US in 2 Months...Already

This week Chad is in the States and we're trying to fill the time doing things we won't get to do when we're back in Milwaukee.  As I sit during this nap time, I am realizing how fast the past 3 years have gone and I have put a lot of thought into things I am going to miss.  Who would have thought that when we got off the plane in Dusseldorf that I would miss so much from Germany.  I was thinking about Cologne and what I will miss:

Here's the start of my list (it doesn't include friends because that goes without saying):

• Our neighborhood (all the old trees and green canopy)
• Sud Park near our flat with the new playground that the Will got to enjoy because we stayed.
• The green seasons, even winter and the ivy and large evergreens
• Walking on old cobblestone and hearing Will make his voice cut in and out
• Admiring the old buildings 
• Frau Pauley saying hi to the boys at the grocery store and giving them snacks
• BREAD BREAD BREAD
• Brochen at the grocery store for the boys (what will I do to keep them quiet?)
• Small grocery stores:  Simple, easy, efficient
• Walking to the store 
• Our beautiful open flat with big windows
• Did I mention the fresh BREAD
• Baking paper
• German Brew Houses
• Schnitzel
• Walking in the city center
• the Dom (how many times did I walk by and not appreciate where I was)
• Walks by the Rhein River and the paths
• The Gelato 
• DM
• Coke Light (yes it is different than Diet Coke)
• The prices for Wine
• Heated floors in our flat
• Herdplatz mit rosinen
• Fresh fruit and veggies
• The Zoo
• Gertudenhof (farm where we feed the animals)
• Assortment of cheeses
• Hot dogs (the do seem better here)
• Fresh Flowers
• Stores closed on Sundays & Chad's office at 6pm
• Metric
• Chad's commute when he's in the office
• Chad's parking spot near the office
• The train station
• Altmarkt
• Heumarkt
• Eis Eis Eis
• Spring flowers and large plants
• Recycling and deposits for plastic and glass bottles
• My pediatrician and walking to his office 
• Health care
• Large bathtub for the boys
• Our shower and water pressure
• Using my pushers almost everyday
• Our car's heated seats bottom & back
• Will pointing out Porsches and Mini Coopers

This was the quick off the top of my head list and I'm sure I'll think of more.  Of course there will be a list of things that I will enjoy with being back in the US too.  :) Right now I am appreciating the few weeks we have left before the craziness starts.  I think December & January will be challenging as we all transition into what the next phase has in store for us.  We left as 2 and now there are 4 of us returning.  I also take some comfort in the fact we'll be back and for sure the boys will be back.  And who knows maybe we'll live in Europe or even Germany again some day.  :)