Balance

Balance, in the busy days of being a stay-at-home Mum with a preschooler and a toddler, often eludes me. Finding time with the girls, doing housework, cooking nutritious meals, shopping, time to myself, exercise, time with my honey, time as a family... and the list goes on. But I've noticed more of it lately. A big contributing factor is a less-stressed husband... this is part of the reason why we made this move. Regular work hours. Shorter and easier commutes. Leaving work behind at the end of the work day. Supportive manager. Greater job satisfaction and lots of opportunities for growth. This is such a huge relief!

We've been having some really great times together. Skating, tobogganing, Rock Band, movie nights, playing. Relaxing. I feel so in love with my family! And more appreciative. Instead of wishing for the days when the girls are older and we don't have little kids needing us for almost everything they do, we are living in the moment. Obviously there are still moments of frustration, but there is a growing sense of contentment. Gratitude. Love.

And in the true nature of parenting, once things start to stabilize, change happens! This time, in the form of me going back to work. I've been wanting to work part-time for a while, needing some time outside of the house and regular grown-up interaction. Being a doula is my passion, and I would love to do it full-time, but it's very tricky with little children + limited child care + unknown & often long work hours! I would like to take 1 client a month still, but that's the most I can do right now. So I tried to get on with University of Calgary, but there didn't seem to be many openings, and there was also the child care issue. Then I was shopping in a London Drugs one day and thought hmmm.... perhaps I could do a few shifts here. I emailed some of my contacts from my LD days, and was quickly put in touch with a pharmacy manager at a store close to me. He remembered me from a pharmacy conference in Arizona and told me they could use me for sure. No interview required! It all just fell into place (as many things have done here). So after about five years of being away from LD (ten years since I worked in the pharmacy), I'll be working there again as a pharmacy assistant, about 20 hours per week: 1 weekday shift (my supa sister will babysit) + 1 evening shift + 1 half weekend shift. I've done my orientation and training and my first shift is on Tuesday. I'm really looking forward to it. Travel money for trips back home! I think it will work out really well until the girls are in school.

Hopefully we can maintain the rhythm we have found of late. We've been through a lot of change lately, and it's made us stronger, so I say, bring it on!!!

AMs (Ainsley Mornings) to treasure.

There are moments when I look at my girls and am so filled with love it really does hurt. They are so sweet, so beautiful, so precious to me. This morning I had one of those moments... my little Ainsley bear cried out for me earlier than usual, so I picked her up and brought her into bed with me. At 2 years old, this can go either way: excitement to be in Mummy's bed followed with chatting and poking my face, or snuggles under the warm covers. Today the snuggles prevailed. Cuddles commenced with her laying on top of me, her head resting on the pillow beside mine. I layed still, hoping she'd follow suit, delighted when she did. As she dozed off, I felt complete and utter contentment. Pure love.

Listening as her breath slowed.

Feeling the warmth of her next to me, her arm wrapped around my neck, her forehead against mine, her breath against my cheek.

Then she moved onto her side, her body still close to mine. I peaked at her... her sweet face, soft with sleep. Her hand tucked against her cheek, holding her pink teddy. Her eyelashes dark against her pale skin.

Wishing against time that the moment would never end. Filled with such incredible love.

November, Snow & Photos

Snowy backyard

Dining area

Part of the kitchen... so hard to get a good shot

Living room

It's been 3 weeks in our new home and we love it! The unpacking is mainly done, at least on the main floor and upstairs. We have even organized the garage, so both our cars can park in there (a bit of a must with the snow!) There are still boxes in the basement, but the guest room down there is set up as well as the den. There are a couple huge storage areas in the basement, so the next big task will be organizing those and unpacking the remaining random stuff. Oh and I guess decorating still and putting up pictures on the walls. But a lot of progress has been made!

So my Mum arrived on the 9th. The week before that was a hard one... was really missing my family and friends and playdates. I went to the parent & tot drop-in at the Tuscany Clubhouse, which is sort of like a community centre, but only for Tuscany residents. It was really great to chat to some other Mums and have the kids play with other kids!! I met some really nice people, but I think what will be hard is finding other people who are looking to make friends. I know how I was when I lived in Ladner... like I had my friends and wasn't out to intentionally make new ones. There is a Calgary Newcomers Club for women, so I'm going to their next meeting at the end of this month, which is just a casual coffee get together, where they tell you about the different activities. Praying that they'll be a gal or two I connect with there. We will also try out some churches... went to one last week but it was super weird! Too bad cos it was super close.

