Kayaking the Willamette Falls

Now that we are living back in Portland with older kids, it is a great time to discover new activities. With an adventurous uncle in town, we decided to book a kayak tour of the Willamette Falls. We booked 2 tandem kayaks and 1 single through eNRG kayaking and they were great. We had an …

48 Hours in Seattle

We ended up using some hotel points to book a room in Seattle for the weekend. What most people don't know is the Pacific Northwest has THE MOST beautiful summers ever. Seattle did not disappoint and we were gifted with 70 degree sunny weather to enjoy the city. It was never meant to be relaxing, …

Transitioning, Again.

Part of the journey is the end.  Here we are again.... packing up our belongings and sorting through the many memories we have made here.  It's time for pack-out and we are preparing to live transitionally for the next few months.  While I am often overwhelmed by the amount of to-do's in this phase, my …

Growing Up Expat: Going Home

So here we are.  We have told the kids that we are moving home.  They are both excited, but not entirely sure how this new life at home looks just yet.   It is home, but it will also be a new house, new schools, and new routines. We are sub 30 days and I …

The Hardest Part

What is the hardest part about living overseas? It's simple.  The being far away. This past week we had to watch the news as the Woosley Fire in Malibu, California ripped through our families property.  With no power or cell service, we were cut off from all communication for 24 hours and not knowing how …

More of Less: Minimalism Overseas

I recently watched the minimalist documentary on Netflix and it got me thinking about coming home.   We sold off and gave away many of our processions when we moved overseas knowing we would be living in a much smaller apartment.   After living out of 9 suitcases as a family of four for about …

Big News…

We found out this week, we are headed home come the holidays.   We were never sure if it would be an option at the end of this experience.   So when the opportunity came, we knew it was meant to be. It is hard to imagine all of this being over.  I have never …

An Ode to the Tall House

I have always felt a special connection to my homes.  More than most maybe, but I feel the energy and love we have put into them and I can recall the ways the shadows danced on all my walls.  So it is no surprise that this house I don't own, in a country that is …

Book Review: Misunderstood

I am reading a new book, Misunderstood by Tanya Crossman, a more modern version of the classic Third Culture Kids.  I have bookmarked so many amazing and relevant subjects in this book.   It seems every other page, I am nodding away in agreement. Understanding the unique situation of transitioning in and out of an …

Growing Up Expat: Traveling with an Introvert

I wanted to talk a little bit about traveling with your family for longer than a typical vacation.  Being out of your own space for longer than a week can present its own side effects.  As my children get older, there are different needs that need to be met in order for everyone to have …