one two three boxes

It's full-on summer atmosphere in Boston, and as much as I am excited about spending the summer in Iceland, I'm also thankful for getting a couple of weeks with high temperatures where we blast the A/C, hang out on the balcony at night and head for the playgrounds with sprinklers during the day. 

I lost count of the moving boxes we've packed at this point. They are slowly taking over the space in the living room, as drawers, shelves and closets are emptying out. It's amazing how much stuff you accumulate in just two years, and I can't help but wonder how much one really needs. A guy picked up the TV last night and someone is coming to get the couch on Saturday, and meanwhile Bjarni and I are high fiving each other about being on top of our schedule so far. I hope it continues to go smooth as we move into the last stretch of moving frenzy on the US side.

Next week will be hard as it will be full of goodbyes, and I am terrible at that. But first a lot of fun as we take a break from the packing: a reunion with Vienna friends tomorrow and a two day trip to New Hampshire with other friends over the weekend. Yes, we are so ready and excited for this little trip.

Pictures from the previous two weeks.

We had a yard sale on Father's Day, and Silja was "in charge" of the lemonade stand. 

Face paint by Anna and Elsa at a friend's birthday party. She was too shy to say much, but said it was the best day ever on the way home.

Sorting pebbles from the baseball field.. Putting the good ones in his mouth :/

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big move, little kids

Is it already June? We are leaving in 24 days, and although we have started selling and giving away things, and packed the first (small!) moving box, it still feels like life continues as normal. Jonas has his 15-month check-up on Wednesday, Silja is going to a Frozen-themed birthday party on Sunday, Bjarni is busy working, and we go about our every day routines like we always have. It's SO weird to think that in 24 days, everything we own, will either be packed up in a container heading to Denmark or sold. The whole thing feels like throwing life up in the air, without knowing how the pieces will look and feel, when they settle in new surroundings. And if that is stressful for grownups, then what about kids? 

In order to deal with all the transitions, I made a book to Silja about what will happen. I talked with the developmental specialist in her preschool, and she suggested it might be a good tool to help grasp the many different parts that will be her life until fall: first Boston, then Iceland, then Denmark and settling into a new house, and finally starting a new preschool. I got it laminated so it's more durable and we can bring it along, and look in it when needed. 

I also made a book to both of them with pictures and stories about life here. I hope it can be a way - for Jonas, who is too young to remember anything and for Silja, who is attached to people and places  - to see what life here was like. There's pictures and stories of the playgrounds, our house, Silja's friends, her preschool, how her English developed and so on (and now I really regret I didn't make one to Silja about Austria.)

Of all the practical things that have been on the to-do list so far, these two projects have definitely been the most fun.   

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