The girls were so excited to have my Mum here, wow!!! Mum was great helping with the kids and laundry and housework, giving me a chance to unpack, get organized, and go out with Jose a couple times. We hit the local pub (a British type pub which we loved) and caught a movie ("Red" - was so good). My Dad joined my Mum on the 16th, just when the weather started to get cold. The snow started falling and temperatures have dipped down to -20. Call me crazy, but it still hasn't felt as cold as it did in the damp 'couv. As long as you've got gloves and a hat on, you're good. Driving in the snow is a bit of a problem for me... since our car accident in 2008, I've been a really nervous driver & passenger. But I've been out driving in it almost every day, with my Dad giving me calm and supportive pointers. I suppose time and experience will increase my confidence (and speed, sorry Calgarians stuck behind me!!)

I will take some of the upstairs for the next post.

Much love, Wendy

Our house, in the middle of the street

We're in our home with all our stuff and man, does it feel great! Just so tired and physically sore from the moving and unpacking process. We got movers this time which was wonderful.. and, well, really our only option since we don't really have any friends here!! (Yet.) And now me being me, I just want everything unpacked and organized by the end of this weekend. Totally impossible of course. So I will try to just go with the flow and enjoy a glass of red wine and my first soak in our jacuzzi tub in our new home that is literally, in the middle of the street (see the photo with the black CRV in the driveway). Photos of the inside to come once I'm feeling a bit more settled.

P.S. Lucy is so excited for halloween tomorrow night... she's dressing up as a witch and Ainsley's going as a monkey (a big sis hand-me-down - I love that she doesn't care about that, yet). It doesn't get dark here until 6:30ish, so I have no idea when we're supposed to go! Halloween weather is supposed to be great - sunny and 12 degrees. Happy Halloween!!!

Dinosaurs, Bears, Hippos & More

We spent last Saturday exploring the Calgary Zoo, and had a lot of fun - the zoo was awesome and we will definitely go back when we have visitors stay with children (hint hint!). See pics at the bottom of the post.

As far as updates go... Jose's job is going well. A bit overwhelming with everything being so new, but he feels good about the people and the company and as a career. It's only been a week and a half, and I think it'll take a couple of months for him to really know if he's going to like it. So far so good :-) In other job news, I've applied for a Research Assistant job with Dept of Psychology at the University of Calgary. This is a similar position I was doing before I had Lucy and in between mat leaves. I plan to take on doula clients too, but would also like a job that takes me out of the house 2-3 days a week.

In very delayed news, the offer on our home was accepted and we are excited to be moving in on Friday, Oct.29th!!! I can't wait to unpack our stuff and get settled in. I love the community - it's called Tuscany, and it feels like a little suburb. We're walking distance to the shopping area and the Tuscany Club, which is a clubhouse for Tuscany residents only, and offers lots of programs such as Zumba (woohoo!!), outdoor ice-skating, drop-in sports, and loads of children's activities. I am hoping this will offer lots of opportunities to meet other young families. There are also lots of paved bike/walk paths through Tuscany which we look forward to exploring. I am so excited about our master bedroom... it has an ensuite with a jacuzzi tub (I love baths!) and a balcony with views of the Canadian Olympic Park and the Rockies!! The mountains in the distance are a lovely reminder of home. Until we have some photos of our home to post, please enjoy a few zoo pics.

Hugs to you all. xoxo

Hungry hippos!

The prehistoric area of the zoo was amazing, with life-size dinosaurs that moved and roared!! Ainsley was a little skeptical, and kept saying "I don't like them, I'm scared." But funniest of all, she was convinced they were going to eat her rice cakes, LOL!! She spent most of this part of the visit in Daddy's safe, strong arms.

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner at my sister Claire's home, where we're staying (still!). Really feel like I have so much to be thankful for.

