Let's Catch Up, Shall We?

Ok Ok Ok, I know it's been a loooooooooooooooooong time and I really have no good reasons but a lot of excuses as to why I haven't blogged but have faithfully read all of ya'll blogs and really enjoyed them but also had a bit of a naggeling feeling that I just wasn't doing my part.  Excuse #1 that I just need to throw out there because it is a legit reason is that for some reason my ipad won't let me blog from it (also I don't love typing on the touch screen and am forever harassed by the auto-correct) and it's the device I have around me most and Jonny's computer, if not with him, is waaaaayyy up on the 3rd floor across from Owen's room, and Owen likes to wake up at the slightest noise at the most inconvenient times so I just stay away all together.

Result of this and may other excuses - no blogging.  (sorry Aves......)

Now that that is off my conscience let's catch up.

Ever since we've gotten into the rhythm of Amy being off to Kindergarten 5 days a week and Jonny doing his school-thing the weeks have seemed to just fly by.  Almost every week we look at each other on Thursday or Friday and say, "wow, how can it be Thursday/Friday already?!"  For me it's an exclamation of joy that the weekend is approaching and for Jonny more of a groan because he realizes another school week is coming to an end and he still has so much to do/catch up on.  Graduate school seems really full on.

Saying that, Jonny is really enjoying Regent.  We were just saying tonight that being here at this time of our lives feels right.  We had some hesitations about going back to the school thing - no income thing with 3 kids in tow but it's been good so far.  I like to remind Jonny that there is a lot of really good tradeoffs being a student with a wife and kids at home.  First of all, that while he slogs away in the library with his fellow students, he gets to come home to a hot and delicious home cooked meals, clean laundry and adoring children while they heat up noodles alone and wear their undies inside out just to try to be sanitary.  Granted, those fellow students have more uninterrupted study time in their day but I bet the time spent with us would equal the time those others spend on smoozing around ubc trying to pick up chicks.  Even steven.

I am really enjoying living where we live.  Out our front door looks like this:

The funny thing about having our first fall/winter here in Vancouver is that I am still surprised every morning that even though it's November outside still looks like this - just minus the leaves on the trees.  It's green here all the time.  But as one old guy in a church told me this summer, "there is a reason we're so green!"  It really really rains here.  Really.  Amy has already worn out a pair of rubber boots.
UBC family housing where we are is all blocked off to traffic - we park not too far away and the rest is all walking only.  Its been perfect for the kids.  Ben rides his strider bike all over and it's quiet and good.  Our house has proved to be just what we need and we are all feeling like it's home.  God has once again (why do I worry?) taken care of the details way beyond what we could have hoped for 6 months ago when we sat in Camrose wondering what on earth we were thinking of moving out here for school.

Most of the things I can think of to blog about I've already thrown on to the World Wide Web via facebook but I need to mention that Amy's dance recital was yesterday.  It was 2 1/2 minutes of pure parental joy.   She loves ballet.  And, in my humble, very unbiased mom opinion, was incredible.  :)

Ben has had the hardest time adjusting to things with all this moving around.  He just has been off a bit.  Whiny.  Acting out.  But the last few weeks have been good for him.  I think he's feeling settled.  Having Amy off at school has given me a chance to do more things with him that he gets to pick and enjoy.  Lots of bike riding - puddles are in endless supply here and offer hours of fun on a bike.  He loves to bike over the roots and bumps on the forest paths.  Line up his cars (as long as I can keep Owen from destroying his hardwork).  Football.  Soccer.  Boy stuff.  It's been good for him and for me to get to know him better without a sister running the show.  Don't get me wrong, he is super excited when Amy comes home and raring to play with her.

Owen walks!  And is almost 1!  What?!  He's a fun little guy.  Doesn't sleep great at night still, but we're working on it.  It's been hard to get tough on this little guy.  He's my baby! He had a crazy flu last week.  He threw up a bit at the beginning of the week and then was just completely tired out.  Sapped.  It wore him in the Ergo for 4 days and he would just sleep on and off and nurse a bit.  He ate 4 crackers and a handful of grapes over 4 days.  I was very thankful I am still nursing him and he would do that.  I tried to sit him down a few times and he would just flop over and lay on the floor.  Or flop forward in his highchair. 

He was a sick little guy.  I took him to the doctor and they said it was just a flu but if he didn't perk up soon to take him back - mostly worried about dehydration.  But he did perk up and is fine now.  It was a tiring week.

And me?  I'm good.  Life is just the right amount of full.  I've met friends.  I like Vancouver.  We are coming back to Alberta for Christmas and it will be great to reconnect with friends and family.  We are happy.

It's been nice to do a quick catch up.

Tag.  You're it.  :)