epic – Groningen Rain

27 June 202128 June 2021

Getting Started: Embrace Your Inner Child

[Dutch Lock Down Day Four Hundred Sixty Four]

On the road to becoming a unicorn, you need to go backwards to make progress.

I know what you’re thinking right now, “do I want to be a unicorn?”

Of course you do.

And now you’re thinking, “but my inner child is pretty messed up…”

Fair.

Mine, too.

But your inner child is also REALLY smart.

They know how to fall down and get back up, how to be brave, how to play, how to explore and be curious – how to be a unicorn.

How to conquer the world.

29 May 2021

Really Moving Back to the States

[Dutch Lock Down Day Four Hundred Thirty Six]

This morning I have practiced my Dutch by filling out the Lijst van Zaken (list of stuff we’re taking or leaving or is up for debate) and the Vragenlijst Over de Woning (questions about the house) and have quite a few things planned this weekend to prep the house to sell.

It’s basically about staging which, to me, is simultaneously a thought exercise and giving into my organisational urges.

Which are not appreciated UNLESS we’re selling a house.

But first the news:

Staging is all about completely neutralising the decorations – nothing too artistic or weird or iconic or out of the ordinary – which is completely BLAH to me and about removing pictures of the family so that other families can picture themselves living here – which SUCKS cause the Minions are SO CUTE but also about organising all the things and basically keeping the house spotless because a potential buyer could stop by AT ANY MOMENT.

Be still my beating heart.

28 May 2021

Posts

[Dutch Lock Down Day Four Hundred Thirty Five]

A friend reached out the other day, “Hey, you still managing? Haven’t seen a blog post in a bit. Not that I cyber stalk you or anything.”

And they’re right.

I’m not okay.

This whole OMG WE’RE MOVING TO AMERICA IN AUGUST thing is really running me over.

Yes, I’m excited.

I’m also stressed.

And I’m also well and truly going to miss all my friends here in the Netherlands / Europe / this side of the pond.

Plus now we have minions.

But first the news:

If I stop blogging daily it really is because I’m starting to crash. The only difference is that now I have a new job, too. And also the moving thing. So, yeah, it could entirely be because it’s super busy, too. But one of the things that I’ve switched around a bit was when and where I blog.

17 May 202118 May 2021

The Officially Official Big News Is!

[Dutch Lock Down Day Four Hundred Twenty Four]

We’re definitely moving back to the States.

We don’t know timing yet.

Or location.

But it’s no longer a question of IF but a question of WHEN and WHERE.

#SQUEEE #SOBS #INORITE

This is incredible news for some and devastating news for others and simultaneously exciting and terrifying all in one beautiful chaotic package.

Oh, yes, and this is also why I’m solo parenting this week because my partner is officially off to the States to Figure Things Out which, actually, there is a chance it could all fall apart and we stay in the Netherlands and that’s oke, too, but at this point, yes, the chances of us moving back to the States is solidly at 95%.

#MindBoggle

But first the news:

To be honest, I’m more concerned about making it through the next six days on my own than I am about prepping the house to sell, prepping the car to sell, selling all our electronics, giving away / donating / throwing away most of our STUFF, prepping the kids for the move, closing accounts, transferring money, getting the cat a passport, packing the rest of our stuff, flying to the States with the entire family, tons of luggage, and a very sad old cat, staying in a hotel, renting an apartment or a house or buying a house, enrolling First Minion in school, enrolling the twins in pre-school, working at the new job, getting utilities set up, buying all new electronics, buying TWO cars cause #AmericaFuckYeah, and furnishing an entire new place.

If you get my point.

Wish me luck?

14 May 2021

Leander

[Dutch Lock Down Day Four Hundred Twenty One]

I know I know – so so sorry.

#NotSorry

It’s a really intense time over here in #LeanderLand these days.

And, yeah, still not time for the big reveal, but in the midst of all the chaos, my partner is flying to the States for work. For a week. Starting Tuesday.

But first the news:

AND I’M TOTALLY NOT FREAKING OUT AT ALL.

No, but seriously.