Living in America....... summer 2010!

[redflipflops]

So.... new thread.... please join me

introductions:

redflipflops - California (central Coast)

Hmm...I say January? December would be too crazy with the holidays and there might be some melting in February. Would your boys be off of school in January?

School starts back on the 4th so possibly could squeeze something in just before. I briefly mentioned it to dh - it's going to take a bit more convincing for him but I would really like to do this with the boys.

Just looked at Wintergreen and their trips are all multi-day. This group has a half-day trip that looks promising.

And here is a package with dogsledding and ice fishing 1/2 day of each. I checked airfares and realistically the only way I might get this by dh is by flying to Minneapolis and driving the rest of the way. The extra leg into Hibbing really jacks up the price and we'd have to rent a car there anyway.

Interesting! I'm at the library on the computer and am about to be forcibly kicked off so someone else can use it, but I'll check out the links properly soon. Would be really fun! :)

Oh, you just dropped off my list so I thought I'd better write a post - not that I've got anything particularly interesting to say! The dcs and I had our flu shots yesterday and it still hurts! I was a bit wary about having it while pregnant as I've never had it before anyway, but the doctor said it would be fine. We'll just have to wait and see....

we're signed up for flu jabs - i haven't told dd yet!
(also keeping my spot here)

They're doing the vaccinations at our school (where I work and DS attends 2 days a week) so that's nice. We can also do the mist instead of the jab, which I like a lot better. :)

I don't blame you, the jab hurt!

Hello all, went to our first pumpkin patch yesterday! I couldn't believe how much we spent. They charged the adults to get in, $2.50 for each activity and then per pumpkin too! I swear it was much cheaper last year! How is everyone else getting ready for halloween?

I go to the pumpkin patch with DD's class Wednesday and DS' class Thursday. It is much cheaper to go with their classes. $5 per person, all activities included and you get a small pumpkin to take home.

MIL sent the kids Halloween presents Friday (she always sends them packages with stickers, books, decals, etc for every major holiday), and they're busy making pictures to hang in the window. DS is going to be Darth Vader, and DD is going to be a clone trooper. I want a costume, but I seem to find they're either really expensive, and I'm not paying that much money for one, or they're really skimpy and inappropriate to be wearing around small children.

We've had strep throat running through the family the past few weeks. DS got it first, and when he was getting better I got it, then DD got it, and DH was the last one to get it, and is still not feeling great.

I hope you're all feeling better soon dooney. Sore throats can really lay you low.

I guess I'd better spend some time on IRS website but I'm looking to try to change my domicile from CO to TX even though I live in the UK.

CO was my state of residence from 1993 when I moved there till when I left the US.

I let my CO driver's license expire and now only hold a British one.

I was living there because I moved there with my ex h but I have family only in TX and will sit for a TX license next summer.

Was hoping to switch because it's a faff I've got to file both state and fed taxes every year though I've not lived there for 9 years and never make enough to pay out either way.

Wonder if just switching licenses would be enough to change it. Will use my parents' address.

Anyone know?

Do you even think anyone at the IRS will know the answer to your question, Expat? $5 says they don't.

Why do you still have to file taxes when you don't live there? HMRC haven't bothered with us at all over the last two years. Is that because of PAYE? How can they think you still live or have connections in CO?

A US citizen has to file taxes every year no matter where they live, tad. Brits don't. It's a US thing.

Bet they won't know, dooney.

Just sucks having to do both instead of having to just do a fed one.

To switch driving license won't you need to sit theory test at a DMV office? (people moving to CA from other States have to do that - but rules vary so might not be so in TX).

Sorry not much help!

I'm not switching. I have only an expired CO license and a British one. There's no way I'm giving up the British one, especially because I'm not planning on living in the US permanently, just for the summer, and the tests were much harder in the UK.

So I'm planning on sitting the entire thing in TX.

Oregon didn't make me give up my British licence when I got theirs, thank goodness! Is it worth going on the Texas DMV site to check out what they want when you move states?

So when this baby comes, it will be a US citizen. If we go back to the UK (or wherever the wind blows us) before he comes of age, he won't have to file taxes, surely?

How are you getting on redflipflops? I hope you are feeling a bit better.

Must be PITA to do a Tax return every year even when no longer resident! Didn't realise you were coming to US expat - might as well do whole thing then.

I also got to keep my UK license - think woman at DMV wasn't used to Europeans so unsure of rules (as officially they're meant to take it!).

Am OK tad. Thanks for asking. I seem to have violent mood swings - one week am feeling content with life and the next feel desperate to go home!

Technically we are committing a crime in the UK if we drive on our old British licence if we haven't changed our address so it's a pain in the neck.

Have you got any plans to go home for a visit red? I find when I go back that because I'm staying in other people's houses, it doesn't feel as good as I imagined it would. I don't know if that makes sense, but there is definitely something about being in your own home, wherever that is. Plus I've not been back with dh so it has definitely felt like a visit, both times. Have you developed more of a support network yet? I still don't have many friends at all but I'm busy with the dcs, learning Spanish and teaching German, albeit for a mere 2 hours a week! Keep posting here though.

It's such a lovely warm day here today - around 75! We have to make the most of it as I'm sure the weather will turn again very soon.

75 sounds lovely. It's been 92 here today, a few weeks ago we hit 107! much too hot (I like walking kids to school etc.. and it's just too hot and sweaty!). Am REALLY looking forward to some cooler weather.

Met a few people tad but none are that close by or have similar age children. My day is so structured around the kids routine (School run, Pre-School run, baby nap, activities etc...) there seems hardly any time left for social activities

Innit beautiful today? I think we're about the same as you are, Tad. What a gorgeous day for the pumpkin patch and soccer practice.

Absolutely gorgeous! It could be like this every day for most of the year as far as I am concerned.

I am sorry red. I know exactly how you feel. I meet a few different people for playdates, maybe every 2 or 3 weeks so in reality there are only about 3 that I am close to. One of them is likely to move to the other side of the country soon and another has found out that she can only get pregnant through IVF so I am probably not someone she wants to spend a lot of time with at the moment. She hasn't had any luck this year so I feel guilty about moaning about my loneliness. Are you in Ca red? I hope you find someone closer to you really soon.