Our new Home

The craziness continues...We landed in the evening in Pensacola, went straight to the car dealership and bought 2 cars. We drove 1 1/2 hours and arrived at our hotel at 11:30pm (With Frank still in tow). We woke up to go to the closing office to close on our new house at 8:00am - still house sight unseen - (yes we are CRAZY!!!). We then went straight to the DMV to change our licenses from Georgia to Florida! We have had to pay taxes to Georgia for 9 years (even though we haven't lived there) and we were very happy to make the switch to Florida (no State income tax - hurray!!!).  Around 10:00 AM, we finally pulled into our new neighborhood and saw our house for the very first time. Two of the neighbors came out and greeted us and one even brought a ton of stuff (like a table, chairs, pots and pans, dishes etc. for us to borrow until our stuff arrived (little did she know it would be a month!!!). Such amazing kindness! ..and we got the kids registered for school -  A MONTH after school began - yikes!

...It has been a month now and we finally got our 15 crates (15,000 pounds) of STUFF. I realize now that a backpack and tennis shoes seem sufficient and the stuff just adds chaos! The kids are getting settled into school. They miss their old school and friends a lot! Mia is up to a 5.45 on a scale of 1-10 (for liking school). Every day gets a bit easier. Bryan likes his new job and does not mind the commute (yet), as he gets to cross the ocean each day. They say the summer is crazy though when the tourists are in full swing!  I am trying to get everything settled at home. It is still out of sorts, but slowly our long checklist is dwindling. Even though it seems like the move from Hell, it really has fallen into place quite remarkably.  I still can't believe this is "home", but it is definitely a pretty place and evenings at the beach are helping to make the move easier! We definitely miss Germany, but the weather here is pretty darn nice!

They call it the Emerald Coast...

The water is very clear (which I like, because then you can see the fish and sharks!)

The first night we came, we looked like fish out of water (no pun intended :-))

We miss you, Bailey!

Loves the beach, but just wishes her friends were here to play too!

We try to get down for the sunset on most evenings... It is beautiful...

It has a turquois look - so pretty!

our new house...

our new cars...

our new life.... So weird!!!

1st day of school...

1st day of school...

This was the one and only time I tried to do the car line - it was ridiculous!!! 2 police cars and a mile line!!! Crazy! I so miss Mia beaing able to just walk to school :-(

Some of our good friends' that we knew from the Base in Bamberg live 2 hours away. We have been able to get together twice now with them. So glad to have some familiarity in such newness!! (*can you spot the people that are new to the sun :-))

Such a pretty venue when we meet up!

Cam!

Another beautiful sunset!

Mia being goofy!

Franklin in his leash :-)

Our last 4 days in Germany!

We flew back to Germany, and and after 9 years, we moved into a Hotel for our last 4 days in Europe! It was a whirlwind, with more goodbyes, more exhaustion, and more checks off the checkklist....

Dinner with friends!

Yummy Breakfast for Camden (my ridiculously picky eater)

A double rainbow at our hotel!

Sad goodbyes...

Frank LOVED playing in our hotel room! 

Finally made it to Munich and heading back again to the U.S. after only 4 days in Germany...

Tired kids - and so weird to be without Bailey!!!

And a tired Franky (thank goodness, he was able to fly in cabin under our feet)

He had "Bathroom breaks" at every available stop!!!

...And our first views of our new home...

More Maine...

After saying our goodbyes, it was a very somber ride back to Maine after leaving Bailey. I didn't feel very well, and I think 6 months of stress finally caught up with me and I was sick the rest of the week. We still tried to get out to do things. It was Niki's first time to the U.S. and we wanted to show him a good time. Luckily, my parents were there to help!!! So grateful!!!

Enjoying the Maine Coast!

Camden in Camden, Maine

One of our favorite things to do is climb Mt. Battie!

Such pretty views at the top!

Everyone was sporting "Bishop's" attire to send photos o Bailey :-)

And this is the sweetest thing... Several Amish families have moved into my hometown. It was pouring rain, and this man was heading home. I think it is really cool!

And the leaves were starting to change! (photo - courtesy of Niki :-))

And an update of Frank back in Germany!!! He loved hopping around in their Garden :-)

Niki had his first Lobsters!!!

He loved them!!! My Dad totally taught him how to eat a Lobster and by the second one, he was off an running on his own :-)

And after 12 short days, lots of goodbyes, and lots of love - we (Bryan, Camden, Mia, Niki, and I) headed back to Germany

Maine/Canada

It took about a year of preparation to figure out all of the logistics with regard to getting Bailey to school with Love (yes - she could have gotten there easily, but when you try to add in the love and care, it adds an entire other dimension :-)). Then you throw a move across the Atlantic to a completely new town, where we know absolutely nobody and that adds even another entirely different dimension too. My Brother was in Maine visitng from England and so for 2 days, we had my entire family under one roof. It was busy, but great! And thanks to my parents willingness to  entertain Mia, Camden, and Niki, we were able to spend 4 entire days devoted to just Bailey. We had a great trip up (even though my Birthday wish was to see a Moose - and we didn't see even one). We were super impressed with the city of Sherbrooke and definitely decided that Quebec is a perfect middle ground of Europe and America. A great transition for Bailey!  It is so crazy to think it is only 4 hours from where I grew up, but yet a completely different world!

On the way to Maine, we had an overnight in Amsterdam...

Just call me the sheep whisperer :-). Outside of our hotel in Amsterdam, was a Canal with sheep. They were completely loose (no fences at all). I was in heaven!

I thought that this sign was hillarious!

Mia sporting some Dutch shoes!

My family :-)

The car is all packed - can you tell what the school colors are??? :-)

...a very sad goodbye

These 3 make me so happy!!

On the way to Canada, we stopped at a few cool rest stops - so much nature!!!

Beautiful scenery!

..and we got photos of the kids back at the house - this one, the boys are shooting the bb gun...

and cute little Abbey

There was a bald Eagle flying off to the right - so pretty!

We finally arrived!!!

Bishop's famous words to live by - 

Remember how you entered, be proud of how you leave...

The campus is a bit "Harry Potterish" - really pretty!!!

Bishop's was a University BEFORE Canada was a Country - so lots of history :-)

Poutine - the famous Canadian food. It is basically a gravy and cheese like cover for french fries - so yummy!!!

...And back in the U.S., we continued to get updates :-)

Bonjour!

Sherbrooke

Moose for 20 miles - and we didn't even see one :-(

We went with Bailey one day to a local spot that has a super long suspension bridge and hiking...

Bryan "playing" on the rocks...

Bailey has a pretty lucky set up (her kitchen is nicer than ours!!!). Whatever happened to the poor college student! She has 2 roommates to share with.

Not too shabby!

More pictures of the happenings back in Maine . My Mom showed Mia a great time! (I think she was having fun :-))

We were super excited to see the German Flag in Bailey's Dining Hall!

They had a wine and beer social for the parents - felt a bit like Germany!

Bailey and her roomate...

Funny to see French everywhere!

Bienvenue!

And we even got updates of Frank at his Babysitters back in Germany :-)

So many choices!!!

More updates...

In Germany, you need a very special (and hard to get) license in order to fish. My Dad took the boys out fishing and Niki was super excited to catch his first fish!!!)

And Cam is always happy to fish :-)