100th blog post

Wow, I cant believe I have made it to 100 blog posts, in just over a year...

I feel like I should say something significant, but right now my mind is a blank.  I won't bore you with what we have been up to this week (that post is coming soon....).  Instead, I think I will just put in some photos from the last 100 posts.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog I *mostly* enjoy writing it, it lets me get a bit of perspective on what is going on in our little lives.

Heathrow airport, off on our look and see

My lovely Netmums ladies, I miss you guys 

My first car

Experiencing Mice on Main

Cutie Pie

Getting kitted out for baseball

Gappy Gosling

Paul and Uncle Tony

One of our first trips to the pool

Chilling in Orlando

The elf days of Christmas

Seeing as we are in a different country we have decided to start some new Christmas traditions, as it is nigh on impossible to maintain the ones we had.

 I read last year about the magical Christmas elves that come to visit children in the period before Christmas.  Their job is to report good and bad behavior back to Father Christmas.  Sometimes the elves can be mischievous...  Other people report them throwing underwear on the Christmas tree, toothpaste on mirrors, mustaches on pictures, drinking all of daddy's beer, etc.  but they can do good things too.  They often bring gifts, leave equipment for arts Christmas arts and crafts or Christmas baking.  The elves go backs to Father Christmas on the eve of Christmas Eve, taking with them their elf report on how the children have behaved.  They often leave a parting hamper, full of christmas goodies for the children.

Jingles, Sparkles and Fred

Our elves arrived last night (I bought them in k-mart after trawling quite a few stores).  They are called Jingles, Sparkles and Fred.  They came with a letter from Father Christmas and a elf report sheet.  The boys were very lucky, as they also brought the advent calendars and chocolate Santas.  The boys face was a picture this morning.  Oliver read most of the letter, but seeing as Isaac wasn't listening, I took over.  Oliver defiantly understands the concept, and I think Isaac does too.  Seb was more concerned as to why he only got one chocolate from his advent calendar, and could he have more of the chocolate Santa.....

A blurry Isaac with his chocolate Santa

Oliver reading the letter

I must give big kudos to the Netmums ladies on Facebook, and the Netmums coffeehouse thread.  There is loads of ideas on here.  I think what I am going to do is attach photos of the mischief the elves get up to on this blog entry.  Then I will do different entries for each week....  I might change my mind, though, depends what the elves drive me too......

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Night of December 1st - The elves had a party to celebrate their arrival.  Think they had sore heads this  morning.....

Party time.....

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 Night of December 2nd - The elves chillin' with Frosty the count down snow man, after a day of being almost torn apart by Gosling boys...

'Frosty's a dude'

*********************************************************************************Night of December 3rd - After a bit of TLC from Mummy Gosling, the elf's feel up for some play time

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Night of December 4th - Watching a bit of late night TV.  Hope its nothing too dodgy......

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Night of December 5th - Play time with Isaac's confiscated toys....

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Night of December 6th - The elves were really tired and took themselves off to bed....

One week to go....

So the suitcase saga.... Last Wednesday I ordered 2 matching suitcases and a carry on from the Luggae Hut.  Got an email on the Thursday morning to say they only had one in stock.  So I chose another one.  And waited for it to be delivered, and waited and waited....  I was in contact with a gent there who said they were wanting for the other suitcase and carry on to be delivered.  This was Wednesday of this week.  Baring in mind that my mum is taking our packed suitcases away with her on Sunday, this was getting too close for comfort.  Thursday, they still not had them delivered to their warehouse.  So I told them to just deliver the one they had, and cancel the other 2.  I sent paul to look in Chichester at BHS and John Lewis.  He decided to look in sainsburys, they had some good offers on ok suitcases. So he came away with one huge one, and a carry on, for a bargain price.  Still need to check our accounts and make sure Luggage Hut have refunded our other ones.  They will be getting a snotty email at some point over the next few days.  I may be busy, but I can find time to complain about shoddy service.

Yesterday I spent the morning selling off yet more of my house. I got home to discover a big fat to let board up at my back garden.  By the end of the day we had some viewings arranged for friday.  We got rid of some big items, with promise of many others going next week or over the weekend.  I had my lovely friends Philippa and Vicki round yesterday afternoon, mainly to buy more toys, but it was lovely to see them.  Gonna miss those girls.  I think everything that is going on is catching up with me.  I slept on the sofa for nearly an hour last night.  I then put yet more stuff for sale, spoke to my dad and had a bit too much wine... And a bit of a late night.  Bless my youngest, he decided that 2am was a good time to have a screaming fit.  Took some paracetamol to settle him, but even that took time.  He even had the decency to wake his brothers.  He woke up this morning with a stinking cold, which I also think Isaac is fighting too....

