Now it's a HOME, not just a house

We moved into our house on Monday and we couldn't be happier. I was really tired of living out of suitcases for the past 2 months and really needed some room to spread out. The kids could not be more thrilled either, they have a gymnasium size living room to race cars, color, and to roll coins the farthest (you'd be amazed at the games these two make up when they have hardly any toys). They play horsey on top of each other, wrestle, and tag, who-can-find-the-biggest-slugs, who-can-tear-down-the-neighbors-driveway-on-the-tricycle-fastest, and hide & seek but we can never find Logan. We always have to call out and have him answer LOL.

Our household goods don't arrive for another 3 weeks, so we have loaner furniture and I've been to IKEA quite a bit buying rugs, linens for the loaner beds and toys. I've been cooking every day and I am starting to enjoy it for once. I found the best grocery store just a 5 minute drive away. We also have a small store only a 5 minute walk away through a forested trail and we've strolled there with Tahoe a few times this week for fresh produce. Remember that baguette we talked about at the hotel? We found out which bakery it was from, and that too is only a 5 minute drive away. We went there on Sunday and it was a MADHOUSE...they were pulling the breads & danish right out of the ovens and into the baskets, people were wall to wall trying to get the freshest breads...it was AWESOME!

Tahoe has walked himself around the neighborhood a few times. Not sure if he is looking for Arlington, Virginia or not, but we found him sniffing someone's garden on our way home from the store the other day. He got out through an unlocked door. I freaked and slammed on the brakes! He is not the runaway type, he is just curious and he came over to the car right away. He would NEVER leave me! We have a few resident cats (which European city doesn't?) and Tahoe is not so tolerant of them any longer. He darts after them now and we are always yelling for him to COME HOME! There are minimal cars here on our secluded street so the kids & Tahoe can play right outside our house. It's a great location for SO many reasons. We can walk out our front door and down the hill right to the edge of the fjord. A short km walk to the right and we are at the THREE SWORDS monument & beach where Tahoe dives into the salt water. He gets that puppy face every time he swims. All of our neighbors have come right up to us to meet us all. Who says Norwegians aren't friendly??

I also have my European husband back. He has stripped his DC persona and is back to the Aaron I knew 10 years ago. He's always been super great but the Pentagon can change even Ghandi I tell ya! Mr. Mayor talks to EVERYONE he sees and shakes hands, and smiles so brightly, he is definitely in his element. He can mountain bike to work and is outside most of the day with the kids. He worked so incredibly hard to get us here, it was definitely our worst move yet. He moved us all on short notice too, he was one stressed puppy but now.....He is one happy CAMPER!

I am meeting a few of the wives at the base and everyone is welcoming. There are many spouses groups: the Northern Lights for Americans, Jatta for all of NATO, then there are OIL COMPANY women's groups also. Then there are subgroups like a fitness/running club, quilting, shopping, cooking, hiking, drinking (just kidding). So the first meeting of all of these groups is in September where I will meet all the women and hopefully connect with a club or two. There is a change of command for the new USAF Brig Gen arriving and the ceremony is Thursday so most of the base will be present. This is a geographically separated unit so the base population is really small, but hopefully we will all be one big happy military family. Because when you are so far from home, your military family is all you've got....xoxo