In these pics: Gerald (Ashley's fiance), Ashley, Jessica, Gerry, Claire & of course, us.

I think it was the first Thanksgiving I've ever had without my parents, so that was a little strange. It was weird not to be with Jose's family too. We did talk to both parents on Skype though - yay for Skype!!

So Jose starts his job on Wednesday - finally!! He's looking forward to it and we're hoping his impressions were right and that we made this move for a great job. I'm pretty sure it will be.

The weather here has been so amazing - warm (21 degrees) and sunny. Unusual for October apparently. It is supposed to be cooler tomorrow (13 degrees) but then warm up a bit later on in the week (17 degrees). Why do I keep writing about the weather??? Because so many people made such a big deal about it, that I just gotta tell it like it is. I know it's going to be cold, but so far it really has been lovely. I've been walking around in a t-shirt & jeans all week, and I wasn't wearing that in September in BC!

As far as the home goes, the inspection is tomorrow afternoon, and the financing should be through by Wednesday. Subjects get lifted on Wednesday at 9pm (extended from last Friday as the bank wasn't ready), so hopefully everything goes smoothly. We really want to get into our own home, unpack, and get settled. And give my sister and her family their home back. They've been so accommodating and easy-going, but I know it must be hard for them, especially with our "lively" little girls!

That's all for now. We missed seeing our BC family and friends this Thanksgiving, and send you all big hugs - hope you all had a lovely long weekend.

First week

It's been a great week! Lots and lots of sunshine, and today is shorts & t-shirt weather. It really is beautiful here. Cools down in the evenings for sure, but not cold (yet).

In housing news... our Ladner home has renters and we have bought a home in Calgary! As long as the inspection goes well and subjects are lifted, we'll be moving at the end of the month. It's a newish home (1999) in a great community called Tuscany, less than a 10 minute drive from my sister's. That's right, we'll be living in Tuscany :) And it has a great basement / 4th bedroom for all our house guests!!

Lucy started gymnastics on Friday. She was a bit nervous to start (new gym club, new kids, new teacher), but gave it a try and had a lot of fun!! I've got her registered for preschool in January, and I'm looking for some drop-in programs between now and then for both the girls. Calgary has lots of great kids programs, and it's fun checking them out. Next to find... a Zumba fitness class for me!

Jose hasn't started his job yet as the security clearance is taking longer than expected. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday of this week. It's really for the best though, as it gave us lots of time to house shop. That's all for now... time to start dinner. xo

The Move

The last few days have been madness! Packing up our 4 bedroom home with 2 little children around was a big challenge. Plus we had a lot of stuff to get rid of, and had acquired a lot of stuff since we moved in 4 years ago! Then there was loading the Uhaul... thank goodness for good friends who helped for several hours on Friday. And thank goodness Uhaul didn't have the medium size truck we ordered, and rented us the biggest one instead - every last inch was full!

Then Saturday was cleaning and driving day. Dave & Elaine and Fio & Joel came to help what I thought would be a quick clean of the fridge and floors, but it turned into a huge clean of everything from the window frames to the fireplace! Our property manager dropped off a cleaning checklist which had us cleaning like crazy. Again, thank goodness for the helpers. Jose drove our van and Gerry drove the Uhaul from Ladner to Calgary and had an uneventful drive with great weather. They left at 6am and arrived at about 8pm. I flew with the girls... left at 4pm and arrived an hour later :-)

Then Sunday we unloaded the truck into the storage space. Another huge job that had us trekking up to the second floor with dollies & carts, over and over and over. Jose did an amazing job stacking the space to again, make use of every last inch.

The weather has been beautiful... sunny and warm, about 18 degrees. I love the fall colours against the bright blue sky. It feels really good to be in Calgary. My sister has welcomed us into her home and created a great living space for us in her basement, complete with a couch and TV. Hopefully it won't be long until we find our own home - our realtor is taking us to look at 5 houses tonight! It's a buyers market here right now, so we hope to find something soon. Our Ladner home has had some serious interest the last few days, so we're praying we have it rented for November.

I wish I could post some photos, but our camera is packed and Jose's new iPhone hasn't arrived yet. As soon as it does, I will start adding pics to my blog.

Thanks to everyone for everything. xoxoxo