Saying our goodbyes to Erie

It has hard to believe but we have just over one week in Erie before we depart for good. I have written and rewritten this blog entry because the plan changes! I love my husband dearly, and one of the things that he has taught me over the past five years is to be adaptable! We were going to move wait to move our furniture, then decided to have them move it next week, and then decided to hold off again.  Trying to navigate the military directions for moving, sell a home in a less than perfect financial market, finish work and plan for five weeks in three countries is somewhat of a daunting task...

To relax a little, I decided to get my hair cut today.  It only took me five years to find a hairdresser in Erie, and now I am leaving after only four appointments.  Anyway, what started as a relaxing experience quickly turned stressful.  Chatting to my lovely hairdresser about all the excitement that awaited us this summer, I overheard the girl next to me translating phrases from english into a foreign language. At first I just thought she was must be studying for some exam. Upon asking, I was informed that she was, in fact, practicing for her one week abroad trip.  It dawned on me at that point that I don't know how to say "how much does this cost, where is the bathroom," and most concerning, I frankly didn't even know the translation of "women" so that I could enter the right bathroom.It is frauen if anyone is wondering:)

There went my relaxing afternoon....

I had high hopes for a translator app....but have settled for a 1990s era phone that gives free minutes instead.  I am banking on the kindness of strangers and the fact that most Europeans speak English to get me through all of this....


We have started to say our goodbyes.  On Friday, our friends threw us a little going away party.  I hope that many will come to visit us in our new location.  Excitingly, two of our closest friends here, Emily and Chris, will be meeting us in Switzerland to spend a few days together!

Emily, Katie, Me and Ashley

Carl and his friend Adam

I am trying to convince Tara to move to Jacksonville!

At a new fun eatery in Erie

Jack is finally settled back in his routine, only to have us leave again soon.  These are the things he has been up to:

He has figured out what he likes and does not like to eat.  It is funny how he can quickly sort through the big mess on his plate to find the green beans and cheese.  He loves both!  He also loves bagels, tangerines and spaghetti with meat sauce.  Jack loves noses! He tries to do a half kiss/half bite...it is really super cute but can be painful if you don't watch out.  He is in his big boy car seat now, and really likes it.  Carl calls it his captain's chair.  He is walking with help from mom and dad but still not sure if he should trust the walker toys that he has.  He is very ticklish and laughs all the time.

Some pics from Easter:

Jack after our Easter lunch

Playing with my toys

Eating some tangerines and bagels...YUM!

He also is getting his first TOOTH!  It has poked through but hasn't come up all the way up yet.  I think he is proud of it, as he touches it and allows me to touch it too.

Realized that Jack can take control of Herme's lease!

Feels like he has control over his pug!

Nothing better than sitting with my pug and drinking some peach  yogurt shake

We are beginning to declutter and I hope to have everything completed in time for our move.  There are so many things to pick-as we must pack for Zurich, Nashville and our first few weeks in Jacksonville.  I finished up my work at Shriners Hospital today and am now in moving mode.  I will try to do one last post before we leave Erie!