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...

the big move - it's happening!

our new home in London, Ont - !!

This past week has been a whirlwind - of emotions, activity, happenings, questions, planning, lists. I'm not sure I can even coherently or legibly write about it all - where to start? There was volleyball camp and time alone here after work (kids + Steve went to the cot-tage on Wednesday) - which equals full days in the gym and full days at home trying to get to things that I never get to with kids and parenting duties hanging all around all over the place - and then a few days with family at the cottage (AWESOME) before our trip to London. Steve and I left the kids in Bowmanville with Grandma and Gramps, and drove away mid-morning with two days and one goal: find a place to live. I was optimistic going in... and still optimistic after a full day of calling and driving around; but after looking at numerous places and passing on several leads - I started to lose the glass-half-full feeling. (Or, rather, the feeling was starting to feel strained.) Anyways, it turns out that luck was on our side, and we found an amazing place in a great neighborhood - and I truly believe that it's going to be just right for us. Home! We have one. The Uhaul is booked for Monday and we have a busy weekend ahead. Here's to hoping there's time for a family trip to Walking With Dinosaurs!

from east

grandparents and their grandchiles

I should be in bed right now - I should go to bed right now. But like my overdue library book, if I don't just do it (blog/return book), it won't happen. Tomorrow (after a full day in le gym) is a day to get to the lists that keep piling up: look for scholarship money/financial aid, print off school information (I registered - it looks like it's happening!), find a school (or alternative to full-day junior kindergarten) for Hendrik, plan a next-week visit to London (Monday-Wednesday: we need to meet with a realtor, meet with volleyball people).... and there's probably is more but - listing it all isn't making me feel any better about a.) doing it tomorrow or about whether or not I will get to it tomorrow and/or b.) the fact that none of those things have been done (yet). I mean, I will do it. I will, tomorrow - right? (Do I sound stressed? I'm not. Really.)

But for now, the rest of our visit, in brief. It was amazing! The kids loved Thetis (we all did), and the weather was great and the water was warm. We had daily apres-nap swims out to the floaty raft, and everyone braved the mid-70s (warm!) water save for our little birdie Alana. Time there was the perfect almost-end to our trip: five days of relaxing and easy exploring close to home after busy-but-great time seeing friends and family in the city.

And then it was up-island (Vancouver Is.) for a wedding, a few changes of plans (I opted not to stay in the dingy, overcrowded and overpriced Saratoga Beach Resort but instead in Comox, where there was just enough furniture and more than enough fun for us to have a much more enjoyable stay), some great times with the best of friends... and then home again home again. Well, sort of; Sunday was quite the day with a drive to Nanaimo, and then connecting flights through Vancouver and Toronto en route to Ottawa, with Alana always on my lap (ugggh). Add some lost bags turned into damaged bags plus damaged contents (nothing of supreme importance) and well sure, let's just say I'm glad the journey home is over. Seeing Steve and seeing the kids see Steve was fantastic, and hopefully the two of us will get some quality time together - when? Next week when we go to London on a three-day house-hunting mission, alone. The kids have been up late and they're jet-lagged and full of energy, so we've all been pretty beat by the time the littlest ones let the big ones go to bed. That being said, it's down-tempo time around here for the next day and a half for me - the fam left for the cottage this morning, and I have two more days of coaching. Then, I'll join them for one last (I think) summer cottage hurrah before the hurricane of moving hits. Lists, lists, lists... that I'll get to tomorrow. Pictures, and I'm out!

fun with sidewalk chalk (spot the alphabet?), doin' jobs, giant puzzle

the new bunkie! so much fun. our next thetis abode?

painting shells scavenged from a beach a row-boat-ride away

me in five mins!

from thetis

I'm not too sure where to / how to start this post, as there's been so much going on, and now - hurray! - we're on island time (sort of). My mom and I had a brief chat about how it's nice to get away from the paper, the phone, the world etc, but really, with the internet it's near impossible to really and truly get away from much at all. But that's okay! We had more than a few fab-bu-lous visits with friends and family, and I'm happy to not have too much planned for the next four days (play at the water, play in the house, eat, repeat) and stay in touch via a few blog posts (pictures! pictures!) - and maybe even register for school (could happen Wednesday). 

Saturday:

Sarah arrived Friday night late late, and Saturday morning saw a few big helpers carry table legs and make some big assists in the moving game. Hendrik at the wheel and Alana shouting orders: just like real life (sometimes). It was great to see Sarah and then great to see my high school basketball coach Shaun and his wife Robyn and their daughter Kelly - they had us over for lunch and a swim, and it was great to catch up. The rest of the day was all about packing and prep for Sunday's trip from the city to Thetis, with a White Spot dinner to boot...

some backyard play before the to-Kamloops drive

Friday:

Friday was one busy day: we were down in Point Roberts to see family, and it was great; our paths too rarely cross. It was also great to see the kids flying around with other little people - the trampoline and high jump pit were big hits all around! 

We left just after 3:00, and the kids were asleep in record time - just as I planned. We drove straight to the Rauh household for par-tay #2, where a solid group of friends and pizza and a mini-pool and slides and scrapes and more more more awaited. FUN! We left as a tired glob of people, and the kids were happy to go to sleep when we arrived home. Day over? Day not over. A very good friend from high school came over and we talked for hours until Sarah backed into the driveway and then it was time for everyone to finally wrap up the day. Busy day busy people! 

cousins - or first cousins once removed? - cousins!

me and Jenny, and our happy happy kids (watermelon and ice cream! sidewalk chalk and friends!)

we cheered Elly on as she raced up and down the street on her bike - so cute!

I love this group of people!!!

waiting for the ferry boat - at the park

Sunday + Monday

Thetis-bound! We met Jenny and Ellie (Nanaimo-bound) in Horseshoe Bay and then caught the ferry with them to the big island. The kids were so excited about the double ferry day, and it stayed with them way waaaay past their bedtime - and it just about did me in. I was in bed when they were in bed (9:00), and am fairly confident that I fell asleep before Hendrik did. More to come on life here - I need to get some pictures up of the new bunkhouse, some food pics, and our current sleeping arrangements,  which Hendrik is really excited about (sharing a room - with me).

thetis on the horizon

apres-swim on the deck

That's all for now - more to come soon!