Last Day of School!

Fun.
Emotional.
Sad.
Happy.
LONG.

These are all the thoughts I am having about today.

Are we ready to go? Yes and No. But as with all things in life, it is what it is.

Our things are as packed as they are going to get.

Our house is as clean as it is going to get.

We have only had one emotional breakdown (the kid). But she got to play at the pool with one of her best gal pals while I finished packing up at home. And today was a fun filled last day of school. She is exhausted though she will never ever admit it.

Yes, we have a ride to the airport. But thank you! to all our sweet friends who have offered.

No we do not have a direct flight.
Atlanta.
Chicago.
Dublin.
Edinburgh!

I'll have to let you know how the motion sickness patches work.

We may arrive earlier than our apartment is ready. But that is only if we have no delays along the way.

Currently it is 44 and rainy in Edinburgh. If we did not pack warm enough stuff, we will go shopping!

You may not hear from me again until Monday. But hopefully by then we will have pictures and stories of adventure.

Hope your summer starts off with a great weekend!

- Chrissy

What do you pack for an 8 week trip?

Yesterday I wrote the top ten most asked questions. Eric reminded me of a few more we get quite a lot.

1. (to Chrissy only) Are you going to do any sewing while you are there?

Probably not. I am not a hand sewing kind of gal. And I am not dragging all my stuff with me. So unless I take a class that has all the stuff then, no.

But I will probably doing some knitting or crochet. They are great time passers when waiting in airports and train stations. And YES there will be great wool and such to buy there.

2. What do you pack for an 8 week trip? With a 7 year old? Are you bringing a bunch of toys?

The easy one first. No we are not bringing a bunch of toys. She can bring 5 toys. And I am steering her towards the acceptable ones. She will live, we will find things to do. We will bring books that we can donate to Oxfam or somewhere and buy new ones over there.

What else do we bring?
Well we each get one (1) suitcase to check and whatever carry ons we are willing to individually carry. I am taking a messenger bag and a backpack. Marion is taking her big school backpack and Eric is taking his messenger bag and perhaps a backpack.

M's Suitcase and some packing bags. 

We have to keep in mind we have to have luggage small enough to manage on side trips. Marion and I will share her small suitcase and take our backpacks when we go to London and Paris and that is it. I have learned over the years to travel light.

Another thing to consider is the weather. It is currently 54 and rainy in Edinburgh. It may not get over 70 the whole time we are there. And we hope to make it to places even further north. But we will be in London & Paris at the end of June and early July where it will be warm and possibly even hot! But still somewhat unpredictable. Eric will be in Trieste Italy, where it is warm, while we are in London & Paris with Grandma and Grandpa.  So we all need clothes with layers and options.

We have decided we will not waste valuable space on stuff we can buy there. Shampoo, sun screen, etc... will all be bought there. It will give us a fun errand when we get there and drugstore brand stuff costs about the same there and we will be there long enough to use it up. Essentials only! Prescriptions, deodorant & toothpaste and maybe a bar of soap. But that's it!

Additionally we will have a duffle bag as one of our checked bags. Gives you more room for less weight than a traditional suitcase. We use packing bags which is helpful. They make you really think about what you are bringing and keeps things more organized.

I am really glad that kiddo is almost 8. There are many things I am glad we do not have to bring such as a stroller, diaper bag, car seat etc... I am thankful she weill be able to carry her own stuff for the most part.

Tomorrow, more packing tips and what actual stuff to bring!

- Chrissy

Leaving in a few days

Today is Tuesday and on Saturday at 7:15am we leave for the airport. We are spending June and most of July in Scotland and a few other places. But our home base will be Edinburgh.

Loads of people have asked me all sorts of questions so here are some answers!

1. Wow, how can you go somewhere for so long?
Easy, my husband Eric Weeks is the chair of the Emory University Physics department and he will be working this summer. He will be doing research with some other scientists at the University of Edinburgh. So it is a work trip, but in a professor-y your summers are flexible sort of way.

2. How can you get so much time off work?
Again an easy one, I work for myself. And I only work when I want to work. Eric's job is so demanding that it works better for our family that I have something where I can take big chunks of time off. So this is one of those chunks.

3. Where are you staying?
In an apartment we found on Air bnb, so we will have to let you know how that experience goes. But it is in the same neighborhood as the apartment we had the last time we did this. Which leads too....

4. Have you done this before?
Yes! In 2005 we were in Edinburgh for 9 weeks. And in 2012 we were in NYC for 7 months. So leaving for big chunks of time is not so weird for us. Again the whole professor / life sort of thing.
In 2006 we went back to Edinburgh for Thanksgiving. I have not been to the UK in about nine years.

Thanksgiving 2006

5. Are you all packed?
No! It is Tuesday (people started asking this a couple of weeks ago) I need to do laundry on Friday and will finish packing then.

6. Are you nervous?
Yes and No. I have done this before but never with the kiddo. She is nervous, excited, worried and confused. But she is just going to have to trust us! I keep telling her I (and most people) do not remember what I did the summer between 2nd and 3rd grade, but I am pretty sure she will remember what she did.

7. Will you have a car?
No! They drive on the other side of the road people. No!

8. You're going to be gone how long?
EIGHT WEEKS, yes 8 weeks.

9. Where else are you going, since you'll be over there.
Well Edinburgh is REALLY far north. So it is not quite as easy to hop around Europe as it would be from say London or Paris. But this is kiddo's first time so we are for sure going to London and Paris (thanks Grandma & Grandpa!).

Maybe Ireland, maybe a few other spots in England. We are going to wing it and see what we feel like. But we are going to throughly explore Edinburgh and all the places we can around it. Since kiddo and I will have our days free we will report on anything interesting we find.

10. Will you post pictures!
Yep sure will. And I will let you know anything interesting that happens, right here so stay tuned!

As Day 1 gets closer I will let you know if anything changes, but this is what I have so far.

Thanks!
Chrissy