Settling In

We are starting to feel at least mostly settled in to our new, improved larger digs!  The last few weeks have been cra-azy.  A good crazy, but still a bit frantic and nuts.  So it has felt so good the last bit to be figuring out our new neighbourhood, routines and house.  I think we are going to love it.

We even made a klub supper yesterday and have apple pies in the oven right now.  There is just something about comfort cooking that makes a home homey. And, although Vancouver is still pretty green and lush, the maple trees are turning red and there is a nice chill in the air when I walk Amy to the bus stop in the mornings.  I love autumn.

I can think of a million things to report.  Like how I had to carry Amy onto the school bus kicking and screaming twice the first week of kindergarten but now she does it like a pro.  Just the last few days I haven't cried on my walk home from the bus stop.  There is just something very hard about sending your little one off on a big bus without you.  But now I'm a pro at it too.  (Mostly).

We put up our pictures yesterday which to me marks that we really are staying here awhile.  A nice feeling.

Our new neighbourhood is rad.  Everyone living here has kids and its a no car community.  So all the streets just outside our place are cobbled walking only streets with parks and playground and sandboxes scattered around.  We can park our van close enough, just through a wee tunnel, to be convenient too.  Win win.  And so quiet..

It's very multicultural and Amy is quite taken with the women who wear headscarves.  Auntie Laura showed her via Skype how she too wears one and Amy thought that was just neat.  I have had a secret  wish to talk to one lady in particular who I see at the bus stop every day.  She has the full deal going on.  Dark blue head covering, long dark robes coat and kind eyes.  I just feel like she was plucked straight off the streets of Afghanistan.  Today I got my chance thanks to Owen who was walking around holding my hand and just stopped right in front of her and stared and wouldn't budge.  And no one can handle not gooing and kissing our oh-bo-ee-o including her so we talked mom talk and I was quite satisfied. There is something intriguing and mysterious about head scarves.

We've been getting a good feel for what being regent college people will be like too.  We headed down states side for their autumn student and faculty retreat this past weekend.  I had little to no expectations of doing much more than hanging with my children and wasn't too surprised that we didn't get to take in all the sessions and funtivities but did meet some great other families and students which made the trek worth it.. And the food was out of this world delicious.

My pie is done and Jonny is taking a break from the books to enjoy it with me.  Oh one more thing, squirrels run rampant here and sit in the oak trees and chuck acorns at us down below.  It's soooo funny.

Moved

While I'm waiting for Jonny and a friend to come back for one last load of stuff I just wanted to scratch off a last quick note from our house here on Iona Drive.  We are excited to move.  We're ready to "nest" a bit in the place we will spend the next 3 -ish years.  Even if it has coral colored walls, lots of stairs and has a bit of a weird smell.  I just keep thinking - a grassy backyard area, a dishwasher and 4 bedrooms (one being a guest room!!!) and a eating space not over carpet.  :)

This place we are leaving was an answer to prayer - as is the place we are moving to.  Neither are palaces but both are definiately sufficient and appreciated.

God is good.

See you next time from Acadia Park!

Ready. Set. Go.

Ok, here we go tomorrow everything starts.  This summer has been a mix of good, challenging, frustrating, rewarding and full of adjustments.  We survived living in this little "hotel", as we like to call it and on thursday move into our new bigger digs.  Jonny survived and conquered suicide Hebrew and never has to Alef Bet ever again if he so chooses.  We explored Vancouver and found it to be quite beautiful.  We can find our way around and feel a bit sorry for all the new and lost looking UBC newbies who are wandering around campus now.

Tomorrow is Regent Orientation and it's supposed to be a family friendly affair so we'll go but I don't have my hopes set too high on sitting in on much, or any of the meetings.

Amy starts school (what?!) on Wednesday.  Because of our move she is going to a different kindergarten then we had first thought but this one seems to be just as fine.  She is excited, but nervous.  Today we were joking with her and said if she was so nervous she could just stay home with me and the boys.  She looked thoughtful and then said, "I'm nervous but am very interested in going."  As is Jonny. 

We get our new place on thursday and have been peeping in windows to see how the painting is going.  It's another new neighborhood and house and neighbors and routine.  We are really hopeful that it will be good.  Regardless, without being million bazillionaires it's the best place we'll get on campus. 

Avey and Corrine and Theo and little Finn are driving out to our part of the world tomorrow.  I can't wait to hang out and catch up.  It's a long long drive with little ones.  I hope that we are worth the trip!  No pressure right? .... :)

My lovely parents are driving out our furniture soon too.  This place we have been in came partially furnished but our new place is bare so we need our stuff.  We are really grateful that they want to make the trip and are looking forward to showing them Vancouver, having the kids have some sweet grandparent time - which I think Ben will especially like.  If only Bumpa could drive his tractor this far, Ben would be in heaven (or the quad...). 

And to top it all off our soon to be God-Son Beck is bringing his family out for his baptism and a good romp of a visit. 

We've been feeling the last 3 weeks to be a sort of calm before the storm.  Or being in an eye of a hurricane.  Or the great dark before the dawn.  Or.... hmmm,  I'm out of analogies.  We are glad we came out here for the summer, despite how hard it was at times.  We like that we are more or less familiar with campus and Vancouver and how life looks here before we get into it all.

Ok, here we go oooooo ooooooooo oooooooo .......