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.