Oh Canada.....

About 5 years ago, Canada stole my heart. Well, actually, it stole my little sister, which is almost as bad. They kindly lend her to us a few times a year, but it's never enough for me to forgive this serious injustice. And now that my niece is there as well, I have a serious grudge against all things maple leaf.

But having my brother-in-law, sister, and Savannah in Ottawa does afford us some great opportunities. This past week, Erin and Alex flew the boys and I out for spring break (Dan had to stay home and work). Getting there was surprisingly better than I expected with a one year old, a three and a half year old, and only an hour to get through customs between flights. And the week just got better from there.

Our first day there we went to the Sugarbush - a farm where they get the maple sap out of trees to make syrup. While it was cold and the line was long, we enjoyed a feast of pancakes, eggs, potatoes, and sausage covered in warm, fresh maple syrup. The boys loved the horse carriage ride to the petting zoo/play area, and Max hasn't stopped talking about the slide that we made Uncle Alex go off first to "make sure it wasn't too scary". And it certainly wasn't something we could ever do in Oregon!

While there we also went to the Children's Museum across the river in Quebec. Max fell in love with the model boat and the crane used to load and unload packages from the hull. Luke also fell in love - a small car that he could climb around in and "drive". It was a great place that I can imagine Savannah enjoying a great deal as she gets older.

Much of the rest of the week was spent just hanging out. As Savannah and Luke get older the five months that separate them gets smaller and smaller. They are able to play next to each other and even shared some adorable hugs and kisses. Savannah adored Max and followed him wherever he went - and of course he enjoyed having a little fan. The best thing was watching any one of them light up the minute that a cousin came into the room.

And believe it or not, Erin and Alex and I even got to enjoy some time sans kiddos. After the littles would go to bed, we would hang out and watch tv or basketball, and chat. Erin has recently started knitting and so it was a blast getting to sit and knit with my sister. But it was also in those moments when I would get those little pangs in my stomach. The ones that made me wish we could do that every Thursday night.

And the thing that made coming home bearable? Dan.

Feelin' like spring...

This afternoon was just what I needed.

A little background? Our house has been on the market for a week. We've been fortunate and had quite a few showings, and have been working to keep the house as meticulously clean as possible. Add in the rain/wind/cold that have been generally yucky. Then add the fact that it's the week before spring break and my students think that vacation has come early. Oh - and add in the fact that our small child has decided to stop sleeping at night. Not terrible, but just feeling a little, um, oppressed? Repressed? Just pressed?

But then the sun came out. And it was good.

The boys and I met some friends at the park for an hour. And in that hour my good senses were restored. The air was fresh, sky was blue and.......no COATS!!! Amazing. What a sense of freedom! Was totally in love with the moment.

Nothing more than an hour at the park in the sun. But it made all right in the world.

Desicions made....

There's been a lot of discussin' going on here in the Young household. And anyone who know us knows that these discussions can go round and round and round and.....well, you get the idea. But we've actually come to a few big decisions in the last couple of weeks - and i"m so excited about them!

Decision Number 1. Max's Preschool
After a LOT of soul searching, pavement pounding, and spreadsheet making, we've got a winner! Max will be headed to a fairly small Montessori school that I couldn't be more excited about. The kind of place that gives off warm-fuzzies in so many ways. A great garden and simple playground with lots of safe space to run are elements of every day - a necessary element for my outdoor boy. Rich materials that encourage learning and class size small enough to provide support for the learning he is so desperate to do. A philosophy I agree with led by "guides" who are serious about being with children. We feel really great about this choice, and I am thrilled that it will work with our next big decision.....

Decision Number 2. Selling our House/Buying a new house
We bought our first house 8 years ago, and have loved making it our home. And now that we've finally got things like we like them, it's time to go. Really, we are in need (want) of another bedroom, and a little more square footage to accommodate our hobbies/toys that have grown beyond our current space. And with interest rates as they are in combination with the deals on the market right now, we're going to give it a shot. We have spent the last week cleaning things out and getting it ready to list, while perusing new listings. Who knows if we'll even be able to sell! I'm gearing up for the stress, but excited about the potential. Fortunately, none of it has to happen - it would just be great if it did. And one of the areas we are looking at gets us even closer to Dan's parents, which would be wonderful!



So there's a lot going on. For someone who isn't great with change, it feels strange to feel so good about all of it. Maybe that means they are the right choices for us....