Just like mommy and daddy!

Today is the day!
We are going to buy Emma's first pair of soccer cleats. We didn't want to "push" her into any sport and she has gotten to choose herself what sport she wanted to try. I am so excited that this time it's soccer! Last year she tried that whole gymnastics thing but it didn't last more than a few weeks before she said she was done with it. She also did swimming and LOVED it, but more for fun.
So now we are onto her first soccer team adventure. Sure we have played in the backyard since she was little but now it's for real. We have the team meeting on Monday where she will get to meet her coach and her teammates. Her team's color are black and purple. Lets see how this goes, but first she needs the essentials. Off to the sporting goods store we go!
They had to be pink!

Cleaning my head

This move is so stressful! For everyday that passes there is something else that is needed to be done. In my opinion; the interview with the Swedish Honorary consulate was a joke and a waste of time. Ok I know that they had to meet Dave in person but the three questions that they asked were stupid and such a waste of everyone's time!
Having to have gone through the crazy process of becoming a green card holder, which took years to complete and was really hard on my mind, you would think this would make me happy. But seriously, what a waste of time!

So in an attempt to not having to think about anything irritating nor stressful today I decided to do some yard work. After raking leaves, pulling weeds, and cleaning up after Casper for almost two hours and in 27 degrees, I am now pooped and feeling like there is something else I should be doing. We are only twelve weeks away from leaving this state, trust me it might sound like a long time but I am afraid that if I blink, it would be here tomorrow!

Our stuff

Yes! Our two first "test" shipment boxes did arrive safe and sound! Or at least it seems that way. They did have a notice of damage on it and a notice of being opened and inspected in Denmark, however nothing seems to be missing nor damaged. Yay! What a huge relief that was. Well it was for us but maybe not so much for my parents who had to go to the post office and pay(!) to get them released. They were given a cart to roll them out of the post office, as my mom put it; "everyone was staring at us and the two huge cement blocks of boxes! Come on mom, the can't be that heavy. I carried one and Dave the other and we even had to wait in line holding them.....
Well, that makes me so happy that they made it, too bad the third "box" we shipped didn't make it on-time. Mickan's birthday present may be a few days late but when it comes from that special Pink store it should be worth the wait.... At least we got to Skype and Em got to sing for her. Priceless!
Well we got a big, no huge, week ahead of us. Think positive and all should be great!

Doesn't look that heavy?!

My buddy

I think I am done crying, for now. We are in the middle of our adventure of mowing home and most feelings are happy, excited, fear, and some panic. However I know that I might be done crying over him for now but I know that when the day comes, I will cry like a little baby - again.
My little Casper buddy. Ok fine. He was Emma's birthday present but I see him as mamma's boy and we got the deepest bond in our house. Casper is our my dog. He is an all white Boxer and will turn six in October. He is the best. I know that we I will never ever have a better dog. But unfortunately he will not come with us on our next chapter. Due to too many deaths of "snubbed-nosed" dogs in flight there is way to many regulations and rules of him flying and we have came to the realization that he will have to stay behind. Shit! I am crying just writing this. Em seems ok with it for now and our process of trying to find him a loving home that will love him more then we do is now in the works.

Look at him! How can you not love this guy!

Moments like this

It's moments like this that warms my heart, that makes me smile from the inside out. No doubt that both I and Em missed Dave tonight, we always do when one of our perfect threesome is gone.  But I love my evenings with Em. I love it when we just sit on the couch and just cuddle. I love to listen to her stories about her day. Or just the "guess what Mom". She sure tell good stories and I love hearing them. Tonight we decided to get into our Jammie's and just cuddle on the couch, eating Dove chocolates and reading the quotes to each other. I knew she was exhausted but was to selfish to make her go to bed. I love it so much when she falls asleep in my lap. My beautiful little princess! Well not so little anymore, carrying those 65Lbs up the stairs reminds me how fast she is growing up and I just love it even more that I let her fall asleep in my lap.....

Hard to imagine

I know that it is hard for you to understand, but the fact that we are moving is my whole world right now. It consumes my whole brain, every hour, every minute. Everything I touch I ask myself: "am I going to take it? Is it worth to pay to ship it?" Sometimes I wish I could just turn it off. Today is a beautiful day and its my day off but I have so many things on my mind and so many things I have to do.
Today I wish I could just turn it off and be lazy...... It's my constant struggle!

My shopping soul is a frugal one!

So I know that I rather buy 10 pair of shoes instead of one expensive pair. I rather have ten purses then one and so on. Brands mean nothing to me. I rather have comfy and cute then expensive. Still don't get it why people spend hundreds of dollars on a purse? So when we are in this whirlwind of packing, trying to figure out all the things to pack, what to bring and what is available in Sweden, I turned to Google. Trust me, I know that Sweden has almost everything that we want and more then enough of what we need but I still have my fav brands of different stuff and I just had to know if it is available and what it will cost me. Well, lets just say reality just smacked my frugal shopping soul in the face! I don't think I should google any more items.... My fav conditioner is $20 in Sweden while I only pay $2.50 for it here! Other hair products are more then double and don't get me started on getting your nails done.  I told Dave that I might just have to stock up and bring it with us and then go on vacation to the States every other year or so, because this frugal soul needs some true shopping that doesn't use all my savings! Shopping is one of my favorite things to do but I think I will turn to a lot more window shopping in the near future. Skyping with my sis today and quizzing her on different prices and items available and how far behind is Sweden on my fav tv shows etc etc. when the laughter dwindled down and i was able to process all this "new" information, well.... lets just say that I will try my hardest to just go with the flow but inside I know that my frugal soul might have a heart attack one day in the shopping streets of Stockholm!

Waiting game

It seems like we are on track with most things. Two boxes of items where mailed to my parents house on Monday. They better make it there in one piece or I will be devastated! I am trying to keep this momentum going by going through all of my clothes. What to take, what to donate, and which items will go out with the trash.....
We are waiting for our interview to be scheduled with the Swedish consulate here in Phoenix. I think a huge weight will be lifted once that is done and we get the confirmation that Em's and Dave's visas are approved. I know that with that approval comes something else that must be done so it will be ever ending for a while but yet so exciting!
I know, I know it's not a rush for the finish line, it's a marathon.... But again it's so close I can see it! Hopefully just over four months until we can walk on Swedish grounds.

A little bit of panic....

A little bit of panic and anxiety hit me today. My dad called us yesterday with the great news that he has found us an apartment. Yay! It's not as close to downtown as I would have liked but its within the area that we had said we wanted to live, and I know once we fill it with us it will be absolute perfect! But no the panic strikes. What do we bring? I have said the whole time that only the must have items will be shipped and then it's only two suitcases per person. All my shoes don't fit into two suitcases!!!
The first box is getting started. This one was easy to start. Pictures. If you know me I love taking pictures and I have a lot, but now what else do I pack? It's a little overwhelming....

It's true

It's true what they say: once you put it on Facebook it must be the truth. Well in this case it is.
We told all the right people and hit the final one today. Passports are made. Application for green cards to Sweden has been sent in and we got notice this morning that its time to schedule our interview with the Swedish consulate here in Phoenix. Next, after getting accepted of course, is to book our flights and then hopefully smooth sailing all the way home!....

Coming clean

After starting this journey in a very hush, hush manner. It feels great to let it out. To let everyone know. To be able to share my excitement, it's like standing on a mountain top and screaming: We are moving home!
I know this is not going to be a dance on roses and there will be a few bumps in the road, but I am very excited about what the future holds for me and my family.