uhaulin'

A week ago today we drove to London with the sole mission of finding a place to live; on Tuesday that mission was accomplished! Wednesday we drove to Bowmanville, Thursday we drove to Gatineau and made mad lists; Friday we ordered beds and frogboxes, Saturday + Sunday we packed, and today we pick up the Uhaul. For the last 14 years we've moved every four to eight months, so we're pros at this game, right? Wrong. With all of our moves to and from Europe, we've taken two bags and zero appliances; now, we have 25 full frogboxes, eight full tupperwares, several bags and too many small appliances, and it's all quite overwhelming. We've really tried our best to stay calm and avoid le stress, but it's been a challenge - especially with the kids around. That being said, we have done a good job - and I hope things continue smoothly over the course of the next three days with our move and massive unpack.

Today Hendrik has a follow-up/last appointment with Dr. O'Connor (we'll see if the glasses have made a difference), and from there I'll leave with the kids for Bowmanville. Tomorrow we'll drive from B-ville to London, and on Wednesday we'll visit a preschool just down the street from our house; Thursday I have orientation (starting school is one of the last things on my mind - but I can't wait to make it one of the first!) and somewhere in there we have to register Hendrik for Junior Kindergarten, open accounts for utilities and internet etc - oh! and unpack. Our future is happening! Back to school for me (MLIS at Western - Library and Information studies) and Hendrik, and transition time for Steve. The near and far future is still unknown for us, but here's to hoping this new adventure is just as good as the last 14 years.

Two thoughts before I wrap this up: 

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on buildling the new.

Always remember to fall asleep with a dream and wake up with a purpose.

NOTE: I wrote this at 7:30 this morning, and here's my 9:53pm follow-up: Hendrik's eye appointment went really well - the glasses are difference makers! We've been referred to someone in London, and we'll check in in six months. Packing the Uhaul was a sweatbombbox of a job - it was mid-30s with the humidex, and we schlepped a serious pile of stuff (and we don't even have thaaaat much stuff!). I left with the kids after the eye appointment, and Steve stayed to pack and tie things up in the apartment. Unfortunately, he didn't get going until 6:00pm-ish and is stuck in traffic somewhere on the 401 (BOO!). We dined at Aunt and Unc's house and boy oh boy am I ever thankful for that. We went straight there and feasted on (get this): chicken, potatoes, rice, green beans, broccoli, tomatoes, kale salad and baguette, and had blueberries and yogurt for dessert. FEAST! The kids are just settling now (I'm more than happily ignoring "mommy mooooommmmy moooommmy" right now), and I'm ready to enjoy a Crabbie's and Go To Bed! Tomorrow is sure to be another full day...