crunch time

Where have I been the past several weeks, you ask? 

More like, where haven't I been.  July has taken us all over the map, and we're only halfway through the adventures.

First, there was J's brother's wedding in Indiana - a long weekend of late nights, early mornings, and lots of fun.

Then, we came home for one day and were off on an impromptu trip to Florida.  Since we got back from there late Friday night, we've been packing, packing and more packing.  And running errands.

Oh, and did I mention I got a job, that I fly to San Francisco for a week of training for?  Super, super exciting!  But it's added yet another thing to the mix, and now means that I leave this Sunday (the 24th) instead of the 28th - for good. 

No matter how many times we pack up our lives, I can honestly say it never gets easier.  Everything has it's place, yes, but it is exhausting.

Though, unlike last year... this year I am the one jetting off to someplace new and leaving the stuff behind for the hubby to take care of.  I was more than excited about the idea of him being stuck with it (sounds harsh, but I've had my fair share of 'being stuck' with packing up and moving everything!)  but I've realized the past few days that I need like to have everything done my way or it drives me nuts. (okay, who am I kidding... I've known I've been like that for my whole life.  I have no idea why I thought this time would be different....)  We have specific boxes labeled for different rooms (kitchen, bathroom, etc) and I like everything to go back right in their place.  It's like putting a puzzle back together- everything has it's place, it's just up to us to find it again.  If it were up to J, he'd throw it all into the nearest box and have it all mixed together.  Efficent now- yes, Organized when it comes time to unpack next Spring- NO!

I'm a little nervous about not being here to finalize everything, but I now the hubs will do an amazing job.  He'll be taking Maddie by himself now too, so I'm sure I'll worry about that until I hear that they are safe and sound in Finland.  Guess that's my mommy instincts :)

So, it's going to be a good 10 days or so until I'm back to blogging as usual.  Now is time for packing and spending my last little bit of time with family/friends, heading to San Fran to start my new job on Sunday (!!!!) and then heading straight to Helsinki from there (literally from one side of the globe to the other!)

Hope everyone's having a great summer and staying COOL!  It's been HOT here lately- TOO hot, and I'm kind of excited to get to some cooler weather.  There can never just be a happy medium, huh?  Funny how that works.

I better get back to my work and get some good sleep - Crunch time is in full swing!

about that time of year again...

It's about that time again.  In a few short weeks, we'll be packing up our suitcases and traveling back across the pond for another hockey season.  I've been avoiding the idea of packing so far, but I know that July 28th is going to creep up on me.... fast.  Four days this weekend will be spent celebrating my brother-in-law's wedding, then next week we have scheduled a last minute trip to Florida. 

After that, we'll have less than 2 weeks until our departure date.  Time to go start dusting off the suitcases. 

Thank goodness most of our stuff is still in Finland- there was no sense in bringing all of our winter stuff home for the summer.  But, this limits me to only one suitcase to bring back with me, since that was all I brought home in the Spring.  Hopefully all of my new shopping purchases I've made over the summer fit in as well....

I'll also be replenishing things like our medicine kit and other necessary items that can't be found in Finland, and making a few necessary purchases that we somehow lived without last season (sling-box anyone?!) 

And then there's the dreaded vet paperwork for Miss Maddie, ugh.  At least it will be easier this year since we know what to do, how to do it, and she has her very own little Finland/EU "Pet Passport". 

So, here's where my headaches from last year are getting put to good use to make your life easier:

no, that's not me... but a good idea of how I look when
attempting to pack for the season
(source)

*If you're looking for a packing list on what to bring (and what not to bring) when moving to Europe, check out my list HERE!

*If you're looking for information about traveling to Europe with your dog, check out my info HERE!

(here is also another great list written by a friend/fellow hockey wife, with some great tips for packing for a warmer climate and when you have the convienence of driving vs. flying, and for moving from Canada to the USA)

happy 4th of july weekend!

Happy holiday weekend to my fellow Americans!!  (and okay.... I guess happy Canada Day to you Canadians, too)   And to everyone else- just Happy Weekend!

We kicked the weekend off already with a nice little boat ride last night.  Maddie got to experience her first ride on the boat, and we had no idea how she would do- but she was great!  She absolutely loved life on the water, and I'm pretty sure if she could talk, she'd be begging us to buy a boat of our own.  She was so good that she earned herself another boat ride tomorrow night for the fireworks!

I'm on a boat!

Loving Life!

Enjoying the pretty sunset on the lake

Woo hooo! Good thing I have my fancy schmancy
life jacket on in case I fall out!

For my fellow hockey wives, today also marks the beginning of Free Agency here in North America.  There are always mixed feelings when it comes to being a free agent- to some it is an opportunity to be free from an organization that they no longer desire to be with (and seek a new contract with potentially higher pay), and for others it's an extremely stressful time of uncertainty until a job is nailed down for the upcoming season.  Here's to hoping any and all of you get the deals you guys want in the least amount of time (and least stress) possible! 

Hope everyone has a fantastic, safe, long holiday weekend!