Took the boys to school and preschool this morning, then headed home to wait for peoplemtovpick up more stuff.  Had a viewing, then Seb went for a sleep.  Sorted out yet more stuff for sale, before I sat down to do some uni work.  I had worked really hard Monday and Tuesday of this week to be sure I had done most of my assignment.  I sat down to reference my 1st question.  Went to read through the rest, they werent there...tried my best to find them, but they are not on the hard drive anywhere.  Then the realisation struck.... Paul had copied over our hard drive from the main computer to a new smaller one on Saturday.  I had been saving my work to the old one, which got packed up I the shipping on Wednesday....I was sooooooo annoyed with myself.  Luckily I managed to do some more work this afternoon, so i only have 1 more question to do tomorrow night.  I want that assignment gone.  To be honest, it may not matter.... I got an email from the OU saying they are having problems contacting the university they would use in Greenville for hosting my exam.  They have asked me to try, or to fly back to the UK for my exam (no chance), or defer sitting it till the next exam period, which I think is February.  Think I may be deferring.....

This afternoon I had my last ever Netmums meetup at my house.  I have been arranging these for about 3 years, first as right hand mum, then as chair mum.  I really enjoy them.  We had 7 adults and 11 kids round this afternoon.  I will miss my Netmums friends a lot.  But I am happy, as those who are taking over will do a good job, and keep the meets going.  Luckily I didn't really have to say a proper goodbye to anyone other than Lucy, that was hard enough.  We have arranged an impromptu night out for Monday, I am hoping lots will turn up, I think there will be at least 6 of us which will be lovely, yet hard to say good bye to people....

This weekend we are off to my dads tomorrow to drop off a boot full of stuff.  My gran is over from Northern Ireland.  She wanted to see us before we head off.  She does not think she will see us again.  A bit morbid maybe, but my gran is going to out live everyone.  Then we are off to Birdworld.  The boys love birdworld, it is just the right amount of time for their concentration level, and the right distance for my Gran to walk.

Then Sunday my mum and Lee are down to look after the boys while we pack most of our clothes away.....

Only 7 days to go........

Recent developments...

A big HELLO to all the netmums from February 2011, and my friends/ family who have been guided or have inadvertently found this blog. Please keep following me, it will get more interesting.......

So since yesterday..... Paul received 3 emails, one from the visa people, one from the relocaters, and one from the private school. The visa people need Paul to fill out lots of 'interesting' forms to get the visa process started. The relocaters will arrange our look and see, our first travel, and everything else! The school (Christchurch Epicospical School, look it up if you feel inclined) have sent us some forms to fill in to begin the admissions process for Oliver. It's quite funny, as 2 of these forms are in German, obviously for those coming from BMW in Germany. They are expecting Oliver to go into Grade 2, the English equivalent of year 3. They will test him first to see which grade his ability is. I have done a bit of research on this, and I think he will be ok in this academically, but we will see!

Isaac's first attempt at writing his name

I also want them to test Isaac, as although he is not meant to start kindergarten till the September after he is 5 (2014!!!), I think they will take him in September 2013, especially as he is being paid for. He has been practicing writing today, copying words, I am really pleased with how clear they are for one of his first attempts. I swear Oliver could not write this well at 3 1/2! I have also booked Oliver and Isaac's hepatitis B vaccinations.

All children in the US are vaccinated for this as part of their routine vaccinations from birth. And we thought we put our kids immune systems through a lot.... So 11th July, jabs for the big boys, just before school. The way to make a good day, NOT! I am not doing Sebastian, as in theory he will be 4 when we come home, so should not need them. If he ends up in daycare/ preschool out there, then I will get them done in the US, at the companies expense.

I am beginning to sell a lot of baby stuff form around the house. I plan to add more stuff to my page when I need too. Hopefully I can make a little bit of money, so we have a bit extra before we go and do not need to ship anything unnecessarily. If you are on Facebook please look for the Goslings Great House Clearance page. No doubt I will be posting again soon, so look out for it. Much love xxx