (who was his first friend here in Barcelona).

Liam and Ms. Alex - thanks for sticking with us all these years Alex.  

You know how much it meant to us!

Hanging out on the patio reading yearbooks

Aidan, Pablo and Bruno... Alex and Aidan

But we didn't let the sadness bring us down.  We were off to the park with some good friends for one last big playdate.  Aidan had Max, Guille and Nicolau with him and Liam had Quinn and Miles.  It was a super fun day, exhausting for the kids to say the least, but full of running, playing, squirt gun fights and a casual lunch.  The perfect way to spend the last day of school.

Miles, Liam and Quinn at the park

The big kids - Max, Aidan, Nicolau and Guille

Aidan had to say goodbye to Nicolau today as he and his family are leaving for their summer trip this weekend.  It broke my heart.  He was so quick about it.  And I knew it was because he felt himself get emotional.  I could see it in his face.  And his mood afterwards reflected how difficult it was.  But now that Aidan's bigger the hope is he will use his email and really try to stay in touch with those he cares about and Nicolau is in that exclusive group of friends for Aidan.

Aidan and Nicolau

We dropped off Liam at Quinn's house for the night.  Quinn leaves for his family summer trip tomorrow.  Ahhh ex-pat life - people don't stick around after school gets out.  So tomorrow we will say goodbye again.

It's been a rough week and as we enter our last 10 days in Barcelona, I expect that we will continue to experiences these rollercoaster emotions.  Excitement at what is to come and sadness as to what we are leaving behind.  All I know is that we will embrace these last days with enthusiasm and will do our best to leave here with the happiest of memories knowing that we took full advantage of our time here and met amazing people who have had an everlasting impact on our lives.

Besos,
Julie