Container!

After just over two months in transit, we received our container at our new home in Dusseldorf today! It felt like an early Christmas present. Now it is really starting to feel permanent.

 First things first. By the way, I love 220V. The water boiled twice as fast.

 Time for a break.

 I proudly present our first few boxes of books, books, books...

 Discovered the box with my Xmas decorations.

This is how we left it today. I schlepped boxes of books downstairs to the cellar and boxes of clothes two flights upstairs. Take that, stairmaster!

(Look, it's sunny again.)

We were done fairly early, in time to rush back for the second St. Martin lantern parade in Geldern...

German Efficiency at Its Finest

After our strenuous day of house hunting, it looks as if we have actually found our future home. And best of all (in addition to Meike's garden and Andrew's Hawaiian-themed cellar bar), we finally get to live in a proper city, not just a 'burb! It is located in the east of Duesseldorf (Vennhausen) in a brand new neighborhood, i.e. lots of other new families to make friends with. We should be able to move in around the middle of November.

 I love that climbing structure on the playground! This is the mums' hangout.

 The front of our future house. Sophie's room will be the right window on the second floor.

 The obligatory German bathroom picture. Notice the towel warmer already built in.

 The top floor guest/library/play/cozy hangout room.

 The site of Andrew's future bar (and pantry and laundry rooms)

Finally, look what's on the street corner - I hope they serve spicy ice cream.